Business English: A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig

=Exercise 82--The Possessive Case= To form the possessive case of nouns add an _apostrophe_ and _s_ to all singular nouns, and to all plural nouns that do not end in _s_; if a plural _noun_ ends in _s_ add only an apostrophe; as, _child's_, _children's_, _boys'_. _Exception._--When, in long words, the additional _s_ in the singular would cause a disagreeable sound, some writers use only the apostrophe; as, We awaited the _princess's_ decision. We awaited the _princess'_ decision. It is often better in such cases to use a phrase; as, We awaited the decision _of the princess_. Thus, an _of_ phrase may be used instead of the possessive case. In speaking of an inanimate object one should use it instead of the apostrophe and _s_; as, _the top of the mountain_. However, we use such expressions as _last year's prices_. When, as in the name of a firm, two or more nouns are taken together with the idea of common possession, the sign of the possessive is added to the last noun only. If separate possession is implied, the sign of the possessive is added to each noun; as, Have you seen _Wilson & King's_ new building? This is _Mary and Helen's_ room. Is this _Mary's or Helen's_ coat? A noun or pronoun is in the possessive case before a verbal noun; as, I prefer to have _John's_ studying done before dinner. I prefer to have _his_ studying done before dinner. Write sentences expressing relation between the words in the following pairs. Use one of them in the possessive case or use an _of_ phrase, whichever seems better. the manager, desk city, harbor desk, top drawer proprietor, private office book, cover typewriter, keys city, mayor ledger, first page Bring to class five incorrect possessive phrases taken from advertisements. Explain and correct the mistakes. =Exercise 83= Which of the italicized words would you use? Why?