● A possessive noun is a noun form used to show possession or that something belongs to someone or something. It’s commonly recognized by the apostrophe and the letter S at the end, as in Charlotte’s Web.
● 名词所有格用来表示所属关系，通常在名词词尾加上 ’S，如Charlotte’s Web《夏洛特的网》。
● Apostrophe + S (’S) has 3 three meanings in English.
● 英语中’S表示三种含义：
◆ When an apostrophe is followed by an adjective, then the apostrophe is a contraction of IS, as in the sentence Andy’s tall.
当’S后面跟的是形容词时，’S就是IS的缩写，如Andy’s tall.
◆ When an apostrophe S is followed by a past participle, then the apostrophe is a contraction of HAS, as in the sentence Andy’s studied.
当’S后面跟的是过去分词时，’S就是HAS的缩写，如Andy’s studied。
◆ When an apostrophe S is followed by a noun, then the apostrophe is used to show possession or that something belongs to someone or something, as in the sentence Andy’s car is red.
当’S后面跟的是名词时，’S表示所属关系，如Andy’s car is red.
● How to Make the Possessive Form of Nouns?
◆ For singular nouns, we add apostrophe + S (’S).
◆ 单数名词，我们直接加 ’S。
★ Andy’s house 安迪的房子
★ Cathy’s parents 凯西的父母
◆ For plural nouns ending in S, we only have to add an apostrophe.
◆ 以S结尾的复数名词，直接加 ’ 。
★ students' lounge 学生休息室
★ teachers' union 教师工会
★ parents’ permission 家长的许可
◆ For plural nouns not ending in S, add apostrophe + S (’S).
◆ 不以S结尾的复数名词，加 ’S 。
★ children’s books 儿童读物
★ the men’s toilet 男厕
★ the women’s university 女子大学
★ the People’s Republic of China 中华人民共和国
★ men's clothing 男士服装
◆ For names ending in S and pronounced /z/, adding apostrophe + S or only an apostrophe are both correct.
◆ 以S结尾的人名并且S的发音为/z/，加 ’S 或 ’ 均可。
★ James’s dog / James’ dog
★ Charles Dickens’s novels / Charles Dickens’ novels
◆ But with classical or religious names ending in S, we only add the apostrophe.
◆ 以S结尾的历史上有名的人或古希腊文化或宗教文化中的人名，直接加 ’。
★ Moses’ law 摩西律法
★ Jesus’ followers 耶稣的追随者
★ Achilles’ heel 阿喀琉斯之踵
★ Sophocles’ plays are still performed today.
★ 索福克勒斯的戏剧至今仍被演艺。
★ Hercules’ strength seemed unlimited.
★ 赫拉克勒斯的力量似乎是无限的。
● Apostrophes with Joint Ownership: 共有关系
◆ When one thing belongs to two or more people, make only the final name possessive.
◆ 当某件东西是两个或两个以上的人共有时，只需在最后一个名词词尾加 ’S。
★ Andy and Cathy’s shop (Andy and Cathy own a shop together)
★ 安迪和凯茜的商店（安迪和凯茜共同拥有一家商店）
◆ But when you’re talking about separate things that belong to different people, make all the names possessive.
◆ 如果不是共有，则所有名词词尾均需分别加上 ’S。
★ Andy’s and Cathy’s shops (Andy and Cathy each own a shop)
★ 安迪和凯茜的商店（安迪和凯茜各拥有一家商店）
● Apostrophes with Compound Nouns:复合名词的所有格
◆ If the compound noun is singular, just add an apostrophe + S to the final word. If the nouns are plural with a regular S at the end, add only an apostrophe to the final word. But if the noun is plural without an S at the end, add an apostrophe + S to the final word.
◆ 复合名词单数，直接在词尾加 ’S。以S结尾的复合名词复数，直接在词尾加 ’，不以S结尾的复合名词复数，直接在词尾加 ’S。
★ the editor-in-chief’s office 总编室
★ my sister-in-law’s father 我嫂子的父亲
★ the ten-year-old’s birthday 十岁孩子的生日
★ X-rays’ image X射线影像
● We often use apostrophe + S with people or groups of people, other living things, places, and times to show possession.
● ’S 通常用来表示人、一群人、其他生命体、地点、时间的所有格。
★ Elizabeth's business card伊丽莎白的名片
★ my father’s room 我父亲的房间
★ the committee’s agenda 委员会的议程
★ the jury’s decision 陪审团的决定
★ bird’s nest鸟巢
★ China’s industry 中国的工业
★ today’s lesson 今天的课程
★ this year’s best movie 今年的最佳电影
★ a day's journey 一天的路程
★ How much notice do you need to give an employer when you plan to quit your job?
当你打算辞职时，需提前多久通知雇主？
Usually four weeks’ notice.
通常提前四周。
★ Do you know how much a landlord usually asks a tenant to pay in advance?
你知道房东通常要求房客预付多少房租吗？
Often you need to pay three months’ rent.
通常需要预付三个月的租金。
★ Does a company pay anything when a worker gets laid off?
当员工被解雇时，公司会支付任何费用吗？
Usually yes, one month’s pay.
通常会支付一个月的工资。
● 当某个名词对后一个表示事物的名称起分类作用时，通常用 ’S。
★ a teacher’s college 师范学院
★ a master’s degree 硕士学位
★ a doctor’s degree 博士学位
★ children’s books 儿童读物
★ men’s clothing 男士服装
● 当名词后有另一个名词作同位语时，在同位语名词后加 ’S。
★ his classmate Andy’s book 他同学安迪的书
★ Your teacher Mr. Wang’s office is over there.
★ 你们王老师的办公室在那边。
● The noun following a possessive form can be left out when we talk about someone’s home, or some shops and services.
● 当谈论某人的家、某种商店或提供某项服务的店铺时，所有格 ’S后的名词往往省略。
★ the newsagent’s 报社
★ the chemist’s 药店
★ the hairdresser’s 美发店
★ the butcher’s 肉店
★ We’re going to Andy’s/ Andy’s home for the evening.
★ 我们要去安迪家过夜。
● We usually leave out the noun after the ’S to avoid repetition, especially when the meaning is clear.
● 通常情况下，当双方清楚所讨论的人或物时，所有格 ’S后的名词往往被省略，以避免重复。
★ My car is more expensive than Andy’s.
★ 我的车比安迪的车要贵。
★ The magazine is not mine, but Cathy’s.
★ 这本杂志不是我的，是凯西的。
● However, we are more likely to use the OF +noun form with inanimate objects.
● 无生命物体的所属关系，我们通常使用OF+名词的结构。
★ the cover of the book or the book cover 书籍封面
★ The drawer of the desk is stuck.
★ 书桌的抽屉卡住了。
● We are more likely to use the OF +noun form when we are talking about a process, or a change over time.
● 谈论某种过程或随着时间流逝发生的某种变化，我们通常使用OF+名词的结构。
★ the establishment of the committee 该委员会的成立
★ the destruction of the forest 森林的破坏
★ The completion of the road was ahead of the schedule.
★ 该道路修建提前完工。
★ The evacuation of the building took only 10 minutes.
★ 只用了10分钟就完成了大楼的疏散工作。
● We are more likely to use the OF +noun form when the noun is a long noun phrase.
● 当该名词是一个较长的名词短语时，我们通常使用OF+名词的结构。
★ She is the sister of someone I used to go to school with.
★ 她是以前和我一起上学的一个人的妹妹。
★ He’s the friend of a man I know at work.
★ 他是我工作中认识的一个人的朋友。
★ It’s the responsibility of the firm who built the houses.
★ 这是建造这些房子的那家公司的责任。
★ Do you know the opinion of the committee appointed a few days ago?
★ 你知道几天前任命的委员会的观点吗？
● We are more likely to use the OF +noun form when explaining something that is part or belongs to something bigger.
● 当表示部分与整体的关系，通常使用 OF+名词的结构。
★ the rest of the people 其余的人
★ the majority of voters 大多数选民
★ the end of the video 视频的结尾
★ the top of the mountain 山顶
● 当定冠词加形容词或分词表示一类人时的所属关系，通常使用OF+名词的结构：
★ the struggle of the exploited 受剥削人的斗争
★ We hope that our government should pay more attention to the livelihood of the poor.
★ 我们希望政府应该多关注穷人的生计。
Fixed Expressions 固定搭配：
★ in one’s mind’s eye 在某人的心中
★ at one’s wit’s end 不知所措
★ at one’s finger’s ends 了如指掌
★ a bird’s eye view 鸟瞰
★ a wolf in sheep’s clothing 披着羊皮的狼
★ at death’s door 在鬼门关
★ at arm’s length 疏远
★ to one’s heart’s content 尽情地
You’ve got a whole week to yourself and you can read to your heart’s content.
你有一整周独处的时间，可以尽情地阅读。
★ a stone’s throw 一箭之遥
The apartment is just a stone's throw from the sea.
该公寓距离大海仅一箭之遥。
★ a hair’s breadth 间不容发的距离，极小量，差一点
His finger was within a hair's breadth of touching the alarm.
他只差一点就能碰到警报器。
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