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