Mastering The English Genitive Case: A Student Guide
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20 cards
Question: What two cases remain in Modern English and which one is the genitive?
Answer: Modern English has a common case (no ending) and the genitive case. The genitive expresses possession/relationships and appears as either the -'s geni
Question: How is the -'s genitive formed and what happens with most plural nouns?
Answer: The -'s genitive is formed by adding an inflectional morpheme (apostrophe + s) to the singular noun. With most plural forms that already end in -s, on
Question: When do some irregular plurals take -'s for the genitive? Give an example from the content.
Answer: A few irregular plural nouns that do not end in -s take -'s (not just an apostrophe). Example: the men's books.
Question: Which types of singular nouns do NOT add -'s but take a zero genitive? Give examples.
Answer: Greek names of more than one syllable and ending in -s take the zero genitive. Examples: Euripides' plays, Socrates' bust, Archimedes' Principle.
Question: Which fixed expressions use the zero genitive?
Answer: Fixed expressions of the form 'for ... sake' use the zero genitive: for goodness' sake, for conscience' sake.
Question: How are famous names ending in -s usually treated in writing? Provide examples given.
Answer: With some famous names ending in -s we normally add an apostrophe after the -s: Keats' works, Yeats' poetry.
Question: List the four animate noun classes that typically take the -'s genitive.
Answer: 1) Personal names (George Washington's statue) 2) Personal nouns (the boy's shirt) 3) Collective nouns (the government's conviction) 4) Higher animals
Question: Name examples of inanimate nouns that can take the inflected -'s genitive.
Answer: Geographical and institutional names (Europe's history, the University's plans), temporal nouns (a moment's hesitation, a week's holiday), money's wor
Question: When is the of-genitive normally used? List the typical contexts.
Answer: The of-genitive is used for: inanimate things (the windows of the house), parts of things (the top of the box), abstract reference (the cost of living
Question: What genitive meaning corresponds to 'Susan's lipstick' and what is its sentential analogue?
Answer: Possessive genitive. Analogue: Susan has a lipstick.