Chapter+17

Chapter 17

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= = =17.1 How do I form the genitive?= The genitive is formed in the following ways: 's/ ' (apostrophe) (the 's and apostrophe are ussually pronounced as: /Iz/ or /z/.) 1. **the noun ends in s: we add ' or 's** example: Lies her book -> Lies' book. Charles his parents -> Charles's parents/Charles' parents 2. **the noun doesn't end in s: we add 's** example: Pete his chair -> Pete's chair 3. **two names => only the second one takes the genitive** example: Janet and Gary their children -> Janet and Gary's children 4. Also the genitive of //plural nouns// in -s is formed by adding only an apostrophe: - Her brothers' friends (This goes for proper nouns as well as irregular plurals)

17.2 Use of the genitive To express possession or other notions: time/being part of. (Dutch 'van') De kat van Peter - Peter's cat (possesion) Het magazine van deze week - This week's magazine

17.3 When indicating 'possesion' with **proper nouns** the genitive is practically the only possibility; exceptions:
 * Proper nouns: genitive or of-phrase?**

A. Names of countries and towns. - The landmarks of London

B. Titles of books - The Complete works of Dickens

C. A photo of/ a picture of (representing)

In this cases an of-phrase is also possible.

17.4 Nouns denoting persons and animals: genitive or of-phrase? With personal nouns ('man', 'friend', 'dog') an of-phrase is also possible.

for example: The child's doll/ the doll of the child. In order to avoid misunderstanding an //of-phrase// is preferable in such cases:

The friends of our brother/ The friends of our brothers. because you hear no difference with: My brothers' friends/ My brother's friends.

17.5 Nouns denoting things: genitive or of-phrase? Words referring to things do not take a genitive, but an of-phrase: The cost of the new window.

exceptions:

a. Collective nouns and nouns denoting institutions. b. Nouns denoting places. c. Nouns denoting means of transport.

17.6 Words denoting time and distance: genitive or //of-phrase//? With words denoting time or distance the genitive and of-phrase both can be used. After a moment's reflection/ After a moment of reflection. A twenty minutes' delay/ a delay of twenty minutes. At a few miles' distance/ at a distance of a few miles

(When in doubt use the genitive, which is always correct)

17.7 The genitive is most used in a number of fixed expression: - Keep a person at arm's length. - For goodness' sake - enjoy oneself to one's heart's content etc.

Exercise:

Answers: 1. A glass of milk 2. My friend's bike 3. The window of the room 4. Mr. Smith's car 5. A ten minutes' walk 6. The headteacher's office 7. The number of the house 8. Two days' work 9. The waiter's shoes 10. The economy of Britain
 * 1) (a glass) milk ||  ||
 * 2) (my friend) bike ||  ||
 * 3) (the window) room ||  ||
 * 4) (Mr Smith) car ||  ||
 * 5) (ten minutes) walk ||  ||
 * 6) (the headteacher) office ||  ||
 * 7) (the number) house ||  ||
 * 8) (two days) work ||  ||
 * 9) (the waiter) shoes ||  ||
 * 10) (Britain) economy ||  ||

Practise test + key (from 2009)

A. Translate the following sentences. Use the genitive or of-phrase.

1. Die boot? Dat is de boot van Peter. 2. De foto van mijn moeder is kwijt. 3. De vliegtuigramp staat beschreven in de krant van vandaag. 4. De vriendin van me broer heeft rood haar. 5. De straten van London zijn erg schoon.

B. Choose the right form. It's possible that both forms are correct.

1. A walk of five miles / a five miles' walk 2. A picture of John / John's picture 3. The bikes of the children / The children's bikes 4. The crew of the ship / The ship's crew 5. The economy of Holland / Holland's economy 6. The milk of the cow / The cow's milk 7. At the length of arm / At arm's length 8. The sights of the city / The city's sights 9. The meeting of next month / Next month's meeting 10. The tail of our dog / Our dog's tail

C. Translate the following sentences. Example: - Deze fiets is van Jenny - This bike is Jenny's

1. Deze pen is van John. 2. Mijn cijfers zijn beter dan die van Jamie. 3. Dat zijn mijn vader zijn vrienden. 4. Ik zag een paar vrienden van mijn moeder. 5. Welke vriend van mijn broer bedoel je?  KEY 

A. 1. That boat? That's Peter's boat. 2. The picture of my mum is lost. 3. The plain chrash is described in the today's newspaper. 4. My brother's girlfriend has got red hair. 5. The streets of London are very clean.

B. 1. A five miles' walk 2. A picture of John 3. The children's bikes 4. The crew of the ship / The ship's crew 5. The economy of Holland 6. The cow's milk 7. At arm's length 8. The sights of the city / The city's sights 9. Next month's meeting 10. The tail of our dog / Our dog's tail

C. 1. This pen is John's 2. My marks are better than Jamie's 3. Those are a few friends of my father's 4. I saw some friends of my mother's 5. Which friend of my brother's do you mean?