Genitives

• ICT
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

What does 's tell in this sentence?
Rick's bag is full of chocolates.

animal: The dog's face was upset.

person: Donald's hair is beautiful. 

possession of 1 animal/ 1 person   's

animals: The dogs' faces were upset.

people: Donalds' hairs are beautiful. 

possession of more than one animal/ person which ends with an S   '

animals: Mice's faces were upset.

people: Men's hairs are beautiful. 

possession of more than one animal/ person which does NOT end with an S   's

What's the name of this restaurant?

Mark / bag

1. Mark his bag
2. Bag of Mark
3. Mark's bag
4. Marks' bag

lunch / children

1. children's lunch
2. lunch's children
3. lunch of children
4. childrens' lunch

I'll see you at ...

1. McDonalds.
2. McDonald's.
3. McDonalds'.
4. McDonalds restaurant

James / phone

1. James phone
2. James's phone
3. James' phone
4. James phones

ladies / dresses

1. ladies' dresses'
2. ladie's dresses
3. ladies' dresses
4. ladies's dresses

We also use it with TIME & DISTANCE

Example:       It is a mile's walk. 

                         It is two miles' walk.

                         I received today's newspaper. 

my mother / bag

mothers / cakes

today / news

hands / boys

two minutes / walk

James / phone

When do we use 's or only ' to mention possession?
(more answers possible)

1. with people
2. with animals
3. with time & distance
4. with things

but...

How do we talk about a possession of a thing?

for example:

keys / my keyboard???

keys / my keyboard

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