POSSESSIVE CASE: GENITIVE ('s)
The book The boy
The boy’s book
Indicates a relation of ownership The girls' dresses. People's names
or association with a person a For example:- that end in "s" you
group of people or animals take an apostrophe ( ' ). can write (') or ('s).
For example:- Plural nouns that end in " s " For example:-
Lynne's web site kept growing larger - Charles' job was
and larger. on the line, or
The member's forum. Singular and plural nouns Charles’s job was
The dog's tail. that don't end in 's' take -'s. on the line.
For example:-
Lynne's web site.
Exercises with Genitive (-‘s)
A) Mark with an “X” the correct answer.
1. the coats of the ladies
the ladies’s coats
the ladies' coats 6. the bathtub of Archimedes
no genitive possible Joel's bathtub
2. the countries of Blair and Chirac Joel's bathtub
John's house and Susan's Joels' bathtub
John and Susan’s house 7. the business of Anne and Francis
John and Susans house Mary and Francis' business
3. the hobbies of the women Mary's and Francis' business
the womens hobbies Mary and Francis's business
the woman's hobbies Mary's business and Francis's
the women's hobbies 8. the diary of my boss
the womens' hobbies my boss's diary
4. the shoes of the players my boss' diary
the players' shoes 9. the clothes of men
the players's shoes mens clothes
the player's shoes men's clothes
5. the future of our boys mens' clothes
our boy's future 10. the girlfriend of my brother-in-law
our boys' future my brother-in-law's girlfriend
our boys's future my brother's-in-law girlfriend
my brother's-in-law's girlfriend
B) Rewrite the sentences correctly:
1. Billy blue car is in the garage. 6. My friends cousins are beautiful.
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
2. Mr. John secretary is here. 7. We love Grandma cookies.
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
3. They sell ladies clothes in this store. 8. The police officer sunglasses are broken.
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
4. The doctor kids are very nice. 9. I don’t like boys sneakers.
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
5. The women boyfriends are late. 10. Bring the baby toys.
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
C) Complete the exercise with 's or '.
1. The woman __ dogs. 6. My brothers__ children.
2. My grandmother__ car. 7. My parents__ furniture.
3. The student__ books. 8. My family__ car.
4. The girl__ mother. 9. The cow__ milk.
5. The basket __ handles. 10. The farmer__ truck.
D) Write apostrophe’s correctly.
Example: I met _______ sister yesterday. (Mandy)
Answer: I met Mandy's sister yesterday.
1. This is __________________ book. (Peter) 6. __________ shoes are on the second floor. (men)
2. Let's go to the __________________. (Smiths) 7. My _________ car was not expensive. (parents)
3. The ______________ room is upstairs. (children) 8. ________________ CD player is new. (Charles)
4. ____________ sister is twelve years old. (John) 9. This is the __________________ bike. (boy)
5. ________ and_________ bags have blue 10. These are the _______________ pencils. (boys)
stickers. (Susan - Steve)
E) Rewrite each phrase below using a possessive form.
Example: the engine of the boat the boat’s engine
1. the dish of the puppies ____________________________
2. the pages of the encyclopedia ____________________________
3. the red saddle of the horse ____________________________
4. the fishing tackle of the men ____________________________
5. the spells of the witches ____________________________
6. the homework for the class ____________________________