Question

Read the below sentence and re-write it using possessive case appropriately:
Sheila and Mary are sisters. Their mother is the headmistress of their school.

• A. Sheila's and Mary's mother is the headmistress of their school.
• B. Sheila and Mary's mother is the headmistress of their school.
• C. Sheila and Mary mother is the headmistress of their school.
• D. Sheila's mother and Mary's mother is the headmistress of their school.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Sheila and Mary's mother is the headmistress of their school.

To form the possessive case of two nouns whose joint possession is indicated, apostrophe followed by the letter "s" is to be suffixed to the second noun. In this case, Sheila and Mary are sisters. So, their mother is the same person. So, we suffix apostrophe followed by letter "s" only to Mary- the second noun. Option b is the correct answer.

The other options are incorrect because the apostrophe followed by letter "s" is suffixed either to Sheila as well (options a and d) or not suffixed to Mary (option c).