2.4 Possessive Constructions I

We use possessive constructions to show that something belongs to someone. In grammar, the person who owns the thing is called the possessor, and the thing being owned is called the possessed. There are two ways to form possessive constructions in Cantonese.

嘅 ge3 is similar to the apostrophe s (’s) in English. We can put 嘅 ge3 between the possessor and the possessed to form a possessive construction.

Notice that possessive constructions with 嘅 ge3 don’t indicate the quantity of the possessed. The possessed can be singular or plural.

The possessed can also be people who the possessor has a relationship with.

We can omit 嘅 ge3 if the possessor has a close relationship with the possessed (e.g., family members, friends and colleagues). In general, we omit 嘅 ge3 only if the possessed is singular.

However, if the possessive construction is a subject complement after the verb 係 hai6, 嘅 ge3 can still be omitted even if the possessed is plural.

Alternatively, we can put a classifier between the possessor and the possessed to form a possessive construction. Note that the classifier is determined by the possessed (the noun after the classifier) instead of the possessor.

If we use a sortal classifier, we indicate that the possessed is singular. To indicate that the possessed is plural, we can use measure classifiers like 啲 di1.

The following table summarizes the quantity of the possessed in different possessive constructions:

The table below shows the differences between possessive constructions with 嘅 ge3 and classifiers.

Note that the actual use is more complicated. As a beginner, you will usually use possessive constructions with classifiers. Also, try to omit 嘅 ge3 when the possessor has a close relationship with the possessed and the possessed is singular.