Притяжательный падеж
The possessive case of a noun shows ownership or a close relationship between a noun and another word in a sentence. It is most often formed by adding an apostrophe and an -s (’s) to the end of the noun.
Правила образования притяжательного падежа
| Правило | Пример |
|---|---|
| For a singular noun, add ’s. | the boy’s toy, a woman’s hat, the dog’s tail |
| For a plural noun that ends in -s, add only an apostrophe (’). | the students’ projects, the dogs’ bowls, the parents’ car |
| For an irregular plural noun (not ending in -s), add ’s. | the children’s books, the men’s suits, the geese’s feathers |
| For a singular noun ending in -s, you can add either ’s or just an apostrophe (’). Both are generally considered correct. | James’s book OR James’ book |
Использование 'of' для обозначения владения
For inanimate objects (things that are not alive), it is more common to use the preposition of to show possession.
| Правильно | Менее распространено |
|---|---|
| the roof of the house | the house’s roof |
| the cover of the book | the book’s cover |
| the wheels of the car | the car’s wheels |
However, using the ’s possessive with inanimate nouns is common when referring to time, value, or personified objects (e.g., a day’s work, the city’s streets).
Составные существительные и совместное владение
- Compound Nouns:
Add ’s to the end of the entire compound noun.
my mother-in-law’s car - Joint Possession:
If two or more people own something together, add ’s only to the last person named.
John and Mary’s house