Possessive Pronouns

What are Possessive Pronouns?

Possessive pronouns show that something belongs to someone or something else. They replace nouns to indicate ownership. Common possessive pronouns are “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “its,” “ours,” and “theirs.”

Also Check: Pronouns

Definition of a Possessive Pronoun

A possessive pronoun is a word used to indicate ownership or possession. It replaces a noun to demonstrate that something belongs to someone or something else. Common possessive pronouns include “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “its,” “ours,” and “theirs.”

For instance, instead of saying, “This book belongs to me,” one can say, “This book is mine,” employing the possessive pronoun “mine” to denote ownership. Possessive pronouns streamline sentences, making them more concise and understandable by signifying possession without reiterating the noun they replace.

Also Check: Demonstrative Pronouns

Example of Possessive Pronouns

Below given are a few examples of Possessive Pronouns.

• Mine: This book is mine.
• Yours: Is this pen yours?
• His: That is his car.
• Hers: The house is hers.
• Its: The cat licked its paw.
• Ours: The garden is ours.
• Theirs: The keys are theirs.

Also Check: Common Nouns

1. John’s car is parked in front of the house.

His car is parked in front of the house.

2. Emily’s phone is on the table.

The phone on the table is hers.

3. Is this your pen?

Is this pen yours?

4. The house with the red door is our house.

The house with the red door is ours.

5. This laptop belongs to Sarah.

This laptop is hers.

6. The dog wearing the blue collar is their dog.

The dog wearing the blue collar is theirs.

7. Whose backpack is this?

Whose backpack is this one?

8. The keys in the drawer are his keys.

The keys in the drawer are his.

9. The book on the shelf is my book.

The book on the shelf is mine.

10. Those cookies are Jane’s cookies.

Those cookies are hers.

Also Check: Proper Nouns

Possessive Pronouns Rules:

Possessive pronouns simplify sentences by indicating ownership or possession without repeating nouns. Understanding their usage is crucial for effective communication.

Ownership: Possessive pronouns show who or what owns or possesses something. For instance, instead of saying, “This book belongs to me,” one can say, “This book is mine,” using “mine” to denote ownership.

Agreement: Possessive pronouns must agree with the noun they replace in gender, number, and person. For example, singular possessive pronouns like “mine” or “his” are used when discussing one person. If referring to more than one person, plural possessive pronouns such as “ours” or “theirs” are appropriate.

Apostrophes: Unlike possessive nouns, possessive pronouns do not require apostrophes. “Hers” and “its” are correct, while “her’s” and “it’s” are incorrect.

Reflexivity: Some possessive pronouns can be reflexive, indicating the subject and object are the same. For instance, “She washed herself” employs the reflexive possessive pronoun “herself.”

Singular and Plural Forms: Possessive pronouns have both singular and plural forms. “Mine” is singular, while “ours” is plural.

Also Check: Plural Nouns

How to Use Possessive Pronouns in Sentences

A noun can become possessive by adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ at the end. Pronouns can also show possession, but don’t use an apostrophe or an ‘s’. Some pronouns are specifically used to indicate that a particular person, animal, or object belongs to someone.

For instance, the personal pronoun ‘I’ becomes the possessive pronoun ‘mine’. If I own a blue car, I can say, “That blue car is mine.”

Similarly, the personal pronoun ‘we’ becomes the possessive pronoun ‘ours’. For example, if our group wins a competition, we can say, “The trophy is ours.”

For the personal pronoun ‘he,’ the possessive pronoun is ‘his’. For instance, if the cat belongs to John, we say, “It is his cat.”

For the personal pronoun ‘she,’ the possessive pronoun is ‘hers’. For example, if the book belongs to Emily, we say, “The book is hers.”

Lastly, for the personal pronoun ‘you,’ the possessive pronoun is ‘yours’. For instance, if the house belongs to you, we say, “The house is yours.”

Also Check: Possessive Nouns

Possessive Pronouns Worksheet

Questions:

1. Whose car is parked in the driveway?
2. Is this notebook yours or mine?
3. Who left their jacket on the chair?
4. Can I borrow your phone for a moment?
5. Which of these books is hers?
6. Did you see their new house on the corner?
7. Have you seen my keys anywhere?
8. Is this umbrella yours or theirs?
9. Whose idea was it to go to the beach?
10. Are these shoes his or hers?

Also Check: Collective Noun

Answers:

1. The car belongs to them.
2. This notebook is mine.
3. The person who left the jacket on the chair is they.
4. Yes, this phone is mine.
5. That book over there is hers.
6. Yes, I saw their new house.
7. No, I haven’t seen your keys.
8. This umbrella belongs to them.
9. The idea to go to the beach was hers.
10. Those shoes belong to her.

Common Mistakes regarding Possessive Pronouns

Confusing independent and dependent possessive pronouns is common, leading to incorrect sentences such as “This is mine.” In this case, using “mine” without a noun following it is erroneous. The correct sentence should be “This is my.”

FAQs of Possessive Pronouns

What is the difference between dependent and independent possessive pronouns?

Dependent possessive pronouns (e.g., my, your, his) are used before a noun to show ownership, while independent possessive pronouns (e.g., mine, yours, his) stand alone without a noun and indicate ownership.

When do we use possessive pronouns instead of possessive adjectives?

Possessive pronouns are used when the noun they refer to has already been mentioned or is understood in context, whereas possessive adjectives are used before a noun to show ownership.

Can possessive pronouns be used to show possession for both singular and plural nouns?

Yes, possessive pronouns can show possession for singular and plural nouns. For example, This is my book (singular) and These books are ours (plural).