V4 - Unit 4 genitive1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Genitive

Genitive

Indicating possession:

People- singular: ‘s              ----->          the boy’s bike
People - plural: ‘                    ----->           the boys’ bikes

's or ' ? 

- Names, ending with 's': 's is added : James’s girlfriend

- Classical names:  ' : Socrates’ ideas

- ‘s/s’ for time and distance

• An hour’s walk from here

• A three miles’ drive

Other uses of 's

‘s for a place (the name of the building is not metioned)

• Then I went to my friend’s

• I saw him at the baker’s

The use of 'of'

Possessions of 'things'

The cover of the book

The law of the land

Amounts

• A cup of coffee

• A pound of apples

Geographical names

• The province of Groningen

• The city of Maastricht

Let's practice!

For the next few exercises, select which form of the genitive should be used.

Is that (Kees) pencil?

1. Kees'
2. Kees's

This is (Aristoteles) idea.

1. Aristoteles'
2. Aristoteles's

Translate using the genitive: De veters van de schoenen van de meisjes.

1. The laces of the girls' shoes
2. The laces' shoe's girls.
3. The laces of the girl's shoes.
4. The girl's shoe's laces.

Translate using the genitive:
Een liter melk.

1. A litre of milk
2. A litre's milk
3. A milk of litre
4. A milk's litre

Translate using the genitive:
De pupillen van de ogen van de vrouwen.

1. The women's eyes' pupils
2. The pupils of the woman's eyes
3. The woman's eyes' pupils
4. The pupils of the women's eyes

These are the (men) bikes. The two of them always leave such a mess!

1. men's
2. mens'
3. mens

This is a (teacher) biggest nightmare!

1. Teacher's
2. Teachers'