s-genitive

s-genitive (s-genitiv): a realization of the genitive whereby the 'possessor' is marked by the genitive s and/or an apostrophe. The genitive s follows an apostrophe when it is attached to nouns in the singular. With a plural noun, the genitive is marked only by an apostrophe after the plural s. E.g. Mary's books, the girl's hair, the boys' toys. When a plural noun does not end in s, the s-genitive is expressed by apostrophe + s, as with singular nouns: the men's room, children's books, people's habits. The s-genitive is typically used when the 'possessor' is human. It can also be used when the 'possessor' is an animal which is considered to have personality, e.g. a pet. The s -genitive is also used with other types of 'possessors’, particularly in journalistic writing, where it is important to be brief and concise (as the s-genitive is shorter than the of-genitive). Compare also double genitive. The s-genitive functions as a determiner when it is followed by a noun (I saw Peter's house), and as head of the noun phrase when it occurs on its own (That house is Peter’s).