e) Descriptive genitive, eg:I first met her on a summer's dayThis workshop makes men's shoes.f) Genitive oftime, distance, measure, value, etc,eg:twohours'delay300kilometers'distancefivedollars'worthofstamps50kilometers'weight.3) Uses of genitive nounsGenitivenounsaremostlyusedascentral determinersandthereforeperformthe same function as"possessive determiners"(traditionally called"possessivepronouns"), eg:theboy's father=hisfatherthe woman's husband = her husbandthe students essays =their essaysthe prime minister's arrival =his/her arrivalthe criminal's punishment -- his/ her punishmentMary's letter = her letterthe stranger's story =his storyAs central determiner, genitive nouns can't collocate with other centraldeterminers, nor can theybe preceded by a premodifier.For instance, we can say"Mary's letter", but not ~ a Mary's letter, we can say "Mary's interesting letter"instead of~interesting Mary's letter.This, however, does not apply to someother genitive nouns such as the descriptive genitive and the genitive thatdenotes time, distance, value or measure.These genitive nouns are not used asdeterminers but as premodifiers in the noun phrase, ega children's bookthese children's booksan interesting children's book26
26 e) Descriptive genitive, eg: I first met her on a summer's day. This workshop makes men's shoes. f) Genitive of time, distance, measure, value, etc, eg: two hours' delay 300 kilometers' distance five dollars' worth of stamps 50 kilometers’ weight. 3) Uses of genitive nouns Genitive nouns are mostly used as central determiners and therefore perform the same function as "possessive determiners" (traditionally called "possessive pronouns"), eg: the boy's father = his father the woman's husband = her husband the students' essays = their essays the prime minister's arrival = his / her arrival the criminal's punishment - his / her punishment Mary's letter = her letter the stranger's story = his story As central determiner, genitive nouns can't collocate with other central determiners, nor can they be preceded by a premodifier. For instance, we can say "Mary's letter", but not ~ a Mary's letter; we can say "Mary's interesting letter" instead of ~ interesting Mary's letter. This, however, does not apply to some other genitive nouns such as the descriptive genitive and the genitive that denotes time, distance, value or measure. These genitive nouns are not used as determiners but as premodifiers in the noun phrase, eg. a children's book these children's books an interesting children's book
some other new children's booksthe newly published children's booka/another threedays journeya pleasant three days journey，another veryboring three days journeyAs central determiner, genitive nouns are sometimes interchangeable withof-phrases, eg:China's foreign policy=theforeign policy of Chinaan elephant's trunk = the trunk of an elephantthe prime minister's arrival =the arrival of the primeministerthe criminal's punishment=the punishment of the criminalNewton's law=the law of NewtonShakespeare's tragedies =thetragedies of ShakespeareBut in some cases, we can onlyuse genitive nouns insteadofof-phrases,egat one's wits endat swords'pointsa hair's breadtha wolf in sheep's clothinga bird's-eye viewat a stone's throwIn some other cases, however, we can only use of-phrases instead ofgenitive nouns, eg.the opinion of the chairman appointed a month agothe suggestions of those present at the meetingthe income of the richthe struggle ofthe exploitedthe city of Rome2. Independent genitive and double genitiveI) Independentgenitive27
27 some other new children's books the newly published children's book a / another three days' journey a pleasant three days' journey ; another very boring three days' journey As central determiner, genitive nouns are sometimes interchangeable with of-phrases, eg: China's foreign policy = the foreign policy of China an elephant's trunk = the trunk of an elephant the prime minister's arrival = the arrival of the prime minister the criminal's punishment = the punishment of the criminal Newton's law = the law of Newton Shakespeare's tragedies = the tragedies of Shakespeare But in some cases, we can only use genitive nouns instead of of-phrases, eg: at one's wits' end at swords' points a hair's breadth a wolf in sheep's clothing. a bird's-eye view at a stone's throw In some other cases, however, we can only use of-phrases instead of genitive nouns, eg. the opinion of the chairman appointed a month ago the suggestions of those present at the meeting the income of the rich the struggle of the exploited the city of Rome 2. Independent genitive and double genitive 1) Independent genitive
As has been mentioned in the previous section, a genitivenoun can sometimesbe used independently, that is, without a following noun.This use of the genitivemay be termed as the independent genitive.Independent genitive is useda)when the missing noun has occurred somewhere in the context and can beeasily retrieved,Her memory is like an elephant'sMary's is the largest apartment in the buildingb)when themissing noun refers to somebody's house or residence:I'm going to dine at my brother's.The doctor's is on the other side of the street.c)when the missing noun refers to church, school, or other public buildingsJoe lives near St. Paul's (Cathedral) in London.He was educated at Merchant Taylor's (school)d)when the missing noun refers to commercial firms:Pickled vegetables are available at the grocer's.Chinese toys are sold both at Smith's and at Brown's2)DoublegenitiveAn independent genitive can sometimes be used as prepositionalcomplementation (traditionally known as prepositional "object").Theprepositional phrase (usually an of-phrase) that takes an independent genitive ascomplementation is called a"double genitive", eg.He is a friend of my father's=He isoneofmyfather'sfriendsThis is a painting of my roommate's.--This is oneofthepaintingsownedbymy roommateShe is a business client of Sir Roger's.=She is one of Sir Roger's business clients.From the above examples, we can see that the independent genitive in theof-phrase must be definite specific personal reference.Thus, we can say"a28
28 As has been mentioned in the previous section, a genitive noun can sometimes be used independently, that is, without a following noun. This use of the genitive may be termed as the independent genitive. Independent genitive is used. a) when the missing noun has occurred somewhere in the context and can be easily retrieved, Her memory is like an elephant's. Mary's is the largest apartment in the building. b) when the missing noun refers to somebody's house or residence: I'm going to dine at my brother's. The doctor's is on the other side of the street. c) when the missing noun refers to church, school, or other public buildings: Joe lives near St. Paul's(Cathedral) in London. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's (school). d) when the missing noun refers to commercial firms: Pickled vegetables are available at the grocer's. Chinese toys are sold both at Smith's and at Brown's. 2) Double genitive An independent genitive can sometimes be used as prepositional complementation (traditionally known as prepositional "object").The prepositional phrase (usually an of-phrase) that takes an independent genitive as complementation is called a "double genitive", eg. He is a friend of my father's. = He is one of my father's friends. This is a painting of my roommate's. - This is one of the paintings owned by my roommate. She is a business client of Sir Roger's. = She is one of Sir Roger's business clients. From the above examples, we can see that the independent genitive in the of-phrase must be definite specific personal reference. Thus, we can say "a
patient of the doctor's", but not "~a patient of a doctor's"; nor can we say "* anengine of the plane's".In the first example"a doctor's" is not definite specificreference,while inthe second,thereferenceof"theplane's"isnotpersonalFrom the above examples, we can also see that the noun phrase with adouble genitive as postmodifierusually takes an indefinite determiner such as a(n), some, any, etc, or a demonstrative determiner such as this, that to conveyemotional feelings, ega daughter of Mrs Green'sany/somedaughtersofMrsGreen'stwodaughters of Mrs Green'swhichdaughter of Mrs Green'sthat daughter of Mrs Green'sBut we can't say"~the daughterof Mrs Green's"Semantically,a double genitive is different from an ordinary of-phraseCompare:He is a friend of myfather's= He is one of my father's friendsHe is a friend of my father.Implies "He is friendly to my father:"a portrait of Mr Brown's=oneof theportraitsowned orcollectedbyMrBrowna portrait of MrBrown=a picture of Mr Brown himselfa criticism of Mr Hamilton's=oneofthecriticismsmadebyMrHamiltonacriticismof MrHamilton-- Mr Hamilton is criticizedStageIV:Practice (30mins)1. Ask the students to read the textbook again and writedown their own29
29 patient of the doctor's" , but not "~a patient of a doctor's"; nor can we say " * an engine of the plane's". In the first example "a doctor's" is not definite specific reference, while in the second, the reference of "the plane's" is not personal. From the above examples, we can also see that the noun phrase with a double genitive as postmodifier usually takes an indefinite determiner such as a (n), some, any, etc, or a demonstrative determiner such as this, that to convey emotional feelings, eg: a daughter of Mrs Green's any / some daughters of Mrs Green's two daughters of Mrs Green's which daughter of Mrs Green's that daughter of Mrs Green's But we can't say "~ the daughter of Mrs Green's". Semantically, a double genitive is different from an ordinary of-phrase. Compare: He is a friend of my father's. = He is one of my father's friends. He is a friend of my father. Implies "He is friendly to my father:" a portrait of Mr Brown's = one of the portraits owned or collected by Mr Brown a portrait of Mr Brown = a picture of Mr Brown himself a criticism of Mr Hamilton's = one of the criticisms made by Mr Hamilton a criticism of Mr Hamilton - Mr Hamilton is criticized StageⅣ: Practice (30mins) 1. Ask the students to read the textbook again and write down their own
summariesofthetheoriesconcernedwithgenitivenouns2.AskthestudentstofinishtheEXERCISE5AandEXERCISE5Dingroups in the class.3.Ask the students tofinish the EXERCISE5B andEXERCISE5CbythemselvesafterclassStageV:Consolidation (20mins)1.TheteacheraskssomestudentstogivetheanswersoftheEXERCISE5AandEXERCISESD.2,The teacher explains some difficult ones inEXERCISE5AandEXERCISE5Dindetails and make sure the students master themcorrectly.StageVI:Assignments (lmins)1.FinishEXERCISE5BandEXERCISE5Cafterclassandtheteacherwillcheck and explain them in thenext class.2.Givea brief summary about all theknowledge about genitives nouns.3.ReviewEXERCISE5AandEXERCISE5Dagain.4.Previewthenextlecture:Lecture6:Determiner(1)Lecture 6Determiners ()30
30 summaries of the theories concerned with genitive nouns. 2. Ask the students to finish the EXERCISE 5A and EXERCISE 5D in groups in the class. 3. Ask the students to finish the EXERCISE 5B and EXERCISE5C by themselves after class. StageⅤ: Consolidation (20mins) 1. The teacher asks some students to give the answers of the EXERCISE 5A and EXERCISE 5D. 2. The teacher explains some difficult ones in EXERCISE 5A and EXERCISE 5D in details and make sure the students master them correctly. StageⅥ: Assignments (1mins) 1.Finish EXERCISE 5B and EXERCISE5C after class and the teacher will check and explain them in the next class. 2.Give a brief summary about all the knowledge about genitives nouns. 3.Review EXERCISE 5Aand EXERCISE 5D again. 4.Preview the next lecture: Lecture 6: Determiner (I). Lecture 6 Determiners (I)