Question

Form the possessive case of the nouns in apposition given in the bracket:
_______________________ tomb was sealed for more than three thousand years. (Tutankhamen, the boy pharaoh)

• A. Tutankhamen's, the boy pharaoh
• B. Tutankhamen, the boy's pharaoh
• C. Tutankhamen, the boy's pharaoh's
• D. Tutankhamen, the boy pharaoh's

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Tutankhamen, the boy pharaoh's

When two nouns/ noun phrases are next to each other and refer to the same person, they are said to be in apposition. The second noun/noun phrase describes the first noun/noun phrase. The possessive case of such nouns in apposition is formed by suffixing apostrohpe+s to the second noun/ the last word in the second noun phrase.

In the given sentence, the first noun is Tutankhamen. The second noun phrase is: the boy pharaoh. Both refer to the same person and hence the nouns are in apposition. Its possessive case is formed by suffixing apostrophe+s to the last word in the second noun phrase i.e pharaoh. Hence the correct answer is: Tutankhamen, the boy pharaoh's i.e option D.

The other options are incorrect as they do not follow the rule as mentioned above.