Unit 63

-'s (Ann's camera / my brother's car etc.)

Grammar
Examples
Exercises

A. -'s for people

Ann's camera (her camera)
my brother's car (his car)
the manager's office (his or her office)

We normally use -'s for people:

  • I stayed at my sister's house. (not 'the house of my sister')
  • Have you met Mr Kelly's wife? (not 'the wife of Mr Kelly')
  • Are you going to James's party?
  • Paul is a man's name. Paula is a woman's name.

You can use -'s without a noun after it:

  • Mary's hair is longer than Ann's. (= Ann's hair)
  • 'Whose umbrella is this?' 'It's my mother's.' (= my mother's umbrella)
  • 'Where were you last night?' 'I was at Paul's.' (= Paul's house)

B. friend's and friends'

my friend's house = one friend
(= his house or her house)
my friends' house = two or more friends
(= their house)

We write -'s after friend / student / mother etc. (singular):

  • my father's car (one mother)
  • my father's car (one father)

We write -' after friends / students / parents etc. (plural):

  • my parents' car (two parents)

C. of ... for things, places etc.

  • Look at the roof of that building. (not 'that building's roof')
  • We didn't see the beginning of the film. (not 'the film's beginning')
  • What's the name of this village?
  • Do you know the cause of the problem?
  • You can sit in the back of the car.
  • Madrid is the capital of Spain.

People (-'s)

  • Ann's camera
  • my brother's car
  • the manager's office
  • my sister's house
  • James's party

Without Noun

  • Mary's hair is longer than Ann's.
  • It's my mother's.
  • I was at Paul's.

friend's / friends'

  • my friend's house (one friend)
  • my friends' house (two or more friends)
  • my father's car
  • my parents' car

Things, Places (of ...)

  • the roof of that building
  • the beginning of the film
  • the capital of Spain
Progress: 0% (0/0)
63.1 Look at the family tree. Write sentences about the people in the family.
MARY = BRIAN
JAMES
JULIA
PAUL
DANIEL
1. (Brian/husband) Brian is Mary's husband.
2. (Julia/mother) Julia is .
3. (Mary/wife) Mary is .
4. (James/brother) James is .
5. (James/uncle) James is .
6. (Julia/wife) Julia is .
7. (Mary/grandmother) Mary is .
8. (Julia/sister) Julia is .
9. (Paul/husband) Paul is .
10. (Paul/father) Paul is .
11. (Daniel/nephew) Daniel is .
63.2 Look at the pictures and answer the questions. Use one word only.
Whose is this?
Alice's
And this?
Andy's
And these?
Diane's
And this?
David's
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
63.3 Are these sentences OK? Correct the sentences where necessary.
1. I stayed at the house of my sister. my sister's house
2. What is the name of this village?
3. Do you like the colour of this coat?
4. Do you know the phone number of Bill?
5. The job of my brother is very interesting.
6. Write your name at the top of the page.
7. For me the morning is the best part of the day.
8. The favourite colour of Paula is blue.
9. When is the birthday of your mother?
10. The house of my parents isn't very big.
11. The walls of this house are very thin.
12. The car stopped at the end of the street.
13. Are you going to the party of Silvia next week?
14. The manager of the hotel is on holiday at the moment.