A Complete Guide to Possessive Pronouns & Adjectives
Imagine you and your friend are playing with toys. You pick up a car and say, “This is my car.”
Your friend picks up a doll and says, “This is my doll.” But what if you just said, “This is mine”?
Both sentences mean the same thing! This is where possessive pronouns and adjectives come in.
They help us talk about things that belong to us. Let’s learn how to use them!
What Are Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives?
Possessive pronouns and adjectives show ownership or belonging. They help us understand who something belongs to.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives come before a noun. They tell us who owns something.
Examples:
- This is my book.
- That is your hat.
- She loves her cat.
- He forgot his keys.
- We are going to our school.
- They have their bags.
List of Possessive Adjectives:
- My
- Your
- His
- Her
- Its
- Our
- Their
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace a noun. They stand alone and do not need another noun after them.
Examples:
- This book is mine.
- That hat is yours.
- The cat is hers.
- The keys are his.
- The school is ours.
- The bags are theirs.
List of Possessive Pronouns:
- Mine
- Yours
- His
- Hers
- Its (rarely used)
- Ours
- Theirs
Difference Between Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns
It is easy to mix them up! Look at these sentences:
Both sentences talk about the same thing, but the words are different. Possessive adjectives come before nouns, while possessive pronouns replace nouns.
More Examples:
| Possessive Adjective | Possessive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| This is my pen. | This pen is mine. |
| That is your bag. | That bag is yours. |
| This is her dress. | This dress is hers. |
| He forgot his wallet. | This wallet is his. |
| We love our house. | This house is ours. |
| They brought their car. | That car is theirs. |
How to Use Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives Correctly
Here are some easy rules to follow:
- Possessive adjectives always come before a noun. (Example: my bag, your dog, their house)
- Possessive pronouns never have a noun after them. They replace a noun. (Example: This is mine, That is yours, The book is ours)
- Do not use an apostrophe (‘) in possessive pronouns or adjectives. People often confuse its and it’s.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using a Possessive Pronoun Instead of an Adjective
This is mine book.
This is my book.
Mistake 2: Using a Possessive Adjective Instead of a Pronoun
This book is my.
This book is mine.
Mistake 3: Confusing “It’s” and “Its”
The cat played with it’s toy.
The cat played with its toy.
Fun Activities to Practice
Activity 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjective or pronoun.
- This is ___ (I) pencil.
- The red bag is ___ (she).
- We love ___ (we) school.
- That car is ___ (they).
- He forgot ___ (he) phone.
(Answers: My, Hers, Our, Theirs, His)
Activity 2: Match the Sentences
Match the possessive adjectives with their correct possessive pronouns.
- A) This is my ball. ➝ ___
- B) That is your bike. ➝ ___
- C) These are their books. ➝ ___
- D) This is our classroom. ➝ ___
(Answers: Mine, Yours, Theirs, Ours)
Activity 3: Spot the Mistake
Find the mistake in each sentence and correct it.
(Answers: yours, her, my)
Conclusion
Possessive pronouns and adjectives are easy to learn! Remember:
- Possessive adjectives come before a noun. (my, your, his, her, its, our, their)
- Possessive pronouns stand alone. (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs)
- Do not use an apostrophe in possessive pronouns or adjectives.
Practice using them in daily conversations, and soon, you will be a pro! Keep learning and have fun with English!
