In grammar, the terms "genitive" and "possessive" are closely related, and they often refer to the same grammatical concept, but there are subtle differences in their usage and interpretation.
Genitive Case:
The genitive case is a grammatical case used to indicate relationships between nouns. It typically expresses possession or association.
In English, the genitive case is often marked by the use of an apostrophe and an "s" ('s) to show possession. For example: "John's car" or "the cat's tail."
In some languages, the genitive case is expressed through inflections or changes in the noun form itself.
Possessive:
The possessive form, on the other hand, is a broader concept that includes not only the genitive case but also other ways of expressing possession or ownership.
In English, the possessive form is commonly used to indicate ownership or belonging and is marked by an apostrophe and an "s" ('s), similar to the genitive case.
The possessive form can also be expressed using the preposition "of." For example: "the car of John" or "the tail of the cat."
In summary, while the genitive case specifically refers to a grammatical case used to show relationships between nouns, the possessive form is a more general concept that encompasses various ways of indicating possession, including the use of the genitive case. In English, the terms are often used interchangeably when discussing possession and relationships between nouns.