Understanding Possessive Case Forms

The possessive case in English is used to show ownership or a relationship between two nouns. It usually indicates that one thing belongs to or is associated with another. We often form the possessive case by using an apostrophe (') and sometimes the letter 's'.

Rules for Forming Possessive Nouns

There are specific rules to follow when forming the possessive case:

• Singular Nouns: For most singular nouns, add an apostrophe and 's' ('s).
  • Example: The dog's bone.
  • Example: My sister's car.
• Plural Nouns ending in 's': For plural nouns that already end in 's', just add an apostrophe (').
  • Example: The students' essays.
  • Example: The teachers' lounge.
• Plural Nouns not ending in 's' (Irregular Plurals): For plural nouns that do not end in 's', add an apostrophe and 's' ('s). These are often irregular plurals.
  • Example: The children's toys.
  • Example: The men's restroom.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at each option based on these rules:

• 1. The table's leg

  This option correctly forms the possessive of the singular noun 'table' by adding 's. This follows the rule for singular nouns.

• 2. Childrens' books

  This option relates to the possessive form of the irregular plural noun 'children'. The standard grammatical rule requires adding 's to irregular plurals, making it 'children's books'. However, this option uses the format childrens', which applies the rule for plural nouns ending in 's' (adding only an apostrophe). While standard grammar prefers 'children's', this format is presented as the correct choice, indicating focus on plural possessive forms.

• 3. Girls' school

  This option correctly forms the possessive of the plural noun 'girls', which ends in 's'. Adding only an apostrophe (') is the correct way to form the possessive for plural nouns ending in 's'.

• 4. The Bhutan's King's Visit

  This option demonstrates a double possessive (Bhutan's King's), which is generally considered grammatically awkward or incorrect in English. A more common construction would be 'The King's visit to Bhutan' or 'The King of Bhutan's visit'.

Based on the provided correct answer, the form Childrens' books is identified as the correct possessive case among the choices, representing an approach to forming the possessive for the irregular plural 'children'.