2. SAXON GENITIVE
This structure is used as a way to refer to possession. It is limited to (with some
exceptions) people and animals (animate nouns).
FORMATION
SINGULAR NOUNS = THE APOSTROPHE (‘) + S
Sandy is Annie’s dog.
(Refers to the dog that Annie has).
PLURAL NOUNS = THE APOSTROPHE (‘)
Hogwarts is the wizards’ castle.
(Refers to the castle that the wizards have).
Girl
People
3. SAXON GENITIVE
FORMATION
IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS = THE
APOSTROPHE (‘) + S
Children’s toys.
(Refers to the toys that children have).
IRREGULAR PLURAL NOUNS:
•1 CHILD, 2 CHILDREN.
•1 WOMAN, 2 WOMEN.
•1 MAN, 2 MEN.
•1 PERSON, 2 PEOPLE.
•1 FOOT, 2 FEET.
•1 TOOTH, 2 TEETH.
•1 MOUSE, 2 MICE.
•1 FISH/DEER/REINDEER/SHEEP,
2 FISH/DEER/ REINDEER/SHEEP.
•1 LEAF, 2 LEAVES.
•…
CHAIN RELATIONSHIP
My father’s brother’s son is my cousin.
(It means that my cousin is the son of the brother of my father).
People
Person Person
4. SAXON GENITIVE
FORMATION: THE OBJECT AS ADJECTIVE (ADJECTIVAL GENITIVE) OR
USING THE PREPOSITION “OF”
The car door is blue (Not the car’s door). = The door of the car is blue.
Ariel has got a fish tail. (Not a fish’s tail).
= Ariel has got a tail of fish.
The Goonies found the treasure map.
(Not the treasure’s map).
= The Goonies found the map of the treasure.
2 OBJECTS
Object Object
Obj. Obj.
Obj. Obj.
5. SAXON GENITIVE
FORMATION: THE DOUBLE GENITIVE
It is possible to combine the prepositional of genitive with the apostrophe structure.
Malfoy is an enemy of Harry’s.
(Refers to an enemy that Harry has).
Malfoy/He is an enemy of his.
Dory is a friend of Nemo’s.
(Refers to a friend that Nemo has).
Dory/She is a friend of his.
Nemo is a friend of Dory’s / hers.
The possessive pronoun is really a
Saxon genitive without the apostrophe.
6. SAXON GENITIVE
USE IN REAL LIFE
SHOP NAMES/PEOPLE’S HOUSES: …’S (SHOP/HOUSE)
Darla goes to the denstist’s.
(You don’t have to write dentist’s shop)
Beauty is at the baker’s.
(You don’t have to write baker’s shop)
Russell is at Mr. Fredricksen’s.
(You don’t have to write Mr. Fredricksen’s house)
The thieves want to steal at Kevin’s.
(You don’t have to write Kevin’s house)
PEOPLE’S JOBS:
DENTIST’S
CHEMIST’S
BAKER’S
FISHMONGER´S
BUTCHER’S
GREEN GROCER’S
HAIRDRESSER’S
BARBER’S
DOCTOR’S
VET’S
PSYCH’S
…
