Meaning and use of the genitive
The genitive is used to modify another noun; it is part of a noun phrase and has the
same position and function as determiners (see B3):
Where’s the cat’s blue bowl?
Cats’ paws suffer many injuries.
The meaning is often said to involve possession (John’s car), but there are many
other relationships that are shown (which is why ‘genitive’ is a better name than
‘possessive’).
Look at the following noun phrases and work out the relationship between
the genitive and the following noun:
1. Roger Federer’s defeat
2. the man’s death
3. John’s sister
4. Mary’s lover
5. the writer’s reputation
6. the planet’s atmosphere
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