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.

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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