Genitive case: usage and spelling rules

In the English language, there is the genitive caseto indicate a relationship of possession, family, purpose or even origin|1|. O genitive case is equivalent to "de" in Portuguese, being represented in English by the use of the apostrophe + without common nouns or proper that are animated. Normally, the relationship is established between people and/or things.

It is very common for apprentices to English language they are confused with the structure of the possessive form, because they think of the logic of the Portuguese language, whose possession is expressed by the preposition “of”. Consequently, there is an attempt to translate this relationship with the prepositionof, which also has the meaning of “of”. However, the preposition of has a different job than the apostrophe + s. Due to the possible misunderstandings that the possessive form can generate, we will explore in this text the genitive case and the use of the apostrophe + s in English, differentiating it from the preposition of.

O genitive case express ownership in English.

Rules for using the apostrophe

First, it is noteworthy that the genitive case indicates a possession relationship. However, the presence of a apostrophe + s will in fact be indicative of this relationship, as this same structure can express the verb wellor have contracted with the subject in affirmative sentences, demonstrating more informal situations in the English language.

I. she is = she's (she is, she is)

II. she has = she's (she has)

III. Martha's 20 years old Martha is 20 years old (verb to be)

IV. Paul's the bike Paul has a bicycle (verb to have)

Thus, examples III and IV indicate that the apostrophe + s is the main verb (well or have) of prayer. In fact, this is a good way to identify in context if the apostrophe + s is it a verb or the genitive case. To do this, just look for the main verb in the sentence, because the genitive case he will never occupy that position.

Note the following examples:

I. Peter’s a beautiful house.
Peter has a beautiful house.

II. Peter's house is beautiful.
Peter's house is beautiful.

Note that in example I, the apostrophe + s is the main verb of the sentence — verb to have. In example II, the main verb is verb to be, being the apostrophe + s the genitive case. Recognition is easy because in the genitive case we have two nouns (Peter and Casa, Lar), since it expresses the idea of ​​ownership (of = house in Peter).

Read more: contracted forms: abbreviated forms in english

Rules for using the apostrophe + s

Keeping in mind the possible uses of the apostrophe + s, we will explore in this topic only the use relating to genitive case. More broadly, we can say that the genitive case expresses a relationship of possession. However, it can also be used for relationship familiar, indicate origin or purpose. For this, you must put the apostrophe + s + animated noun (possessor) + noun (possessed thing, familiar relationship, etc.).

Note this structure in the following examples:

I. Chimamanda’s books are great.
Chimamanda's books are excellent.

II. Isaac Newton's laws have changed physics.
Isaac Newton's laws changed physics.

III. You will find the women's toilet on your right.
You'll find the women's bathroom on your right.

IV. I’m waiting at the dentist’s.
I'm waiting at the dentist.

In some cases, we can use the apostrophe + s alone, especially when it indicates the someone's house or shop|2|, as in example IV, where it does not precede another noun (office = office).

It is also important to emphasize that the genitive case it usually only follows animated nouns (Laura's hair, the cat's tail, my sister's car, his friend's father, etc.). However, in some cases, you can use the genitive case with inanimate nouns, for example:

brazilian forests or the forests of Brazil.
The forests of Brazil.

spelling rules of genitive case

The main spelling rule of genitive case is to add the apostrophe + s right after the noun that has something (possessor). when we have a noun ending in -s, we can put the apostrophe + s or just the apostrophe (examples I and II). if two people share the same thing (example III), we can put the apostrophe + s after the last person, because if we put it in both, we will indicate that each one has something (example IV) and not that they share it. See the examples:

I. My friends’ books or my friends’s books.
My friends' books.

II. Monica is Ross' sister or Monica is Ross's sister.
Monica is Ross' sister.

III. Ross and Monica's parents.
Ross and Monica's parents.

IV. Chandler's and Monica's parents came to their wedding.
Chandler's parents and Monica's parents came to their wedding.

See more: Possessive pronouns: pronouns responsible for expressing the idea of ​​possession

difference from genitivemarry and the use of of (possession)

In previous topics, we saw that the possession relationship with animate nouns must be expressed using the genitive case, except for a few cases. To express the possessive form of the inanimate things or nouns, it is more common to use the preposition of (Examples I, II and III). There is an exception when the thing refers to some human activity, in this case, we use the genitive case (example IV) or of|2|. Note the following examples:

I. The roof of my house isn’t high enough.
The roof of my house is not high enough.

II. Do you know the capital of Goiás?
Do you know the capital of Goiás?

III. She didn’t like the end of the book.
She didn't like the end of the book.

IV. The offices of the building or the building's offices.
The building offices.

solved exercises

Question 1 (2017 - Navy/Naval College)

Mark the INCORRECT option according to the genitivemarry.

A) The door's car is open.
B) The world's population is increasing.
C) I'm going to Grandmas.
D) Which are Fred's and Eric's cars?
E) This is my mother-in-law's house.

Solution

Alternative A, because we have an inanimate noun, so the most suitable would be the door of the car.

Question 2 (2016 - Aeronautics)

Mark the option which shows the same meaning as in "a person's body size or weight".

A) A person and body size or weight.
B) The body size or weight of a person.
C) Body size and person's weight.
D) The body’s size or weight of a person.

Solution

Alternative B, because we can also use the preposition of to indicate ownership.

Question 3 (2015 - Aeronautics)

Mark the option which shows the same meaning as in “Americans' dependence on family”.

A) The family's dependence on Americans'.
B) The Americans family dependence.
C) The Americans dependence of family's.
D) The dependence of Americans on family.

Solution

Alternative D, because we can also use the preposition of to indicate ownership.

Grades
|1| MURPHY, R. Essential grammar in use. Martins Sources: São Paulo, 2003.
|2| EASTWOOD, J. Oxford guide to English grammar. Oxford, 2002.

By Dr. Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher