Possessive Adjectives with Examples

Possessive adjectives are a crucial part of the English language, as they help to clarify ownership and possession. These words come before nouns and indicate that the noun belongs to the subject of the sentence. Some common possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. Understanding how to use correctly is essential for effective communication. In this article, we will explore the basics of possessive adjectives with uses and examples. So, let’s get started!

What are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words used to indicate ownership or possession of a noun. They modify nouns by specifying to whom or to what something belongs. These adjectives help convey relationships and identify the owner of an object, person, or idea within a sentence.

Common possessive adjectives include “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” “your” (plural), and “their.” These adjectives can be used to describe both living and non-living entities, offering a concise way to express possession.

For instance, in the sentence “This is my car,” the possessive adjective “my” indicates that the car belongs to the speaker. Similarly, in “Her book is on the shelf,” “her” denotes that the book belongs to a female person previously mentioned or understood in the context. It’s essential to match possessive adjectives with the gender and number of the noun they modify.

My (singular, first-person)
Your (singular, second person)
His (singular, third person masculine)
Her (singular, third person feminine)
Its (singular, third person neuter)
Our (plural, first person)
Your (plural, second person)
Their (plural, third person)

These adjectives play a crucial role in clarifying relationships and establishing ownership within language, contributing to effective communication by providing context to the objects or concepts being discussed.

Common Possessive Adjectives

Here are the most common possessive adjectives:

My:
- Function: Indicates possession by the speaker.
- Example: This is my car.
Your:
- Function: Indicates possession by the person being addressed.
- Example: Is this your pen?
His:
- Function: Indicates possession by a male person or thing.
- Example: That’s his laptop.
Her:
- Function: Indicates possession by a female person or thing.
- Example: I like her dress.
Its:
- Function: Indicates possession by a non-human entity or animal.
- Example: The cat chased its tail.
Our:
- Function: Indicates possession by a group that includes the speaker.
- Example: We love our new house.
Their:
- Function: Indicates possession by a group that does not include the speaker.
- Example: Those are their bicycles.
Whose:
- Function: “Whose” is a question word that helps us find out who something belongs to.
- Example: “Whose backpack is this?”
One’s:
- Function: Represents possession in a general or unspecified context.
- Example: One should take care of one’s health.
Your (Plural):
- Function: Indicates possession by a group of people.
- Example: Are these your shoes?

Functions of Possessive Adjectives

Here are some basic functions of possessive adjectives:

Ownership: Indicate who owns or possesses a particular object or quality.
Identification: Help specify and identify the owner or possessor of the noun.
Clarity: Enhance clarity in communication by attributing possession to a specific person or group.
Relationships: Reflect relationships between individuals or groups and the objects they possess.
Personalization: Add a personal touch to language by associating objects with specific individuals or groups.
Avoid Ambiguity: Prevent confusion by clearly stating to whom a particular item or quality belongs.
Connection: Establish a connection between the possessor and the possessed, conveying a sense of attachment.
Expressive: Convey emotions or sentiments by associating personal ownership with certain items or qualities.
Categorization: Assist in categorizing and organizing possessions within a linguistic context.
Conciseness: Facilitate concise expression by eliminating the need for additional phrases or sentences to denote possession.

How to Use Possessive Adjectives?

Using possessive adjectives is quite simple, and they are used to indicate ownership or possession of a noun. Here’s a simple guide on how to use possessive adjectives:

Identify the Owner: Before using possessive adjectives, determine the ownership or association you want to convey in your sentence. Ask yourself, “Whose is it?” to establish the context.
Choose the Right Possessive Adjective: Select the appropriate possessive adjective based on the owner’s identity. For examples:
Place Possessive Adjective Before the Noun: Insert the possessive adjective just before the noun it is modifying. This helps clarify who the owner is.
Deal with Plural Nouns: When using possessive adjectives with plural nouns, add the apostrophe after the noun: “These are my friends’ dogs.”
Avoid Confusing “Its” and “It’s”: Remember that “its” is a possessive adjective, while “it’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has”:

Forms of Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives have different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify. Let’s explore the basic forms:

Add apostrophe and ‘s’

Possessive adjectives are usually formed by adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ to the owner, except for “its” which is used as is. Let’s explore some examples:

John‘s car (belonging to John)
Mary‘s book (belonging to Mary)
The cat‘s toy (belonging to the cat)

Singular Possessive Adjectives

My: This is used when something belongs to the speaker. For example, “This is my book.”
Your: When addressing someone directly or indirectly, we use “your” to indicate possession. For instance, “Is this your pencil?”
His: When something belongs to a male, we use “his.” For example, “That is his car.”
Her: Similar to “his,” “her” is used when something belongs to a female. For instance, “I like her dress.”
Its: This form is used for non-living things or animals. For example, “The cat is licking its paw.”

Plural Possessive Adjectives

Our: Used to indicate possession by a group to which the speaker belongs. For instance, “These are our seats.”
Your: When referring to the possession of more than one person, we use “your.” For example, “Are these your keys?”
Their: Signifying possession by more than one person or thing, “their” is used. For instance, “The children have their toys.”

Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns

Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns both indicate possession, but they are used in different ways within a sentence. For instance, possessive adjectives are words that modify a noun, indicating to whom or to what something belongs. They always come before the noun they are describing. The common possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. Possessive pronouns, on the other hand, replace a noun and stand alone in a sentence. They demonstrate ownership without needing a specific noun following them. The possessive pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs.

Possessive Adjective: This is my car. (Modifying the noun “car.”)
Possessive Pronoun: This is mine. (Replacing the noun “car.”)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding possessive adjectives is essential, but it’s also crucial to be aware of common mistakes to ensure clear and effective communication. For instance:

Confusing “Its” and “It’s” “Its” is a possessive adjective, while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” Many people mix them up, so it’s important to remember their distinct uses.

The cat licked its fur. (possessive adjective)
It’s (it is) a sunny day. (contraction)

Incorrect Usage of “Your” and “You’re” Similar to “its” and “it’s,” “your” is a possessive adjective, and “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.” Ensuring the proper usage of these terms is crucial for clear communication.

Is this your backpack? (possessive adjective)
You’re shoes are untied. (contraction)

Whose vs. Who’s: “Whose” is a possessive form, and “who’s” is a contraction for “who is” or “who has.”

Who’s responsible for this? (contraction)
Whose book is this? (possessive adjective)

Mismatching Singular and Plural: Ensure that the possessive adjective matches the number (singular or plural) of the noun it modifies. For instance, use “This is her cat” (singular) and “These are their cats” (plural).

List of Possessive Adjectives

My
Your
His
Her
Its
Our
Their
Whose
One’s
His
Hers
Its
Ours
Theirs
My own
Your own
His own
Her own
Its own
Our own
Their own
Our team’s
His brother’s
The child’s
My friend’s
Your mother’s
Your team’s
The student’s
The doctor’s
Your sister’s

Example Sentences

Your book is on the table.
His car is parked outside.
Your friends are waiting for you.
Their house is painted blue.
Your sister is very talented.
Your grades have improved.
Your shoes are untied.
His favorite color is green.
Its wings are colorful.
Your idea is brilliant.
Their children are well-behaved.
My favorite book is on my shelf.
Your computer is very fast.
His sister is a great chef.
Our school is hosting an event.
Your dog is barking loudly.
Their house has a big garden.
My bike is in the garage.
Your parents are friendly.
Her dress is beautiful.
Its price is reasonable.
Our friends are coming over.
Your car is in the driveway.
My keys are in my bag.
Your painting is impressive.
His desk is organized.
Her lunch is in the fridge.
Our teacher is knowledgeable.
My alarm clock woke me up.

Possessive Adjectives Exercises

Choose between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns based on the context.

This is ___ house. (our/ours)
Can I borrow ___ pen? (your/yours)
That book is ___ brother’s. (his/him)
Is this ___ car? (your/yours)
The team celebrated ___ victory. (their/theirs)
I can’t find ___ keys. (my/mine)
Sarah is ___ friend. (my/mine)
The responsibility is ___ department’s. (our/ours)
This project is ___ responsibility. (our/ours)
I met ___ brother yesterday. (your/yours)

Answers:

our
your
his
your
their
my
my
my
our
our
your

FAQs

Q1: What are possessive adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words used to indicate ownership or possession of a noun. They clarify to whom or to what something belongs in a sentence.

Q2: What are the common possessive adjectives?

The common possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.

Q3: How are possessive adjectives different from possessive pronouns?

Possessive adjectives modify nouns, indicating ownership, while possessive pronouns stand-alone, replacing nouns to show possession. For example, “my book” (possessive adjective) vs. “The book is mine” (possessive pronoun).

Q4: Give example sentences of possessive adjectives.

Here are example sentences: