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Possessive pronouns and adjectives

We use Possessive adjectives and Possessive pronouns to show, among other things, that something belongs to someone. Read on to find out how and when to use possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns in English.



a dictionary entry "adjective group"



 
Possessive adjectives

Possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their.

We use possessive adjectives before a noun.



We use possessive adjectives:


to show that something belongs to someone:

  • That's their car.

  • Our house is over there.

  • I need to brush my teeth.


to show a relationship with people:

  • Her siblings are abroad.

  • How old is your sister?

  • They are his teachers.



Personal pronoun

Possessive adjective

I

MY

YOU

YOUR

SHE

HER

HE

HIS

IT

ITS

WE

OUR

YOU

YOUR

THEY

THEIR


Beware: the possessive adjective ITS does not have an apostrophe (')

The dog has lost its toy.

(it's always means it is or it has)








 
Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronouns are: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs.

We use possessive pronouns without the noun / instead of the full noun phrase to avoid repetition of words.



  • This bag is mine.

  • This is mine.

  • That apartment is ours.

  • The pink dress is hers.

  • This house is theirs.

  • This is yours.

  • Is that yours?



  • Is that Joe's mobile?

  • No, it's mine. (instead of: No, it's my mobile.)


  • Her hair is pink.

  • Mine is red. (instead of: My hair is red.)





We can also use possessive pronouns and nouns after "of."


  • Bobo is one of my cats. - Bobo is a cat of mine.

  • Cindy is her roommate. - Cindy is a roommate of hers.

  • I am one of Bobo's owners. - I am an owner of Bobo's



Personal pronoun

Possessive pronoun

I

MINE

YOU

YOURS

SHE

HERS

HE

HIS

IT

ITS

WE

OURS

YOU

YOURS

THEY

THEIRS


Beware: possessive pronouns do not have an apostrophe (')

Is that dog mine/yours/hers/his/ours/theirs?

(never: Is that dog your's/her's/our's/their's?)








 
Summarising

Personal pronoun

Possessive adjective

Possessive pronoun

I

MY

MINE

YOU

YOUR

YOURS

SHE

HER

HERS

HE

HIS

HIS

IT

ITS

ITS

WE

OUR

OURS

YOU

YOUR

YOURS

THEY

THEIR

THEIRS


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