oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

17 NOUNS AND NOUN PHRASES PAGE 186
b
c
d
We found a bird's nest.
It was a man's voice that I heard.
Here man's modifies voice, like an adjective. It tells us what kind of voice. Compare
a male voice.
The girl's reply surprised us.
Roger's actions were later criticized.
This pattern is related to The girl replied. For more examples, • 149(1).
NOTE The of-pattern is sometimes possible: the actions of Roger.
The hostages' release came unexpectedly.
Susan's promotion is well deserved.
This pattern is related to They released the hostages.
NOTE
The of-pattern is possible here: the release of the hostages. And we always use the of-pattern
with things rather than people.
the release of the information. NOT the information's release
e
That man's stupidity is unbelievable.
The player's fitness is in question.
This pattern is related to That man is stupid. We use it mainly with humans.
NOTE The of-pattern is also possible: the stupidity of that man.
5 The pattern yesterday's newspaper
The possessive can express time when.
Have you seen yesterday's newspaper?
Next month's figures are expected to show an improvement.
It can also express length of time.
We've booked a three weeks' holiday.
There's going to be about an hour's delay.
NOTE
a Sunday's newspaper is a newspaper on one specific Sunday, e.g. last Sunday. A Sunday
newspaper is a type of newspaper, one that appears on Sundays.
b We can also use the following patterns to express length of time.
a holiday of three weeks a delay of one hour
a three-week holiday a one-hour delay
6 At Alec's, to the butcher's etc
We can use the possessive without a following noun when we talk about
someone's home or shop.
We're all meeting at Dave's (house/flat).
There's a policeman outside the McPhersons' (house/flat).
Is there a baker's (shop) near here?
I was sitting in the waiting-room at the dentist's.
We can also use company names.
I'm just going to Tesco's to get some bread.
We ate at Maxime's (Restaurant).
There's a Barclay's (Bank) on the university campus.
NOTE Many companies leave out the apostrophe from their name: Barclays (Bank).