Which sentence demonstrates a plural possessive form for a plural noun?

Which sentence demonstrates a plural possessive form for a plural noun?

• A. Elephants tusks
• B. Elephants' tusks
• C. Elephant's tusk
• D. Elephants tusks'

Answer: (B)

Plurals that end in s form the possessive by adding an apostrophe after the s, showing that something belongs to that group. In the sentence "Elephants' tusks," the elephants (plural, ending in s) possess the tusks, so the apostrophe goes after the s to indicate ownership by the elephants. That makes the meaning clear: the tusks belonging to elephants. The other forms don’t show possession correctly. Without an apostrophe, “Elephants tusks” doesn’t signal ownership. “Elephant's tusk” uses a singular possessive, meaning one elephant owns one tusk, which isn’t about multiple elephants. “Elephants tusks'” places the apostrophe after “tusks,” which would oddly mark ownership of the plural noun “tusks” rather than ownership by the elephants.

Plurals that end in s form the possessive by adding an apostrophe after the s, showing that something belongs to that group. In the sentence "Elephants' tusks," the elephants (plural, ending in s) possess the tusks, so the apostrophe goes after the s to indicate ownership by the elephants. That makes the meaning clear: the tusks belonging to elephants.

The other forms don’t show possession correctly. Without an apostrophe, “Elephants tusks” doesn’t signal ownership. “Elephant's tusk” uses a singular possessive, meaning one elephant owns one tusk, which isn’t about multiple elephants. “Elephants tusks'” places the apostrophe after “tusks,” which would oddly mark ownership of the plural noun “tusks” rather than ownership by the elephants.