EN: guide d'utilisation du kit

[superromu]

hi everyone,
when do i use 's to express the possession ?
is this only when a human possesses something ?

i have to say :
guide d'utilisation du kit. (it is my title)
kit user guide
kit's user guide ?

i m lost

 

[mnzrob]

You could say the kit's user guide.
You use 's with singular posession, and not only for humans. ex: The dog's bowl, the car's tire, etc. If it's plural, you use s'. ex: The cars' tires (the tires of two or more cars). Obviously there are exceptions. I remember seeing this question in the english forum not too long ago, so you may want to search there to get further details.

Rob

 

[superromu]

and if i don't put the 's
what would be the meaning ?
kit user guide

risk analysis' guide
risk analysis guide

it is still not clear to me !

 

[czhellemoone]

Possessives — Common Nouns

1. The possessive of singular and plural common nouns that do not end in an "s" or "z" sound is formed by adding -'s to the end of the word. (the child's skates).

2. The possessive of singular nouns ending in an "s" or "z" sound is usually fromed by adding -'s. A less common alternative is to add -'s only when it is easily pronounces; if it's would create a word that is too difficult to pronounce, only and apostrophe is added. (rickets's symptoms or rickets' symptoms).

2.a. A mutisyllabic sibgular noun that ens in an "s" or "z" sound drops the -'s if it is followed by a word beginning with an "s" or "z" sound. (for appearances' sake)

3. The possessive of plural nouns ending in an "s" or "z" sound is formed by adding only an apostrophe. However, the possessive of one-syllable irregular plurals is usually formed by adding -'s. (dogs' leashes, birds' migrations)

Proper Nouns/Names
4. The possessives of proper names are generally formed in the same way as those of common nouns. The possessive of singular proper names is formed by ading -'s. (Jane's books)

4.a. The possessive of plural proper names, and of some singular proper names ending in an "s" or "z" sound, is made by adding just an apostrophe. (Massachussetts' capital, the United States' trade deficit)

5. The possessive of singular proper names ending in an "s" or "z" sound may be formed by adding either -'s or just an apostrophe. Adding -'s to all such names, without regard of the pronuinciation of the resulting word, is more common than adding just the aporstrophe. (Jones's car or Jones' car, Dickens's novels or Dickens' novels)

6. The possessive form of classical and biblical names of two or more syllables ending in -s or 'es is usually made by adding just an apostrophe. If the name has one syllable, the possissive form is made by adding -'s. (Socrates' students, Zeus's warnings)

7. The possessive of names ending in silent -s, -z, or -x are usually formed with -'s. (Delacroix's paintings)

Pronouns
8. The possessive of indefinite pronouns is formed by adding -'s. (anyone's rights)

8.a. Some indefinite pronouns usually require an of phrase to indicate possession. (the rights of each, the inclination of many)

9. Possessive pronouns do not include apostrophes. (mine, hers)

 

[charlie2]

Hi,
I am not a native speaker. I would propose the following:
(1) Drop the "kit", just put in "user guide". That piece of literature is going to go with the kit. There will not be any misunderstanding. If you're writing it, again, you will have your context.
(2) The "risk analysis" part in "risk analysis guide" is an adjective. It is not a question of possessives. Grammatically it is just like the "youth" in the term "youth hostel". ("Adjectival qualifier" is what the grammarians term it. I am not too sure about the term though. ) So "risk analysis guide" is just fine.
If I am wrong, you will have the advice of the real experts.

 

[czhellemoone]

a good and simple explanation charlie2. just a little comment on (1) above...how about "user's guide"/"users' guide"?

 

[charlie2]

just a little comment on (1) above...how about "user's guide"/"users' guide"?

If I only have these two choices in an exam, I will go for "users' guide", but I would never write like this. Perhaps I should add that, to me, the "user" here is of the same nature grammatically as "risk analysis" in "risk analysis guide".

 

[atlasan]

"kit users guide" would be the guide for all kit users.
"Kit user's guide" would be the guide owned by a particular user.
"kit's user guide" would be the guide that's specific to (owned by??!) a kit.

Possesives are pesky, aren't they? They are very often imprecise. Perhaps the trade-off for the gain in speed of speech is the loss of exactness in communicating.

 

[Kelly B]

I strongly dislike the use of possessives attached to objects, especially in a formal context. They are legal, but look and sound terrible. I agree with Charlie2: treat it as an adjective. If that will not fit, use the "of ..."
construction as in the French.