When Do We Use the Possessive ‘s?

The possessive ‘s is very common in English. We use it mainly for people, animals, and sometimes for time or distance.

• For people and animals: This shows that something belongs to a person or animal. If the noun is singular, add ‘s. If the noun is plural and ends in -s, just add an apostrophe ‘. If the noun is plural but does not end in -s, add ‘s.

Ad esempio:

• My friend’s car is red. (One friend)
• The students’ books are on the table. (Many students)
• The children’s toys were everywhere. (Many children)

• For time and distance: Utilizziamo inoltre ‘s to talk about periods of time or measurements of distance.

Ad esempio:

• We had a week’s holiday. (A holiday of one week)
• It’s a two-hour drive from here. (A drive of two hours)

When Should We Use 'of' for Possession?

The preposition of is another way to show possession or relationship. We use it more often when we talk about things that are not people or animals.

• For objects and abstract ideas: When something belongs to an inanimate object or an abstract concept, of is usually the correct choice.

Ad esempio:

• The color of the sky is beautiful. (Not the sky's color)
• The title of the book is very long. (Not the book's title)
• The importance of education is clear.

• For parts of something or position: Utilizziamo of to describe a part of a whole or the position of something.

Ad esempio:

• The back of the room was empty.
• The top of the mountain was covered in snow.

• For containers and their contents: When a container holds something, we use of.

Ad esempio:

• a bottle of water
• a box of chocolates

Understanding Noun + Noun (Compound Nouns)

Sometimes, we show a relationship between two nouns by simply placing them next to each other. The first noun acts like an adjective, describing the second noun. This is called a compound noun.

• To describe kind, use, or place: We use this structure to indicate the type of something, what it is used for, or where it is located.

Ad esempio:

• a tea cup (a cup for tea – kind/use)
• a bus stop (a stop for the bus – place)
• a shop window (the window of a shop – place)
• a computer screen (the screen of a computer – kind/part)

This structure is very common and often sounds more natural than using of.

Esempi

• My brother's new phone is very fast.
• The company's profits increased this year.
• We need a three-month break from work.
• The capital of Spain is Madrid.
• She bought a box of cookies for the party.
• He works at a car factory.
• I love reading detective stories.

Esercitazione

Errori comuni per chi parla spagnolo

Spanish speakers often make mistakes with possessives because the structure is different from 'de' in Spanish.

• Overusing 'of' for people: In Spanish, you might say 'el coche de mi padre'. In English, it's more natural to use 's for people.

INCORRECT: The car of my father is old.
CORRECT: My father's car is old.

• Using 'of' instead of a compound noun: For objects, especially when describing type or purpose, a noun + noun structure is often better.

INCORRECT: I need a cup of coffee. (This means a cup that *contains* coffee, but if you mean a cup *for* coffee, use a compound noun.)
CORRECT: I need a coffee cup. (A cup designed for coffee)
CORRECT: I need a cup of coffee. (A cup filled with coffee)

• Incorrect apostrophe placement: Remember the rule for plural nouns ending in -s.

INCORRECT: The students's projects were excellent.
CORRECT: The students' projects were excellent.

Domande frequenti

What is the main difference between using 's and 'of' for possession?

Generally, we use 's for people, animals, and sometimes time or organizations. We use of for inanimate objects, abstract ideas, or parts of a whole. For example, my sister's phone (person) vs. the cover of the book (object).

When should I use a noun + noun structure instead of 'of'?

Use a noun + noun structure (compound noun) when the first noun describes the type, purpose, or location of the second noun. For example, a kitchen table (a table for the kitchen) is more natural than the table of the kitchen. If you mean a specific table that belongs to the kitchen, the kitchen's table could also be used, but kitchen table is a common compound noun.

How are possessives tested in the B2 First (FCE) exam?

In the B2 First exam, possessives often appear in the Use of English paper, particularly in Part 2 (Open Cloze) or Part 3 (Word Formation). You might need to correctly form a possessive with 's or choose the correct preposition like of to complete a sentence. Understanding the nuances of when to use each form is crucial.

Lezioni correlate

• Possessives
• Possessives
• Possessives
• Possessives