apostrophe - A noun adjunct / the possessive case


Sometimes it’s possible to use either a noun adjunct or the possessive case.



the shop door
the shop’s door



However, in certain phrases it’s not OK to do so.



the ship’s crew (the ship crew is wrong)



The questions are:



  1. How can one find out what to use in such cases as “the shop(’s) door” when a noun adjunct option and the possessive case option are available?

  2. How can one know which option is wrong in order to avoid the construction “ship crew”?

  3. Is there a difference in meaning between (a) the shop door (b) the shop’s door?




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