Possessive adjectives are words like “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their” that show ownership or belonging. They describe who owns something and always come before a noun. In this reference, you will learn the definition, usage, examples, and exercises about possessive adjectives, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of how they function to clarify relationships and possession in English sentences.

What are Possessive Adjectives? – Created by Englishstudyonline
What Are Possessive Adjectives?
Possessive adjectives, a type of determiners, are unique because they help you identify who owns something. They always come before the noun they modify. For example, in the sentence “her hat,” “her” is the possessive adjective that tells you the hat belongs to “her.”
These adjectives do not change based on gender or number. For instance, “my” will always be “my” whether you are talking about one item or many items.
Common possessive adjectives include:
- My (belongs to me)
- Your (belongs to you)
- His (belongs to him)
- Her (belongs to her)
- Its (belongs to it)
- Our (belongs to us)
- Their (belongs to them)
List of English Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives in English show ownership and include words like “my,” “your,” and “their.” These adjectives are divided into singular and plural forms.
Singular Possessive Adjectives
Singular possessive adjectives refer to one person or thing owning something. Here’s a list:
- My: This adjective shows that something belongs to you. For example, “my book” means the book belongs to you.
- Your: This is used to show that something belongs to the person you are speaking to. For example, “your car” means the car belongs to the person you are talking to.
- His: Used when something belongs to a male. For example, “his bike” means the bike belongs to him.
- Her: This adjective indicates that something belongs to a female. For instance, “her hat” means the hat belongs to her.
- Its: Used for things or animals. For example, “its tail” means the tail belongs to the animal or object.
Plural Possessive Adjectives
Plural possessive adjectives indicate that more than one person owns something. Here are the common ones:
- Our: This shows that something belongs to a group that includes you. For example, “our house” means the house belongs to you and others.
- Your: Used for addressing multiple people. For instance, “your books” means the books belong to the people you are talking to.
- Their: This indicates that something belongs to a group of people. For example, “their project” means the project belongs to them.
Examples of Possessive Adjectives in Sentences
Now that you know what possessive adjectives are, you can move on using them in sentences. Below are examples of how to use each of the possessive adjectives, singular, and plural, listed above, as well as how to use their corresponding possessive pronouns.
- It is my house.
- This house is mine.
- It is your piano.
- This piano is yours.
- It is his computer.
- This computer is his.
- It is her certificate.
- This certificate is hers.
- The dog is out for its walk. (No corresponding possessive pronoun)
- It is our child.
- This child is ours.
- Their cat has gone missing.
- Is this cat theirs?
Usage of Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives indicate ownership and agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. They always come before a noun to show who or what owns that noun.
Subject-Adjective Agreement
Possessive adjectives must match the subject in number and gender.
For instance, “my” is used with singular first-person subjects, and “our” with plural first-person subjects. Similarly, “his” and “her” match third-person singular masculine and feminine subjects, respectively.
Examples:
- My cat likes to sleep.
- Their house is big.
Position in a Sentence
Possessive adjectives always come before the noun they modify. They serve to clarify ownership right from the start of the sentence or clause.
Examples:
- Your book is on the table.
- She washed her car yesterday.
Difference between Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns
Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns both show ownership or possession. Each has distinct roles and positions in sentences.
Possessive adjectives modify nouns. They come before the noun they describe. For example:
- My book
- Your cat
- Her house
Possessive pronouns replace nouns or noun phrases. They stand alone and don’t need a noun afterward. For example:
- This book is mine.
- That cat is yours.
- The house is hers.
Here’s a quick comparison:
Category | Examples |
---|---|
Possessive Adjectives | my, your, his, her |
Possessive Pronouns | mine, yours, his, hers |
Practical Exercises of Possessive Adjectives
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).
- ______ book is on the table. (Tom)
- ______ dresses are beautiful. (Linda and Sarah)
- I have ______ pen, but I can’t find ______. (I, you)
- The cat is licking ______ paws. (cat)
- We will take ______ car to the trip next week. (we)
- ______ jacket is in the closet, but ______ is still in the car. (Melanie, Jack)
- The students handed in ______ projects. (students)
- That is ______ office on the left. (manager)
- ______ glasses are on the bedside table. (grandfather)
- They’re not happy with ______ results. (they)
Answers:
- His book is on the table.
- Their dresses are beautiful.
- I have my pen, but I can’t find yours.
- The cat is licking its paws.
- We will take our car to the trip next week.
- Her jacket is in the closet, but his is still in the car.
- The students handed in their projects.
- That is his office on the left.
- His glasses are on the bedside table.
- They’re not happy with their results.
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option
Choose the correct possessive adjective to complete each sentence.
- Is that (your, yours) jacket on the chair?
- They always do (their, theirs) homework in the evening.
- (Our, Ours) house is the one with the red door.
- Does she like (her, hers) new teacher?
- (His, He’s) always late to the meetings.
- Can you see (their, theirs) dog in the garden?
- (My, Mine) brother and I are going to the park.
- (Your, Yours) opinion matters a lot to me.
- She can’t find (her, hers) keys anywhere.
- (Our, Ours) vacation starts next week.
Answers:
- Is that your jacket on the chair?
- They always do their homework in the evening.
- Our house is the one with the red door.
- Does she like her new teacher?
- He’s always late to the meetings.
- Can you see their dog in the garden?
- My brother and I are going to the park.
- Your opinion matters a lot to me.
- She can’t find her keys anywhere.
- Our vacation starts next week.
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