Possessive Adjectives: My, Your, His, Her, Its, Our, Their

Possessive adjectives are an essential part of English grammar, especially for beginners learning the basics of the language. They are used to show ownership or a relationship between people and things. In this lesson, we will explore the possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. Understanding how to use these words correctly will help you construct sentences that clearly indicate possession and relationships.

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words that modify nouns to show possession. They tell us to whom or to what something belongs. Unlike possessive pronouns, which stand alone, possessive adjectives are always used before a noun. Here are the possessive adjectives in English:

• My - used when the speaker is referring to something that belongs to them.
• Your - used when addressing someone directly, referring to something that belongs to the person being spoken to.
• His - used to refer to something that belongs to a male person or animal.
• Her - used to refer to something that belongs to a female person or animal.
• Its - used to refer to something that belongs to a thing, animal, or concept. It is neutral in gender.
• Our - used when the speaker is referring to something that belongs to a group that includes themselves.
• Their - used when referring to something that belongs to a group of people or things.

Using Possessive Adjectives in Sentences

Let's look at how each possessive adjective is used in a sentence:

My

The possessive adjective "my" is used by the speaker to indicate something that belongs to them.

• This is my book.
• My car is parked outside.
• I love my family.

Your

"Your" is used when speaking directly to someone, indicating that something belongs to them.

• Is this your pen?
• Your house is beautiful.
• Can I borrow your phone?

His

The adjective "his" shows possession for a male person or animal.

• This is his jacket.
• His dog is very friendly.
• I met his brother yesterday.

Her

"Her" is used to indicate possession for a female person or animal.

• Where is her bag?
• Her smile is beautiful.
• She loves her cat.

Its

"Its" is used for things, animals, or concepts, and it does not indicate gender.

• The cat is licking its paws.
• The company changed its policy.
• This machine has its own manual.

Our

"Our" indicates that something belongs to a group that includes the speaker.

• This is our home.
• We need to finish our project.
• Our team is winning.

Their

"Their" is used to show possession for a group of people or things.

• Where are their parents?
• Their car broke down.
• The students submitted their assignments.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Adjectives

When learning possessive adjectives, beginners often make mistakes. Here are a few common errors and how to avoid them:

Confusing Possessive Adjectives with Possessive Pronouns

Remember that possessive adjectives are used before nouns, while possessive pronouns stand alone. For example:

• Correct: This is my book.
• Incorrect: This book is my. (Should be "This book is mine.")

Using "Its" and "It's" Incorrectly

"Its" is a possessive adjective, while "it's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has." They are not interchangeable.

• Correct: The dog wagged its tail.
• Incorrect: The dog wagged it's tail. ("It's" means "it is" or "it has.")

Gender Confusion with "His" and "Her"

Ensure you use "his" for males and "her" for females. This is important for clarity.

• Correct: She brought her friend to the party.
• Incorrect: She brought his friend to the party.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of possessive adjectives, try these practice exercises:

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjective:
   • This is _____ (I) book.
   • _____ (You) car is red.
   • He forgot _____ (he) keys.
   • _____ (She) dress is beautiful.
   • The cat cleaned _____ (it) fur.
   • _____ (We) teacher is nice.
   • They love _____ (they) new house.
2. Rewrite the sentences using possessive adjectives:
   • The book belongs to me. (Answer: This is my book.)
   • The shoes belong to you.
   • The laptop belongs to him.
   • The purse belongs to her.
   • The nest belongs to the bird.
   • The project belongs to us.
   • The toys belong to them.

Conclusion

Possessive adjectives are a fundamental part of English grammar that help us express ownership and relationships. By mastering the use of my, your, his, her, its, our, and their, you can create clear and precise sentences. Practice regularly, and soon you will find it easy to use possessive adjectives correctly in your everyday conversations and writing.

Remember, practice is key to becoming comfortable with possessive adjectives. Try to use them in your daily conversations, and soon they will become second nature. Happy learning!