's

Question

Our school canteen is dirty.Our school's canteen is dirty.What are the differences?Is it boss' or boss's? I think that it is boss's but my two of my English teachers in school believe that boss' is correct.Is there a way for me to persuade them?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Our school canteen is dirty.

Our school's canteen is dirty.

Both are OK.

What are the differences?

#1 is a more general way of speaking.

#2 stresses more that you are just talking about the canteen in your specific school.

Because of the word 'our', there is no real difference in your sentences.

But consider a sentence like this.

Every school should have a school canteen.

Here, the 'apostrophe s' would not be correct, because it is a very general statement.

Is it boss' or boss's? I think that it is boss's but my two of my English teachers in school believe that boss' is correct.

Is there a way for me to persuade them?

Show them this. http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-possessive.htm

If they still want to argue, ask us for more help.

Clive

Cool Breeze · Answer

michaeltingOur school canteen is dirty.
Our school's canteen is dirty.

Either will do. No difference in meaning.

As to boss, there is nothing grammatically exceptional in its genitive forms. The singular genitive is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s, the plural genitive is formed by adding an apostrophe after the plural ending.

If you have only one boss: My boss's hands are dirty.

If you have more than one boss: My bosses' hands are dirty.

Many Americans form the singular genitive of a person's name ending in an s by adding just an apostrophe: This is Tom Jones' first record. Most Britons would prefer: This is Tom Jones's first record.

Since people have used certain expressions for centuries, they have become part and parcel of the English language even if they violate the above genitive rules. This is what Otto Jespersen writes in Essentials of English Grammar.

While we have the full genitive in James's wife, St James's park, Keats's poems, Chamber's Journal, the ending is left out in other names - chiefly classical - ending in a sibilant:

Phoebus' steeds

He has done Hercules' share.

St Agnes' eve

Pears' soap

Note especially for conscience' sake, for goodness' sake (on account of the following s); before sake the s is also sometimes left out, even if the word does not in itself end in s: for brevity sake, for fashion sake.

CB

Michaelting · Answer

Thank you!

What if I change it up to

Country's image / Country image

Does the rule apply here? Are both acceptable?

CalifJim · Answer

michaeltingWhat if I change it -up- to

No up.

michaeltingCountry's image

This case is different. There are two meanings of country.

Your country's image is the image (opinion) that people have of your nation.

A country image is an image (drawing, painting, photo) that depicts a rural scene.

CJ

Michaelting · Answer

In that case,

Country's reputation/ country reputation

Does the rule apply here?

CalifJim · Answer

It would have to be country's reputation. I don't register any meaning for country reputation.

CJ

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