GENITIVE CASE
The Genitive Case is used to indicate a possession, qualities, relationships or events,
when referring to people and animals, as well as groups that represent them, such as
political parties, business companies and countries.
Bob’s car is really nice. I admire my neighbor’s determination.
Jack’s brother lives in Rome. It’s Susan’s birthday next month.
These were IBM’s profits last year. What’s the Liberal Party’s policy?
It is a hard test for Brazil’s economy.
Regular plurals ending in s take the apostrophe, but no extra s; irregular nouns take ‘s:
The students’ favorite subject is Music. I don’t know the boys’ mother.
I hate children’s parties. Where can I buy women’s clothing?
With singular nouns and names ending in s, an extra s is added:
She is James’ wife. That’s my boss’ house.
She is James’s wife. That’s my boss’s house.
When there is more than one noun, only the last noun takes ‘ when one thing belongs to
both names:
I don’t like Gail and Frank’s new house.
When talking about things and places, it is common to use a phrase with a preposition:
I really like the color of your hair.
The pages in the book are incorrectly numbered.
I enjoy walking on the streets of this city.
EXERCISES
A)Correct these sentences:
1. My boyfriend’s the mother is a very nice person.
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2. Where are Charles and Peter’s car?
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3. I don’t know where the kids’s bikes are.
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4. They need to respect the poor people’ rights.
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5. Where does your mother’s friends live?
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B)Translate the following sentences:
1. Este é o namorado da Helen. O nome dele é Daniel.
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2. Onde estão os livros das crianças?
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3. Os amigos dos seus irmãos são muito engraçados!
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4. Este é meu carro e aquele é do Kevin.
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5. Eu adoro a cor do seu cabelo!
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6. Quando é o aniversário do Louis?
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7. Aquela é minha tia, a irmã da minha mãe.
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8. Qual é o problema com a perna do gato?
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9. Estas jaquetas são da Polly e da Sarah. E aquela é do Frank.
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10. A porta do carro está amassada.
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C)Rewrite these sentences using the Genitive Case. Follow the model.
Susan has a dog. It’s white.
Susan’s dog is white.
1. The children have toys. They are all over the floor.
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2. Fran and Paul have a house. I don’t like it.
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3. The students have a new teacher. I need to talk to her.
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4. Your neighbor has a sense of humor. I really appreciate it.
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D)Future going to or will, complete the I (come) _____ and sit next to you.
sentences below as a review:
1) A: Red or white wine? 3) It´s very hot in here.
B: I ( Have) ________ red please. I (open) ______ the window.
2) I´m tired. I (sit)________ down. 4) The phone ringing.
Don´t worry. I (answer) ____ it.
6) Why do you need the phone?
5) I (leave) _____ now. Because I (phone) _____ for a taxi.
Ok. I (ring) _____ you tomorrow. Don´t bother. I (give) _____ you a lift.
E) Two friends are leaving work together. Some of the lines of the dialogue are correct
and some have a mistake. If a line has mistake in it, underline it and write the correction
in the brackets.
“Where will you eat tonight?” ___________________________
“At Home. I´ve got a new Indian cook book so I´ll make a curry.” ___________________________
“Why don´t you come to my place and I´m going to cook us both something?”_____________________
“Won´t you see Ned this evening ?” ___________________________
“No, I´ve finished with Ned. I´m not going to see him again- ever.” ___________________________
“Ok. I´m going to come round at 8 and I´ll bring a bottle of wine.” ___________________________
“Fine. I´ll see you then.” ___________________________
