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Lily
Could someone explain for me why we use 's in the phrase "a good night's sleep"? I saw it in the website of British Council. Thanks so much
Jun 26, 2024 4:26 PM
Answers · 4
3
Apostrophe + S is used to show possession in English. In the case of the idiom you cited, you can think of it as the "sleep" belonging to the "night."
June 26, 2024
1
In the phrase "a good night's sleep," the 's is a possessive form indicating that the sleep "belongs to" or is associated with the night. This type of construction is common in English to show that one thing is a characteristic or result of another.
Explanation:
* Possessive Form: The 's in "night's" is a possessive form. It shows that the sleep is associated with the night.
* Meaning: "A good night's sleep" means a good quality of sleep that happens during the night.
This construction is used to indicate that something is related to or comes from something else.
Examples:
* A day's work: The work done in a day.
* A moment's thought: The thought that happens in a moment.
* A week's vacation: The vacation that lasts for a week.
Using the possessive form this way is a common and natural part of English grammar to express relationships between things.
June 27, 2024
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Lily
Language Skills
English, Vietnamese
Learning Language
English
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