Answers Lesson 20: (Week 22 to 25 September)

Contents: The Genitive: form and use. Uses for purposes other than possession. Choice between the ‘s genitive and
the ‘of construction’. Genitive with ellipsis. Double genitive.

The genitive
The only case form for nouns that exists in English is the Genitive
We normally use –‘s and –s’ only for people and some living creatures:
 Personal names: Tom’s pen George Washington’s statue.
 Personal nouns: the boy’s new shoes – my father-in-law’s car.
 Collective nouns: my family’s country house – the nation’s social programme.
 Higher animals: the lion’s mane – the horse’s tail.
 Indefinite pronouns: someone’s responsibility.
The –‘s genitive is also used with certain kinds of non-living nouns:
 Geographical reference: Argentina’s economy – London’s attractions
 Institutional reference: UN’s plans – European Economic Community’s
 Churches and cathedrals : St Paul’s Church – St Pedro’s Cathedral
 Time references: two day’s trip – a day’s work – today’s newspapers
 Money’s worth: ten pesos’ worth of petrol –
 Fixed expressions: be at death’s door – for goodness’ sake – to one’s heart’s content – journey’s end
 References to cars, planes and ships: the plane’s engines – the car’s exhaust
The use of the ‘of-construction’ to connect two nouns:
 Things: the book of the film – the leg of the table
 Parts of things: the inside of the drawer – the top of the page
 Abstract reference: the cost of living – the price of success
We also use the ‘of-construction’ when a noun is postmodified by an additional phrase or clause:
 This is the dog of the boy who came here yesterday
 This present was sent by the doctor of my boyfriend
Meanings of the Genitive:
 Possession (answering ‘Whose’?): Mary’s car
 Regular use: Alice’s chair
 Relationship: Ann’s son
 +favourite: This is Tom’s favourite dish
 Actions: Scott’s trip
 Purpose: A boy’s school
 Characteristics: Alison’s limp
 Others: Chopin is a composer’s composer (appreciated by)

Joint possession is indicated by the apostrophe on the second or last element:

 Peter and Mary’s children – Alice, Mary and Jill’s party

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When a number of individual possessors of separate items are mentioned each takes its own ’s:
 Tom’s and Paul’s sons

When a number of individual possessors of separate thins are mentioned, each takes its own apostrophe:
Peter’s and John’s sons (Peter’s sons and John’s sons)
Galileo’s and Columbus’ discoveries (the scientific discoveries of Galileo and the geographical discoveries
of Columbus)

When classical names en in ‘s’ we do not usually add an ‘s but simply place the apostrophe behind the –s at
the end of the name, e.g., Achilles’ heel; Socrates’ philosophy, but Straus’s waltzes.
The Genitive with ellipsis
The –‘s/-s’ construction can be used on its own when we refer to:
- A noun that is implied: My car is faster than John’s
- Where someone lives: I’ll meet you at Mary’s
- Shops and business: the chemist’s – the greengrocer’s
- Medical practitioners: at the dentist’s
- Churches and colleges named after saints: St Bartholomew’s
- Well-known restaurants with names of their owner: Alfredo’s – Langan’s

The double genitive

It is a combination of the ‘-s’ and the ‘of-construction’
 This is an opera of Verdi’s (one of Verdi’s operas)
 She is a friend of my wife’s

The double genitive usually implies non-unique meaning, i.e. that Verdi wrote several operas and that my
wife has several friends.
 She is my sister (suggest I have only one sister)
 He is a brother of mine (suggests that I have more than one brother)

We can use possessive pronouns in this construction:

 Is Frank a friend of yours?

We can use a, this, that, these, those, some, any, no, etc. in front of the noun but not the:
 This son of mine – some friends of Alice’s
The use of the demonstratives often suggests criticism, contempt, arrogance or a desire to ridicule on the part
of the speaker:
 That stupid friend of Paul’s.
 Those silly old hats of Mary’s.
 These dirty hands of yours.
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Exercises
1. Join the two nouns below using Genitive (‘s or ‘) or –of construction.
a. the camera/ John John’s camera
b. the eyes/ the cat The eyes of the cat / The cat’s eyes (both options are correct)
c. the top/ the page The top of the page
d. the daughter/ Charles Charles’ daughter /Charles’s daughter (both options are correct)
e. the newspaper/ today Today’s newspaper
f. the toys/ the children The children’s toys
g. the name/ your wife Your wife’s name
h. the name/ the street The name of the street
i. the name/ the man I saw yesterday The name of the man I saw yesterday
j. the new manager/ the company The company’s new manager
k. the result/ the football game The result of the football game
l. the car/ Mike’s parents Mike’s parents’ car
m. the birthday/ my father My father’s birthday
n. the lion/ the mane The lion’s mane (This example is in the theory – higher animals)
o. the house/ my aunt and uncle My aunt and uncle’s house
p. the economic policy/ the government The government’s economic policy
q. the tall building/ Cordoba Cordoba’s tall buildings
r. the ground floor/ the building The ground floor of the building
s. the children/ Don and Mary Don and Mary’s children
t. the motorcycle/ the exhaust The motorcycle’s exhaust

2. Read each sentence and write a new sentence using ‘s with the underlined words.
a. The meeting tomorrow has been cancelled.
Tomorrow’s meeting has been cancelled.
b. The storm last week caused a lot of damage.
Last week’s storm has caused a lot of damage.
c. The only movie theatre in the town has been closed down.
The town’s only movie theatre has been closed down.
d. Exports from Argentina to China have fallen recently.
Argentina’s exports to China have fallen recently.
e. There will be a big crowd at the football game this evening.
This evening’s football game will be crowded.
(or) There will be a bid crowd at this evening’s football game.
f. Tourism is the main industry in the region.
The region’s main industry is tourism.
3. Read the text. Some of the lines are correct, and in some an apostrophe (‘) or the word of is missing.
If a line is correct, put a tick. If a line has a word where the genitives is missing, write the correct form
of the word. If the word of is missing, write of in the dotted line.
a. Laura works at a travel agents in London. She’s the manager …agent’s……
b. of their South American department. She’s a successful manager and ………✓…………
c. her specialty is dealing with customers problems. Her parents are …customers’…
d. Mexican, and when she travels to Mexico she stays on her grandparents …grandparents’…
e. farm near Oaxaca. Laura’s cousin lives in Lima, so when she goes ……✓……...
f. to Peru she stays at her cousins. Laura’s got two children, but she’s …cousin’s…..
g. divorced. Her childrens father now lives in Exeter. Once a month …children’s..

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 h. the children spend a weekend at their father’s, since her divorce her …… ✓………
i. life has changed. She now has the problems being a single parent, in the problems of being..
j. addition to the demands her. She feels that her ex-husband the demands of her.
k. doesn’t understand the difficulties her situation. She reads about …of her situation…..
l. the problems of other single mothers in womens magazines, and she …women’s……
m. talks to Alice, the wife of a man who works at the same travel agent’s. ……✓………..
n. Alice seems to understand Lauras difficulties. She tells her to …Laura’s…….
o. remember that ‘todays problems are tomorrow’s opportunities’ ……today’s…..

4. Replace the underlined parts of the following sentences with genitive with ellipsis.
Ex: Rembrandt’s pictures are more valuable than those of Van Dyke.
Rembrandt’s pictures are more valuable than Van Dyke’s
1. I’ve read George’s letter, but where did you put the one Anne sent?
I’ve read George’s letter, but where did you put Anne’s?
2. That is clearly your responsibility not that of your employee.
That is clearly your responsibility not your employee’s.
3. She prefers my work to the work my brother does.
She prefers my work to my brother’s.
4. He has been staying for a few weeks at the house of his uncle.
He has been staying for a few weeks at his uncle’s.
5. This is my room and that is occupied by my sister.
This is my room and that is my sister’s.
6. I’ve read most of Dickens’ novels and some of those written by Thackeray.
I’ve read most of Dickens’ novels and some of Thackeray’s.

5. Change the phrase in italics into Double Genitive constructions

Example
a. It is one of my habits to get up early. It is a habit of mine to get up early.
b. It was one of my father’s favourite expressions.
It was a favourite expression of my father’s. (or) It was a favourite expression of his.
c. It is one of Mike’s weaknesses to eat too many chocolates.
To eat too many chocolates is a weakness of Mike’s.
(or) To eat too many chocolates is a weakness of his.
d. I see that one of your colleagues has had an accident.
I see that a colleague of yours has had an accident.
e. One of our neighbours has recently visited Peru.
A neighbour of ours has recently visited Peru.
f. They tell me that some of the Jones’s acquaintances have been arrested.
They tell me that some acquaintances of the Jones’s have been arrested.
(or) They tell me that some acquaintances of theirs have been arrested.
g. Any of your ideas would be welcome.
Any ideas of yours would be welcome.
h. I seem to remember one of Graham Green’s books about Mexico.
I seem to remember a book of Graham Green’s about Mexico.
(or) I seem to remember a book of his about Mexico.

6. Write new sentences using Double Genitive and Possessive pronouns.

Example
1. We met one of our relatives. We met a relative of ours.

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 2. Henry borrowed one of my books. Henry borrowed a book of mine.
3. Tom invited some of his friends to his flat. Tom invited some friends of his to his flat.
4. We had dinner with one of her colleagues. We had dinner with a colleague of hers.
5. Ann is in love with one of her colleagues. Ann is in love with a colleague of hers.
6. They went on vacation with two of their friends. They went on vacation with two friends of theirs.
7. I just saw one of your teachers. I just saw a teacher of yours.
8. We’re spending the weekend with one of our friends.
We’re spending the weekend with a friend of ours.
9. We met one of Jan’s friends. We met a friend of hers.

7. Change the phrase in italics into Double Genitive form adding the words: this, that, these or those
before it.
Example:
a. Robert’s car is giving him a lot of trouble. That car of Robert’s is giving him a lot of trouble.
or That car of his is giving him a lot of trouble.
b. What about your plans?
What about those plans of yours?
c. Can you remember Turner’s Picture called Fighting Temeraire?
Can you remember that picture of Turner’s called Fighting Temeraire?
(or) Can you remember that picture of his called Fighting Temeraire?
d. Your brother really is an awful musician.
That awful musician of your brother’s.
(or) That awful musician of his.
e. Your son’s drawings are remarkably advanced for his age.
Those drawings of your son’s are remarkably advanced for his age.
(or) Those drawings of his are remarkably advanced for his age.
f. I wish Mary’s servant wouldn’t always say ‘hello’ to me like that.
I wish that servant of Mary’s wouldn’t always say “hello” to me like that.
(or) I wish that servant of hers wouldn’t always say “hello” to me like that.
g. My new shoes pinch me most painfully.
These new shoes of mine pinch me most painfully.

8. Rewrite the following sentences using the ‘s genitive or the ‘of’ construction. Double genitive can also
be used.
Example:
1. I met one of the colleagues of my uncle in the house of Mary and Peter.
I met a colleague of my uncle’s in Mary and Peter’s house
2. He will be paid $2.40 for the work of a week.
He will be paid $2,.40 for a week’s work.
3. I know the husband of Mary but not the husband of Anne.
I know Mary’s husband but not Anne’s.
4. I don’t like that servant Pam has.
I don’t like that servant of Pam’s. (or) I don’t like that servant of hers.
5. I think this is the hat that belongs to Paul.
I think this is Paul’s hat.
6. I read the newspaper published this evening.
I read this evening’s newspaper.
7. That dog – Jack’s dog has torn my trousers.
That dog of Jack’s has torn my trousers.
8. These exercises, you set them, are quite easy.
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 These exercises of yours are quite easy.
9. It was a pity the holiday lasted a week.
It was a pity it was a week’s holiday.
10. That is a tale told by and idiot.
That is an idiot’s tale.
11. It is a walk of three minutes to the bus stop.
It is a three minutes’ walk to the bus stop.
12. I’ve read George’s letter but where did you put the one Anne sent?
I’ve read George’s letter but where did you put Anne’s?

9. Read carefully and then give full answers to the questions using the Double Genitive
Kathleen and James are cousins. Kathleen and Mary are friends. James and Fred are colleagues. Fred
and Kathleen are friends. Kathleen and Louise are neighbours. Mr and Mrs Smith and Mary are
neighbours.

1- Does Fred know Kathleen?

…Yes, he does. He’s a friend of Kathleen’s.
2- Who is James?
James is a cousin of Kathleen’s.
3- Who is Mary?
Mary is a friend of Kathleen’s (and a neighbour of the Smith’s).
4- Is Kathleen a cousin of Louise’s?
No, she isn’t. She’s a neighbour of Louise’s.
10. These sentences are correct, but you could make them a little shorter. Rewrite them using the Genitive.
Example:
a. The shop sells clothes for women. The shop sells women’s clothes
b. The behavior of your friends was disgraceful. Your friends’ behaviour was disgraceful.
c. We are very grateful for the generosity of our sponsors.
We are very grateful for your sponsor’s generosity.
d. The selection of players for the national team was inevitable.
The national team’s players’ selection was inevitable.
e. There’s a changing room for women along the corridor.
There’s a women’s changing room along the corridor.
f. The resignation of the minister surprised everyone.
The minister’s resignation surprised everyone.
g. I prefer milk from a cow to milk from a goat.
I prefer cow’s milk to goat’s.
h. The popularity of the star will guarantee the success of the film.
The star’s popularity will guarantee the film’s success.

11. Rewrite the phrases in bold using the Genitive.

Example:
1. Were you at the annual dinner last year?
Were you at last year’s annual dinner?
2. We’re all going to meet where Mathew lives.
We’re all going to meet at Mathew’s.
3. We are all looking forward to the game on Saturday.
We are all looking forward to Saturday’s game.
4. I always enjoy a day spent fishing.
I always enjoy a day’s fishing.
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 5. Do you know the code word for this month?
Do you know this month’s code word?
6. The article was in Time magazine last week.
The article was in last week’s Time Magazine.
7. Over there is where the Mansons live.
Over there is the Mansons’.
8. To put things right will be the work of a whole week.
To put thing right will be a week’s work.
9. There was a silence of a few seconds.
There was a few second’s silence.

12. Complete the following sentences using the Genitive.

Example:
1. I saw Doris’ handbag (handbag – Doris)
2. When is your cousin’s birthday? (the birthday – one of your cousins?)
3. Mary’s spoken English (the spoken English – Mary) is very good.
4. It is a three minute’s walk (walk – three minutes) to the bus stop.
5. These exercises of yours (these exercises – your exercises) are very difficult.
6. I met a colleague of my uncle’s (one colleague – my uncle) in Alice and Peter’s (the house –
Alice and Peter)
7. The Sears Towers are Chicago’s tallest buildings (the tallest buildings – Chicago)

Self Check exercises:

https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2452

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar-reference/possessives-nouns

https://www.britishcouncil.es/blog/genitivo-sajon-ingles