Job Discussion Forums

[zander7990]

Hello teachers.

I have this student who is having difficulty understanding when you should use 'of' and when to use 's when referring to ownership or -belonging to. Can anyone tell me the easiest way to teach him this 'ownership' lesson???

[fat_chris]

"That is the car of my mother."

"That is my mother's car."

In my example I would go with the deuce. Easier to say. Shorter. More accepted.

I am trying to think of an example when "of" would be appropriate.

Think, Chris, think.

[PAULH]

[markle]

[markle]

I think the confusion stems from the student translating from Japanese (where the 'no' form is similair to 'car of my mother') So I would focus on teaching the simplest 'English' way, the ''s' form, first before worrying too much about the difference between the two.