possessive form and of

1. possessive form and of • The possessive form is used in phrases like the boy’s name and Vicky’s room. Singular noun: boy -> boy’s Vicky -> Vicky’s Plural noun ending in s: boys -> boys’ tourists -> tourists’ Plural noun without s: men -> men’s children -> children’s

2. Sometimes both two forms can be used: the possessive (the boy’s name) or with of (the name of the boy). But often only one is possible. • Normally the possessive is used with people and animals: my friend’s house Claire’s idea Daniel’s brother the dog’s owner the policemen’s uniforms the women’s changing room the Parkers’ car • Normally of is used with things: the side of the house the result of the match the day of the meeting

3. of is used with people when there is a long phrase: the house of one of our teachers the address of the people we met in Spain • Both structures can be used for places and organizations: London’s museums the museums of London the earth’s atmosphere the atmosphere of the earth

4. the possessive of time • The possessive can be used to say ‘when’ or ‘how long’. last week’s concert today’s newspaper about a month’s work a ten minutes’ walk in two months time a week’s wages

5. Write these using either of or the possessive. the mistake / the policeman the policeman’s mistake the gun / Mr Hillman the smell / blood the middle / night the money / the gangsters the death / someone important the car / the theif

6. Rewrite the time phrases using a possessive form. The prices this year are even lower. This year’s prices… From here it’s a drive of two hours. I read about it in the paper yesterday. I just want to rest for five minutes. It’s the special offer for this month. I’ll see you in a week.