1. ten years of hard work

2. ten years' hard work

【答】上述两种表达都正确，而且意思相同。第一种不是“所有格”，第二种是“所有格”形式。

我认为，在第一种表达中，hard work是中心词，ten years of是次要成分，作定语。

英语中，表示“量概念”的名词。如：piece（一块），pile（一堆），drop（一滴），block（一大块），bag（一包），cup（一杯），box（一箱），bottle（一瓶），glass（一玻璃杯），basin（一盆），basket（一篮子），bar（一条），crowd（一群），group（一组），team（一队），可以用来放在名词中心词之前，作定语，包括表示时间的year在内。其格式为：

a piece of news

several pieces of news

two years of work experince

也就是说，“a + 表示量概念名词+ of + 名词中心词”，可以有复数形式。例如：a crowd of people（一群人）变成several crowds of people（几群人）。从结构上看，crowds是中心词，介词短语of people是修饰crowds的。其实，从语义上理解则不然，people才是真正的中心词，several crowds of其定语的作用。就像“一条消息”是a piece of news，你说哪个词重要？哪个是中心词？答案不言自明。

类似表达可以举出很多：

several bags of corn

several boxs of sweets

several bottles of wine

several cups of milk

several glasss of beer

several basins of water

several piles of bricks

several baskets of fruit

several sheets of paper

several drops of rain

several small bars of chocolate

several blocks of ice

several grains of sand

several crowds of people

several groups of children

several teams of players

several sums of money

ten years of hard work的例句：

1. After ten years of hard work, has become a cutting - edge hydraulic power industry.

经过十几年的努力, 已成为液压行业的一支新锐力量。

来自互联网

2. After ten years of hard work, the barren hill is now covered with green tress.

经过近十年的努力, 这座荒山现在已经绿树成林了。

来自互联网

3. My father built his business on years of hard work.

我父亲多年奋斗创立了自己的事业。

来自《简明英汉词典》

ten years’ hard work的例句：

1. After ten years' hard study noticed by none, his fame fills the land once honours are won.

十年寒窗无人问, 一举成名天下知。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2. After four years' hard work, he became a rich man.

经过了四年的辛勤的工作之后, 他变成了一位富翁。

3. After several years' hard work, the business finally turned around.

几年的惨淡经营后, 生意终于出现了转机。