LAD4 The Genitive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

The Genitive

LAD 4 Grammar 

Learning Objectives 

1. I know what is meant when we talk about 'the Genitive'

2. I know how to apply the Genitive correctly in a piece of text. 

3. I know the rules behind using the Genitive 

Choose the genitive form

_______ (my uncle/ neighbour) has a really friendly dog.

1. My uncles' neighbour
2. The neighbour of my uncle
3. My uncles's neighbour
4. My uncle's neighbour

Choose the genitive form

______ (my parents/ cars) have been parked across the street.

1. My parents' cars
2. My parents's cars
3. The cars of my parents
4. My parents cars

Which sentence uses the genitive correctly?

1. The princes' dress is pink.
2. The princes's dress is pink?
3. The princess's dress is pink.
4. The princess' dress is pink

(Genitive - possession)
Which of the following is correct?

1. The children's toys
2. The childrens' toys
3. The children' toys
4. The childrens toys

Translate the part between brackets :
I really like ... (de vriendin van mijn broer).

Translate the part between brackets :
I want ... (de sneakers van Jos).

Translate the part between brackets :
What is ... (de kleur van jouw auto)?

Translate the part between brackets :
My parents painted ... (de kamer van mijn broers).

Translate the part between brackets :
Dad went to ... (de slager).

Translate the part between brackets :
I live in ... (de stad Londen).

How did you do? 

Did you make a lot of mistakes? 

Did you do well, but you don't know why? 

Let's find out what the rules are! 

The Genitive

Is a form to indicate possession:

Hank's children
the children's toys

the boys' room

Have a look at the following examples: 

Singular 1

• Hank's children
• Peter's wife
• Chris's iPhone
• an hour's drive

Singular 2

• Socrates' idea
• Jesus' teachings
• Lucas' testament

• What could be the rule? 

Rules for the Genitive

Singular

With singular (persons and tense) we in principle use 's to indicate possession, even when the person's name ends in -s.

However, this does not apply to ancient names ending in -s. Here we only use a '

Have a look at the following examples: 

Plural 1

the children's toys

people's wishes

men's work

one year's notice,

Plural 2

• the boys' room
• the ladies' room
• a three hours' drive

• What could be the rule? 

Rules for the Genitive

Singular

With singular (persons and tense) we in principle use 's to indicate possession, even when the person's name ends in -s.

However, this does not apply to ancient names ending in -s. Here we only use a '

Plural 

With plurals (persons and time) we use 's when the word does not end in s.

When a plural form ends in s, we only use '

Have a look at the following examples: 

Locations 1

• the butcher's
• the grocer's
• the baker's

Locations 2

• I'm going to Mary's.
• We met at Paul's.

• What could be the rule? 

Rules for the Genitive

Singular

With singular (persons and tense) we in principle use 's to indicate possession, even when the person's name ends in -s.

However, this does not apply to ancient names ending in -s. Here we only use a '

Meervoud

With plurals (persons and time) we use 's when the word does not end in s.

When a plural form ends in s, we only use '

Location

When we talk about someone's shop (e.g. the bakery), we use 's.

When we talk about someone's house, we also use 's.

Have a look at the following examples: 

Things

• the colour of the car
• the lid of the pen
• the end of the road

Geography

• the city of Cambridge
• the mayor of London
• the Duke of Edinburgh

• What could be the rule? 

Rules for the Genitive

Things

With things we use a construction with the word of, so for example the colour of the car and not the car's colour.

Geography

With geographical indications we use a construction with the word of, for example the mayor of London

Ik snap wat het genitief is.

Ja

Nog niet helemaal, maar heb geen hulp nodig.

Nog niet helemaal en wil graag hulp.

Ik snap er helemaal niets van.

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

Translate the part between brackets :
Where is ... (de broer van Sonja)?

Translate the part between brackets :
I live at ... (het einde van de straat).

Translate the part between brackets :
Ellen lives ... (in het huis van haar ouders).

Translate the part between brackets :
I am not allowed to use ... (de computer van mijn broer).

Translate the part between brackets :
I read this in ... (de krant van gisteren).

Translate the part between brackets :
I never understood ... (de filosofie van Protagoras).

Translate the part between brackets :
Have you met ... (het kleine zusje van Chris)?

Translate the part between brackets :
Yesterday I saw ... (de burgemeester van Barneveld) eating at Tres.

Translate the part between brackets :
My parents painted ... (mijn zusje haar kamer).

Now lets put this into practice

Writing task

Ik kan het genitief in een Engelse zin toepassen.

Ja

Nog niet helemaal, maar heb geen hulp nodig.

Nog niet helemaal en wil graag hulp.

Ik snap er helemaal niets van.