Possessive Apostrophe S or of-phrase

Possessive Apostrophe S and/or of?

There is no strict rule when we use ‘s and when the of-phrase.

1. Possessive s – mostly for people and animals

  • Susan‘s car
  • the dog‘s collar

2. of-phrase – mostly for things

  • the name of the hospital
  • the door of the house

If things have a connection to people we also use the possessive apostrophe s.

  • Europe‘s future = the future of Europe

In time expressions we also use the possessive apostrophe s.

  • in three weeks‘ time

Exercises