Introduction to Nouns – part 2 Possessive Nouns

POSSESSIVE NOUNS (also known as the SAXON GENITIVE) are used to show that something belongs to somebody. For example: Peter has a car. This is his car. This is Peter ’s car. Jenny should do it. It is her job. This is Jenny ’s job. Our teacher sits in this chair. This is his chair This is our teacher ’s chair We are American. We must protect our interests. We must protect America ’s interests. This is our dog. This is his toy. This is the dog ’s toy. noun + apostrophe (‘) + ‘s’ = SAXON GENITIVE

POSSESSIVE NOUNS (also known as the SAXON GENITIVE) are used to show that something belongs to somebody. For example:

Peter has a car. This is his car. This is Peter ’s car.

Jenny should do it. It is her job. This is Jenny ’s job.

Our teacher sits in this chair. This is his chair This is our teacher ’s chair

We are American. We must protect our interests. We must protect America ’s interests.

This is our dog. This is his toy. This is the dog ’s toy.

If the noun already ends with an ‘s’ – for example because it is a plural – only the apostrophe is added: James has a car. This is his car. This is James’ car. I must read these plays. They were written by Sophocles. I must read Sophocles’ plays. Mr Jones has a very nice house. Mr Jones’ house is very nice. In compounds or in expressions consisting of several words, ‘s is only added to the last word: my brother-in-law ’s guitar the Prince of Wales ’ visit Kate and Jim ’s caravan

If the noun already ends with an ‘s’ – for example because it is a plural – only the apostrophe is added:

James has a car. This is his car. This is James’ car.

I must read these plays. They were written by Sophocles. I must read Sophocles’ plays.

Mr Jones has a very nice house. Mr Jones’ house is very nice.

In compounds or in expressions consisting of several words, ‘s is only added to the last word:

my brother-in-law ’s guitar

the Prince of Wales ’ visit

Kate and Jim ’s caravan

REMEMBER! Compare these examples: The boy ’s room is very large. (only one boy lives in this room) The boys’ room is very large. (two or more boys live in this room) The teachers’ room (There is a room where all the teachers meet) The teacher ’s room (This teacher has his/her own room)

REMEMBER!

Compare these examples:

The boy ’s room is very large. (only one boy lives in this room)

The boys’ room is very large. (two or more boys live in this room)

The teachers’ room (There is a room where all the teachers meet)

The teacher ’s room (This teacher has his/her own room)

REMEMBER! Don’t confuse the SAXON GENITIVE with a verb. See the examples: I like Marc ’s sense of humour. (Saxon Genitive) Marc ’s English is terrible . (Saxon Genitive: Marc speaks English badly) Marc ’s English. (Marc is English.) Marc ’s told me what to do. (Marc has told me what to do.)

REMEMBER!

Don’t confuse the SAXON GENITIVE with a verb.

See the examples:

I like Marc ’s sense of humour. (Saxon Genitive)

Marc ’s English is terrible . (Saxon Genitive: Marc speaks English badly)

Marc ’s English. (Marc is English.)

Marc ’s told me what to do. (Marc has told me what to do.)

REMEMBER! SAXON GENITIVE is usually used of people, countries or animals. We cannot say: This is the book’s end (INCORRECT) but: This is the end of the book. (CORRECT) This is the house’s top (INCORRECT) but: This is the top of the house. (CORRECT)

REMEMBER!

SAXON GENITIVE is usually used of people, countries or animals.

We cannot say:

This is the book’s end (INCORRECT)

but:

This is the end of the book. (CORRECT)

This is the house’s top (INCORRECT)

but:

This is the top of the house. (CORRECT)

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