What does the genitive form of a noun mean?

The genitive form of a noun indicates possession or a close relationship between two nouns. It answers the question "Whose?" or "Of what?".

Here's a breakdown:

* Possession: The genitive case shows that one noun belongs to or is owned by another noun.

* Example: "The dog's bone" (The bone belongs to the dog.)

* Close Relationship: It can also express a close relationship, such as origin, part of, or association.

* Example: "The city's history" (The history is of the city.)

How to form the genitive:

* For singular nouns, add an apostrophe and "s" ('s): "The cat's tail"

* For plural nouns ending in "s", add only an apostrophe: "The cats' food"

* For plural nouns not ending in "s", add an apostrophe and "s": "The children's toys"

Alternatives to the genitive:

* "Of" phrase: Instead of "The dog's bone", you could say "The bone of the dog."

* Possessive pronouns: "His book" instead of "The man's book"

Important note:

The genitive is not used in all languages. English is one of the few that retains a distinct genitive case.