This is ............. child, Javier. a) a Mary and John’s b) Mary’s and John’s c) Mary and John’s d) a Mary’s and John’s

To determine the correct option for the sentence "This is ............. child, Javier," we need to look at the possessive forms and their proper usage.

1. Understanding Possessives: The sentence refers to a child belonging to Mary and John. We want to find the correct possessive form to indicate ownership.

2. Evaluating Options:

   • a) a Mary and John’s: This option is incorrect because "a" cannot combine directly with the possessive "John's".
   • b) Mary’s and John’s: This option suggests that the child belongs separately to Mary and John but is grammatically awkward when prefaced with "a".
   • c) Mary and John’s: This implies a single child that belongs to both Mary and John. This is grammatically correct.
   • d) a Mary’s and John’s: This option is incorrect for the same reason as option a; you cannot use "a" with a possessive.

3. Selecting the Best Option: The most grammatically correct option is c) Mary and John’s.

Final Answer

This is Mary and John’s child, Javier.