homework possessive adjectives

Possessive Adjectives

English grammar rules.

Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership of something. While we use them when we refer to people, it is more in the sense of relationship than ownership.

The possessive adjectives in English are as follows:

The possessive adjective needs to agree with the possessor and not with the thing that is possessed.

• My car is very old.
• Her boyfriend is very friendly.
• Our dog is black.
• Their homework is on the table.

Like all adjectives in English, they are always located directly in front of the noun they refer to. (Possessive Adjective + Noun)

We do not include an S to the adjective when the noun is plural like in many other languages.

• Our cars are expensive. (Correct) Ours cars are expensive. ( Incorrect )

However, the verb that is used needs to be in agreement with the noun - if the noun is singular then the verb is singular; if the noun is plural then the verb is plural.

• My pen is black. (Singular) My pens are black. (Plural)
• Our child is intelligent. (Singular) Our children are intelligent. (Plural)

Its vs. It's

Be careful not to confuse its and it's .

Its = The possessive adjective for It . It's = a contraction of it is .

More detailed information about Its vs. It's here .

See the difference between Your and You're and Their, They're, and There

Possessive Adjectives Exercises

Set 1 - Have / Has + Possessive Adjectives Exercises

Set 2 - Have / Has + Possessive Adjectives Exercises - Slightly more difficult vocabulary

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Try our interactive games to practice Possessive Adjective (simple), Possessive Adjectives (a little more difficult).

See our grammar notes about Possessive Pronouns .

Woodward English course lesson: Possessive Adjectives

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Possessive Adjectives (Example Sentences, Exercise & Worksheet)

A possessive adjective is used to modify a noun or a pronoun and show ownership. For example, in the sentence, “This dog is my pet”, ‘This’ and ‘my’ are possessive adjectives.

What are possessive adjectives?

There are different types of adjectives . A possessive adjective is a word that modifies a noun by telling something about the noun’s owner. For example, in the sentence “Mark’s car,” the word “Mark’s” tells us that the car belongs to Mark.

Examples of Possessive Adjectives

List of possessive adjectives (chart).

20 Sentences with possessive adjectives

Why use possessive adjective, possessive adjectives vs possessive pronouns.

The main difference is that the possessive adjective is always used with (followed by) a noun while possessive pronoun is used without a noun. Following chart shows you personal pronoun , their relevant form in possessive pronoun and possessive adjective.

Possessive Adjectives Worksheet

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Possessive Adjectives: Definition, Usage with Useful Examples

Possessive Adjectives! Learn how to use a possessive adjective in English with examples and ESL infographic.

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words that modify the noun in order to demonstrate ownership. They are incredibly important and we use them in every conversation and paragraph without even realizing it.

Types of Possessive Adjectives

Personal pronouns.

Personal pronouns are used to show ownership of something by referring to the person who owns it. They are:

• My (singular)
• Your (singular)
• His (singular)
• Her (singular)
• Its (singular)
• Our (plural)
• Your (plural)
• Their (plural)
• This is my car.
• Your house is very beautiful.
• His bike is in the garage.
• Her dog is barking loudly.
• Its color is red.
• Our team won the game.
• Your books are on the table.
• Their house is on the corner.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun and show ownership. They are:

• This book is mine.
• Is this car yours?
• The cat is hers.
• Its tail is very fluffy.
• The flowers are ours.
• Are these pencils yours?
• The house is theirs.

Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners are used to indicate ownership before a noun. They are:

• My car is parked outside.
• Your phone is ringing.
• His jacket is on the chair.
• Her book is on the table.
• Its fur is soft.
• Our house is on the hill.
• Your bags are heavy.
• Their children are playing in the park.

How to Use Possessive Adjectives

Examples of possessive adjectives are your ,  his  and  her.  Here’s a quick example with the  possessive adjective  highlighted in bold:

• Can I borrow  your  pen?

In this example, the sentence gives ownership of the pen through the word “your”. That is the possessive adjective. As with common adjectives, the word can be swapped out for another possessive adjective and the statement would still make sense, but it would change the ownership of the pen.

• Can I borrow  her  pen?
• Can I borrow  their  pen?

This isn’t a rule of thumb however; some other examples of possessive adjective wouldn’t fit into that sentence as they indicate first person ownership.

• You can borrow  my  pen.
• You can borrow  our  pen.

Possessive adjectives are generally classed as types of pronouns . This is because they replace the name of the person or thing that has ownership.

• Can I borrow Dave’s pen?

The possessive adjective replaces Dave’s name in the sentence in favor of a more ambiguous format. This is beneficial as it means writers don’t have to constantly refer back to the character’s name but instead can substitute it to make the writing flow more smoothly.

It’s important not to get them confused with  possessive pronouns . Possessive pronouns completely remove the noun from the sentence, instead of contributing to it as with the possessive adjective. For example:

• Can I borrow your pen?  Mine  is broken.
• My pen is broken. Can I borrow  yours .

These examples demonstrate how a possessive pronoun would replace the noun (the pen) entirely. A possessive adjective must appear with a noun, usually before. Here are a few more examples of possessive adjectives being used in a sentence. The noun is underlined and the  possessive adjective  is in bold.

• It was  her  money.
• Whose  line is it anyway?
• I can’t believe she dropped  her  ice cream.

As you can see, the structure of the rest of the sentence doesn’t matter. A possessive adjective simply functions to provide ownership . A few more:

• You can park  your  car in  my  garage.
• Did you finish  your  homework?
• The bike has lost  its  wheel.

Be careful when you use “ its”  as a possessive adjective that you don’t confuse it with “ it’s ” which is a contraction for “ it is ” and doesn’t indicate any ownership and causes the sentence to not make any grammatical sense. The same goes with mixing up “your” with “you’re”, “whose” with “who’s” and “their” with “they’re”. These are very common grammatical mistakes to make. Just remember that a possessive adjective won’t have an apostrophe.

In summary, possessive adjectives are short words that indicate ownership of a noun and the one you use is dependent on who has ownership of said noun. The entire list of possessive adjectives is as follows: my, your, her, his, their, our and its.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid

• Confusing Possessive Pronouns with Possessive Adjectives: Possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives are often confused because they both show ownership. However, they are used differently in a sentence. Possessive adjectives come before a noun, while possessive pronouns stand alone as a replacement for the noun. For example, “This is my book” uses a possessive adjective, while “This book is mine” uses a possessive pronoun.
• Overusing Possessive Adjectives: Overusing possessive adjectives can make your writing repetitive and clunky. Try to vary your sentence structure and use other descriptive words to avoid using possessive adjectives excessively.
• Placing Possessive Adjectives in the Wrong Place: Possessive adjectives should be placed before the noun they are describing. Placing them in the wrong place can change the meaning of the sentence. For example, “The car my sister is driving” means something different than “My sister’s car is driving.”

Possessive Adjectives | Infographic

Grammar Exercise: Possessive Adjectives

Grammar exercises - possessive adjectives., do the exercises below on possessive adjectives and click on the button to check your answers., replace the personal pronouns with possessive adjectives:, choose the right possessive adjective:, related materials:.

Essential Guide to Possessive Adjectives in English: Examples and Usage

Are you ready to master the art of possessive adjectives in English? Understanding how to use these powerful little words will take your language skills to the next level. Possessive adjectives, such as “my,” “your,” “his,” and “their,” play a crucial role in indicating ownership and describing relationships. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will provide you with clear examples and practical usage tips to help you navigate the world of possessive adjectives with ease.

Key Takeaways

What are possessive adjectives.

Here is a breakdown of possessive adjectives in English:

Remember, possessive adjectives are different from possessive pronouns. Possessive pronouns replace the noun, while possessive adjectives modify the noun.

Common Possessive Adjectives in English

The possessive adjective “my” is used to indicate that something belongs to the speaker. It is used before a noun to express ownership or possession. For example, “my car,” “my friend,” “my house.” The word “my” agrees in number and gender with the noun it modifies.

The possessive adjective “her” is used to indicate that something belongs to a female person or thing. It is used before a noun to express ownership or possession. For example, “her book,” “her sister,” “her laptop.” Like “his,” “her” agrees in number and gender with the noun it modifies.

The possessive adjective “their” is used to indicate that something belongs to a group of people excluding the speaker. It is used before a noun to express ownership or possession. For example, “their car,” “their friends,” “their house.” Like “our,” “their” agrees in number and can be used to refer to both masculine and feminine nouns.

Examples of Possessive Adjectives in Sentences

Using “your”.

The possessive adjective “your” is used to show ownership or possession that belongs to the person you are addressing. Here are a few examples:

Using “his”

Using “her”, using “its”.

The possessive adjective “its” is used to show ownership or possession by things or animals. Here are some examples:

Using “our”

Using “their”.

Remember, possessive adjectives are used to show ownership or possession. By correctly using these adjectives, you can clearly identify relationships between people and things without any confusion.

Usage of Possessive Adjectives

Singular possessive adjectives.

For example:

Plural Possessive Adjectives

Plural possessive adjectives are used when referring to multiple owners or possessors. Here is a list of plural possessive adjectives and their corresponding subject pronouns:

Agreement with Nouns

By using possessive adjectives, you can clearly indicate ownership and establish relationships between people and things. Remember to be mindful of the number and gender agreement when using possessive adjectives correctly.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Adjectives

1. Confusing “its” with “it’s”: One of the most common mistakes when using possessive adjectives is confusing “its” with “it’s.” It’s important to remember, “its” is used to show possession, while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” So, if you cannot expand “its” to “it is” or “it has,” then it is incorrect.

4. Overusing possessive adjectives: Using possessive adjectives excessively can weaken your writing and make it repetitive. While possessive adjectives are important for indicating ownership, it’s essential to use them judiciously. Consider alternative ways to express possession, such as using phrases like “belonging to” or “owned by,” to vary your sentence structure.

Remember, possessive adjectives should always agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. This ensures clarity and precision in your writing. Also, be cautious of common mistakes such as confusing “its” with “it’s,” misspelling possessive adjectives, incorrect number and gender agreement, and overusing possessive adjectives. By proofreading carefully, you can avoid these errors and ensure accurate and effective usage.

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Possessive Adjectives

What are possessive adjectives.

• Where is Jane? I have her hat.
• The boys have left their toys in the garden.
• I have seen your one.

Table of Contents

Easy Examples of Possessive Adjectives

Real-life examples of possessive adjectives, possessive adjectives are a type of pronoun, video lesson, why possessive adjectives are important.

Possessive Adjectives or Possessive Determiners?

• She likes your house.
• I think her dog has eaten my sandwich.
• The shark is over there. I can see its fin.

• Is that the Queen's hat? No, it's her crown.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

(Common Mistake 1) Don't write "it's" when you mean "its" (or vice versa)

(Common Mistake 2) Don't write "you're" when you mean "your" (or vice versa).

(common mistake 3) don't confuse "there," "they're", and "their.", (common mistake 4) don't write "who's" when you mean "whose" (or vice versa)., (a more technical issue) don't use "his/her.".

• Use "their" to replace "his/her."

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Possessive Adjectives Exercises, Free Printable Possessive Adjectives ESL Worksheets

Free ESL Printable Possessive Adjectives English Grammar Worksheets, Tesol Questions, Esol Quizzes, Tests, Possessive Adjectives Eal Exercises, Tefl Activities, Flashcards, Language Games, Efl Handouts, Elt Materials, Learning Cards, Possessive Adjectives Picture Dictionaries, Information and Rules for kids about Possessive Adjectives, Posters and Puzzles For Kids and Teacher

A possessive adjective is a word used to show ownership or possession of a noun. In English, the possessive adjectives are "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their." They are used to indicate that a noun belongs to a particular person or group.

A possessive adjective worksheet is a tool used to help students understand and practice using these adjectives correctly in sentences. The worksheet typically includes a series of sentences with blank spaces where the student must fill in the appropriate possessive adjective.

For example, a sentence on a possessive adjective worksheet might read: "_____ dog is very friendly." The student would then fill in the blank with the appropriate possessive adjective, such as "my," "your," or "his," depending on the context of the sentence.

Possessive adjective worksheets can be used to help students understand the different forms of possessive adjectives and how they are used in different contexts. They can also help students identify common errors or mistakes in using these adjectives and provide opportunities for practice and reinforcement.

By practicing with possessive adjective worksheets, students can become more confident and proficient in using these adjectives correctly in their writing and speaking. This can improve their overall language skills and help them communicate more effectively in English.

Possessive Adjectives Exercises Printable Esl Worksheets

Grammar-Based Themed Worksheet Practicing The Use Of Possessive Adjectives, Speaking, Listening, Talking In Front Of The Class, Asking To Repeat, Note-Taking, Short Presentations, And Writing A Paragraph.

• Possessive Adjectives Worksheet View & Download

Possessive Adjectives Exercises Esl Worksheet

Exercises With Possessive Adjectives. They Write The Correct Possessive. They Choose The Correct One And Match The Pictures.

Personal Pronouns And Possessive Adjectives Exercises Worksheet

A Worksheet On Possessive Adjectives, Subject, And Object Pronouns Exercises. There Is A Grammar Chart At The Top. Students Are Supposed To Do Different Exercises: Fill In The Gaps.

Personal Pronouns And Possessive Adjectives Exercises Esl Worksheet

Fill In The Blanks With The Correct Personal Pronoun Subject Or Object Or Possessive Adjective

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Adjectives

What is a possessive adjective.

A  possessive adjective  is an adjective that indicates possession and precedes a noun.

Examples of Possessive Adjectives

Some examples of possessive adjectives would be the following:

My  bedroom has yellow walls.

Their  school’s mascot is the dolphin.

Did you forget to write  your  name on  your  homework?

Why You Should Use Possessive Adjectives in Your Writing

The primary reason for using possessive adjectives in your writing is to prevent ambiguity and to define relationships.

Preventing Ambiguity : Possessive adjectives are clear indicators as to who or what you are referencing. There’s a difference between saying, “Hand me the report,” vs. “Hand me his report,” or “Hand me her report.”

Defining Relationships : With possessive adjectives, you can clearly establish the relationships between items or individuals. The difference between “Candice is an aunt,” and “Candice is their aunt,” shows specifically the relationship between the two individuals.

Download a Free Worksheet on Possessive Adjectives!

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Possessive Adjectives (my, your, his, her, …)

possessive adjective + noun

Look at these examples:

Choose the correct option for each gap.

Correct Answers

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Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Adjectives are used to show that something or someone belongs to a person. It shows a relationship. The Possessive adjective is always used with a noun.

Examples: I like my new mountain bike. She does her homework.

Possessive adjectives - Exercise 1

Possessive adjectives - Exercise 2

Possessive adjectives - Exercise 3

Possessive adjectives - Exercise 4

Possessive adjectives - Exercise 5

Pronouns and possessives - multiple choice exercise

Possessives - grammar test

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Possessive Pronouns & Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are words that show who owns something without using a noun. They can be used on their own, such as in the sentences “This is mine.” and “Is that yours?”

Here is a table of the possessive pronouns in English:

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives are words that show who owns something by coming before a noun. For example, in the sentence “My car is red,” the possessive adjective “my” shows that the car belongs to the speaker.

Here is a table of the possessive adjectives in English:

Here are some examples of how to use possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives:

Possessive pronouns:

• This book is mine .
• That pen is yours .
• The dog is his .
• The cat is hers .
• The ball is its .
• This house is ours .
• That car is theirs .
• My favorite game is Genshin Impact. Yours ?
• This is my phone. Is that hers ?
• Whose gaming console is this? It’s theirs .
• The latest iPhone is the best one yet. Mine is red.

Possessive adjectives:

• My car is red.
• Your house is big.
• His job is difficult.
• Her hair is long.
• Its tail is wagging.
• Our children are happy.
• Their parents are proud.
• I love my new iPhone.
• Your social media posts are always interesting.
• His passion for technology is contagious.
• Her coding skills are impressive.
• Its artificial intelligence capabilities are amazing.
• Our school has a great computer science program.
• Their future careers are in the tech industry.

Here is a tip to help you remember the difference between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives:

• Possessive pronouns can stand on their own, without a noun. For example, “This is mine.”
• Possessive adjectives must come before a noun. For example, “This is my car.”
• I found some keys on the table. Are they your / yours?
• John and I did our homework. Our / Ours teacher will be proud.
• The book is interesting. Its / It’s plot is captivating.
• Maria and Juan are excited. Their / They’re going on vacation.
• Can I borrow your / yours phone? Mine / My battery is dead.
• They invited us to their party. Our / Ours invitation must have been lost.
• The cat is sleeping on its / it’s favorite cushion.
• This is not my / mine hat. It must be someone else’s.
• Mark is happy with his car, but I prefer my / mine bike.
• Is this seat taken? No, it’s / its free.
• Jenny called to ask if you could pick her / hers up from the airport.
• Is John / John’s car parked outside? I need to move mine / my vehicle.
• Where is your / yours sister? She went to visit her / hers friend.
• The teacher praised Maria / Maria’s presentation. She did an excellent job.
• The cat licked its / it’s paws before curling up in its / it’s favorite spot.
• Is this your / yours coat? I think mine / my is hanging in the closet.
• Paul / Paul’s brother is a doctor. He works at a local hospital.
• Our / Ours neighbors are throwing a party. Do you want to join?
• Lucy / Lucy’s dog is very well-behaved. It follows her / hers commands easily.
• My / Mine parents are originally from Italy. They moved here many years ago.
• Sofia / Sofia’s cousin is a talented musician. She plays the piano beautifully.
• Their / his teachers couldn’t contain their excitement when they won the competition.
• Sarah’s / Sarah colleagues were impressed by her presentation skills.
• The kids were excited to play with their / theirs new toys.
• The students enjoyed his / their visit to the science museum.
• My / Mine mom prepared a delicious meal for our guests.
• The old couple loved sitting on its / their porch and watching the sunset.
• Mary’s dog followed her / her’s command and fetched the ball.
• The book on the shelf is my / mine ; please don’t move it.
• The students were excited to see his / their names on the honor roll.
• The actor received an award for his / him outstanding performance in the play.
• The children decorated their / theirs own cupcakes at the birthday party.
• Our / Ours teacher gave us a lot of homework over the weekend.
• Can you please pass me / mine the salt from the table?
• The bird built its / it’s nest high up in the tree.
• Her / Hers parents were proud of his achievements in school.
• The team celebrated their / their’s victory with a victory lap around the field.
• Emily’s cat is very playful. It’s / Its favorite toy is a fluffy mouse.
• The students listened attentively as they’re / their teacher explained the grammar rules.
• The children joined their / their’s friends on the playground for a game of tag.
• My / Mine sister is a talented artist. She creates beautiful paintings.
• The teacher commended her / hers students for their hard work and dedication.
• Is it your / yours turn to take out the trash?
• The flowers in the garden are my / mine ; I planted them myself.
• The children looked forward to their / their’s summer vacation.
• My / Mine brother is a chef. He makes the most delicious meals.
• Is this your / yours car? Mine / My car is silver.
• My / Mine friends and I went hiking in the mountains last weekend.
• The children ran to their / theirs parents after school.
• Our / Ours house is located near the beach. We can hear the sound of waves from our backyard.

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Possessive Adjectives (complete lesson with examples)

Possessive adjectives in english, download all the grammar lessons in one click   $27   $19.

Possessive adjectives are used in English to refer to the ownership or possession of something. When we use them to talk about a person, it is more in the sense of a relationship with that person.

English possessive adjectives :

• his / her / its (not  it’s !)
• My bike is very old.
• His girlfriend is very friendly.
• Our cat is black.
• Their homework is on the desk.

Like all adjectives in English, they are always placed directly in front of the noun to which they refer (possessive adjective + noun).

⚠️ We do not put an S to the possessive adjective when the noun is plural!

• Our bikes are expensive.
• Ours bikes are expensive.

However, the verb used must be plural if the noun is plural, and singular if the verb is singular.

• My pen is blue. (sing)
• My pens are blue. (plur)
• Our child is smart. (sing)
• Our children are smart. (plur)

⚠️ Its or It’s ?

Be careful not to confuse it’s and its

• Its = the possessive adjective of it for things or animals. Do not use an apostrophe.
• It’s = the contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’

Ex: I’m taking my cat to the vet. Its leg is broken. 

⚠️ Their, They’re or There ?

Be careful not to confuse the two! Same as for its / it’s

• Their = the possessive adjective of They
• They’re = the contraction of ‘they are’
• There = adverb

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse possessive pronouns with complementary personal pronouns or possessive adjectives!

• This is your (possessive adjective) book and this is mine (possessive pronoun).

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What Are Possessive Adjectives And How Do You Use Them?

• What Is A Possessive Adjective?
• Adjective Or Determiner?
• Rules And Best Practices
• Use Grammar Coach

We all have our favorite color. Your favorite might be blue. Your friend Nick might consider green to be his favorite color. Your other friend Akari might say that red is her favorite color. Or maybe they agree with you and both have blue as their favorite color, too. Regardless of who likes what, we all have a favorite that belongs to us.

In our colorful example above, we used adjectives to say who had a particular color as their favorite. If you know a bit about grammar, you already know that adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns and pronouns . However, we used a specific type of adjective to describe who liked each color: possessive adjectives.

What is a possessive adjective ?

A possessive adjective is an adjective that modifies a noun by identifying who has ownership or possession of it. For example, in the sentence Andrew lost his keys the word his is a possessive adjective that indicates the keys belong to Andrew. The most commonly used possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose . In order, these adjectives correspond to the pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we, they , and who .

As their name suggests, possessive adjectives are often used to express possession or ownership. For example, the sentence Gregory put his hat on the table uses the adjective his to express the idea that Greg owns the hat. We can also use possessive adjectives to refer to figurative things that someone has, as in Ally described her dream to me.

Possessive adjectives are also used to refer to people who have a relation to someone or something. For example, the sentence Vince and Helena are with their parents uses the possessive adjective their to express that the parents are related to Vince and Helena; they don’t “own” their parents, but their parents are something they have.

When deciding which possessive adjective to use, you need to figure out which pronoun you would use to identify the same person or thing that owns or has the noun you are modifying. For example,

• The mother bird was building ____ nest.

In this sentence, we want to modify nest with a possessive adjective. The nest belongs to the mother bird. Because the bird is female, we would use the pronoun she . The possessive adjective used with she is her. So, our sentence should read:

• The mother bird was building her nest.

Need a refresher on pronouns? You can review all the types of pronouns here.

List of possessive adjectives

As mentioned earlier, the most common possessive adjectives are:

However, you may see other possessive adjectives in addition to these. Every personal pronoun has a possessive adjective that goes along with it. For this reason, you may see other potential possessive adjectives such as hir and xyr that a person may use if they choose not to use the gendered pronouns he or she.

Gender-neutral and nonbinary possessive adjectives

In the above list of possessive adjectives, the words her  and his are unique in that they are used to specify a person’s (or animal’s) gender. While these are quite common adjectives, there are plenty of other possessive adjectives available that don’t carry any kind of association with a particular gender.

Learn more about how nonbinary and transgender identities are paving a way through the language of gender.

It is important not to misidentify someone, even accidentally, by carelessly using gendered language when it isn’t needed. Luckily, there is an easy way to ensure your speech and writing is inclusive of all gender identities: you can use gender-neutral language. If you don’t know which possessive adjective is best to use—or would prefer not to use a gendered pronoun at all—the word their is just what you need.

The adjective their can be (and is increasingly) used as a singular gender-neutral or nonbinary substitute for the gender-specific adjectives her and his. (Other terms are also used in this way, but their is the most common.) It can be used when you don’t want or need to specify someone’s gender. It can also be used when referring to a person who identifies as nonbinary . In this case, it’s always important to use the adjectives (and pronouns) that the person prefers.

To learn more, explore in-depth resources about the adjective their and gender-neutral language .

Where do you include a possessive adjective in a sentence?

Unlike many other adjectives, possessive adjectives can only be used directly in front of the noun that they modify:

✅ Correct: We went to my house. ❌ Incorrect: This house is my.

✅ Correct: The lions hunted their prey. ❌ Incorrect: I want to give the lions this toy because I know it is their.

Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns

We can’t use possessive adjectives as a subject , object , or as a subject complement . Instead, we need words known as possessive pronouns. Because they are pronouns, these words can be used in places that possessive adjectives can’t. The possessive pronouns that correspond to each pronoun and possessive adjective are:

• I : my : mine
• you : your : yours
• she : her : hers
• he : his : his
• it : its : its (Note: In general, it is preferred not to use its by itself as a pronoun.)
• we : our : ours
• they : their : theirs
• who: whose : whose

You’ll notice that the words his and whose are both the possessive adjective and possessive pronouns used for the words he and who, which makes these two slightly easier to use than the others.

Possessive adjectives and determiners

Unlike nouns and verbs, the different categories of adjectives are often less defined. For example, many style guides or sources of grammar advice consider possessive adjectives to actually be a class of words known as determiners , in which case they may be referred to as possessive determiners or even just possessives.

Unlike many other adjectives, possessive adjectives can act similarly to pronouns in that they can replace possessive nouns. For example, the sentences I found Fred’s cat and I found his cat have the same meaning. Additionally, possessive adjectives cannot be turned into superlative or comparative adjectives . Something can be slower than something else but something can’t be “our-er” or “my-er” than something else.

While these qualities may support classifying possessive adjectives as a different figure of speech, we consider words like my , your , and our to be adjectives rather than determiners. Not every style guide will take this approach, however, so don’t be surprised if you see words like these classified differently.

Possessive adjective examples in a sentence

The possessive adjective is in bold in each of the following sentences.

Example #1 

We looked everywhere for my dog. (The possessive adjective my modifies the noun dog to indicate that it belongs to me.)

Their team was a lot better than our team. (The possessive adjectives their and our modify the word team to indicate who is represented by each team.)

Example #3 

Whose soda is this? (The possessive adjective whose modifies the noun soda . Whose is also an interrogative adjective so it is often used in questions to ask who the owner of an item is.)

Possessive adjective rules & best practices

Grammatically, the main thing to watch out for when it comes to possessive adjectives is that you don’t accidentally use them as nouns. Don’t use possessive adjectives as subjects, objects, or subject complements. You must use a possessive pronoun instead:

❌  Incorrect:  This backpack is my . ✅  Correct: This backpack is mine .

❌  Incorrect: His cat is older than your. ✅  Correct: His cat is older than yours OR His cat is older than your cat.

Another useful thing to remember is that the possessive adjective their can be used to refer to a single person. Although their and they usually refer to multiple people or things, they can also be used to generally refer to a single person:

• The banker sat in their chair.
• Each person is responsible for their own property.

Because it isn’t a gendered word, their is a useful word to use if you don’t know how a person identifies themself:

• I am meeting someone named Alex who agreed to sell me their extra ticket.

Rather than grammatical errors, the most common mistakes people make when it comes to possessive adjectives has to do with spelling. In particular, the following four errors are especially common:

Its and It’s : The word it’s is a contraction of “it is.”

• The toy danced until its battery ran out.
• It’s a really nice day outside today.

Your and You’re : The word you’re is a contraction of “you are.”

• Tomorrow is your birthday.
• You’re my best friend.

Whose and Who’s : The word who’s is a contraction of “who is” or “who has.”

• Whose idea was this?
• Who’s going to come to the store with me?

Their, They’re, and There : The word they’re is a contraction of “they are.” The word there is a commonly used word with many meanings, but it isn’t used as a possessive adjective.

• My kids are doing their homework.
• The painters couldn’t make it today, so they’re coming tomorrow instead.
• I looked for Brian at his house but he wasn’t there.

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Another adjective that sits close to its noun is the attributive adjective. Learn about them here.

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

Possessive adjectives and pronouns

Perfect english grammar.

Possessive adjectives

• I have a bag - this is my bag.
• You have a cat - that is your cat.
• He has a car - it is his car.
• She has a book - it is her book.
• The dog has a bed - it is its bed.
• We have a flat - it is our flat.
• They have a daughter - she is their daughter.

Possessive pronouns

• I have a bag - this is mine .
• You have a cat - that cat is yours .
• He has a car - it is his .
• She has a book - it is hers .
• We have a flat - it is ours .
• They have a daughter - she is theirs .

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Possessive Adjectives ESL Printable Worksheets and Exercises

Possessive adjectives esl grammar exercise worksheet.

Possessive Adjectives His, Her, Their ESL Worksheet

Possesive Adjectives

Tran Hoang Phuong

this is worksheet

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