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Lesson Plan January 13, 2023
Topic: ‘S and OF …
In this lesson we will be looking at using apostrophe + s (‘s) for people and animals, and using of … for things, ideas etc.
Section A
We use -’s (apostrophe + s) mostly for people or animals:
Tom’s computer isn’t working. (NOT the computer of Tom)
How old are Akiko’s children? (NOT the children of Akiko)
What’s your sister’s name?
What is June’s sister’s husband’s name?
Be careful. Don’t step on the cat’s tail.
You can use -’s without a noun after it (as long as everyone know’s which thing you are talking about)
This isn’t my book. It’s my sister’s. (= my sister’s book)
We use -’s with a noun, but we do not use it with a long group of words. So we say:
… your friend’s name
BUT … the name of the women sitting by the door.
Note that we often say:
a woman’s hat (= a hat for a woman)
a boy’s name (= a name for a boy)
a bird’s egg (= an egg laid by a bird) etc
Section B
With a singular noun we use -’s
my sister’s room (= her room — one sister)
Mr Carter’s house (= his house)
With a plural noun (sisters, friends etc) we put an apostrophe (‘) at the end of the word
my sisters’ room (= their room — two or more sisters)
the Carters’ house (= their hour — Mr and Mrs Carter)
If a plural noun does not end in -s (for example men, women, children, people) we use -’s
the men’s changing room
a children’s book (= a book for children)
You can use -’s after more than one noun
Jack and Karen’s wedding
Mr and Mrs Carter’s house
Section C
For things, ideas etc, we normally use of (… of the water / … of the book etc)
the temperature of the water (NOT the water’s temperature)
the name of the book
the owner of the restaurant
Sometimes the structure noun + noun is possible
the water temperature
the restaurant owner
We say:
the (beginning / end / middle) of …
the (top / bottom) of …
the (front / back / side) of …
the beginning of the month (NOT the month’s beginning)
the top of the hill
the back of the car.
Section D
You can usually use -’s or of … for an organization (= a group of people)
the government’s decision OR the decision of the government
the company’s success OR the success of the company
It is also possible to use -’s for places
the city’s streets
the world’s population
Japan’s prime minister
Section E
You can also use -’s with time words (yesterday’s / next week’s / today’s / this evening’s / Saturday’s etc)
Do you still have last week’s lesson notes?
Next Wednesday’s meeting has been cancelled.
We also use -’s (or -s’ with plural words) with periods of time
I’ve got a week’s holiday starting Monday.
Akiko has got three weeks’ holiday.
I live near the station — it’s only about ten minutes’ walk.
Lesson Notes
My friend has a sister-in-law. The sister-in-law has parents. The parents’ house is on a lake.
My friend’s sister-in-law’s parents’ house in on a lake.
For everyday conversation, it’s easier to use possessive ’S for people and animals than it is to use possessive OF
My friends’ party was fun. (NOT the party of my friends was fun)
My son’s dog is rather cute. (NOT the dog of my son is cute)
