Possessive Adjectives: Definition, And Examples In English

Table of Contents

Possessive adjectives are essential words in English that are used to show ownership or relationships between people, places, or things. They include words like my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. Unlike possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives always come before a noun to indicate who owns or possesses something.

For example, in my book, the word my tells us the book belongs to the speaker. Understanding possessive adjectives is crucial for clear communication, ensuring that sentences convey exactly who or what owns the subject being discussed.

What is a Possessive Adjective?

A possessive adjective is a word that shows ownership or belonging. It describes who owns something or who something belongs to. The most common possessive adjectives in English are:
My
Your
His
Her
Its
Our
Their

Possessive adjectives are placed before a noun to clarify ownership or connection. For example, in the sentence “This is my book,” my tells us who the book belongs to.

Identification

Possessive adjectives are easy to identify because they always come before a noun to show ownership or a relationship. The most common possessive adjectives are:

My (belongs to the speaker: my book)
Your (belongs to the person spoken to: your pen)
His (belongs to a male: his car)
Her (belongs to a female: her bag)
Its (belongs to a non-human: its tail)
Our (belongs to the speaker and others: our house)
Their (belongs to a group of people or things: their toys)

These adjectives modify nouns by showing who owns or is associated with the noun in question. A key point to remember is that possessive adjectives are always used before nouns. They never stand alone like possessive pronouns do (e.g., “his” in “this is his”).

For example:

My phone (shows that the phone belongs to me).
Their car (shows that the car belongs to them).

Note: By using possessive adjectives correctly, you can clearly express ownership or relationships without confusion.

How to Use Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives are used to show who owns or has a relationship with something. They always come before a noun and describe who the noun belongs to. Here’s a simple guide to using them correctly:

My – Refers to something that belongs to the speaker.

This is my bag.

Your – Refers to something that belongs to the person being spoken to.

Is this your pen?

His – Refers to something that belongs to a male.

His car is parked outside.

Her – Refers to something that belongs to a female.

I like her dress.

Its – Refers to something that belongs to an object or animal.

The dog wagged its tail.

Our – Refers to something that belongs to the speaker and others.

This is our house.

Their – Refers to something that belongs to other people.

Their parents are visiting.

Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives are used to describe a noun and show ownership. They modify a noun by providing information about to whom it belongs.
Common possessive adjectives include: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.

This is my book.
They are our friends.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns replace nouns and also indicate ownership. Unlike possessive adjectives, they do not need to be followed by a noun because they already stand in for one.

Common possessive pronouns include: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs.

This book is mine.
Those friends are theirs.

Example Sentences

My car is parked in the garage.
Sarah forgot her keys at home.
The dog wagged its tail happily.
We enjoyed our time at the beach.
Your book is on the table.
John is proud of his accomplishments.
The children played with their toys all afternoon.
Her phone rang during the meeting.
His jacket is hanging by the door.
We need to finish our project by tomorrow.
Is this your umbrella?
The cat found its way back home.
They completed their homework before dinner.
She loves spending time with her friends.
My laptop is much slower than yours.

These sentences demonstrate how possessive adjectives clarify ownership or relationships.

Why Possessive Adjectives Are Important

Possessive adjectives are crucial in the English language because they indicate ownership and establish relationships between nouns. By using possessive adjectives, speakers can convey to whom or what something belongs, thereby enhancing clarity in communication.

For instance, when someone says my book, it immediately indicates that the book is owned by the speaker, leaving no room for confusion.

When someone refers to her car or their house, it not only identifies ownership but also implies a relationship between the speaker and the subject. This ability to define relationships makes language richer and more meaningful.

Rules

Possessive adjectives follow clear rules that guide how and when they are used in English. Understanding these rules ensures you communicate ownership and relationships effectively.

Possessive Adjectives Always Come Before the Noun:

Possessive adjectives must be placed directly before the noun they describe. This rule applies in all cases, whether referring to people, animals, or objects.

Correct: This is my car.
Incorrect: This is car my.

The possessive adjective clarifies who the noun belongs to, and placing it before the noun ensures the sentence is grammatically correct.

Possessive Adjectives Agree with the Possessor, Not the Object:

The possessive adjective should match the person or thing who owns the noun, not the noun itself. For example, whether the object is singular, plural, masculine, or feminine, the possessive adjective corresponds to the owner.

Correct: She loves her dog.
(The dog is owned by a female, so her is used.)
Incorrect: She loves his dog.
(This would imply the dog is owned by a male, which is incorrect here.)

In contrast, the gender or number of the object (e.g., the dog) does not affect the choice of possessive adjective.

Possessive Adjectives Cannot Stand Alone:

Unlike possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives must be followed by a noun. They do not function as standalone words.

Correct: That is my bag.
Incorrect: That is my.

If you want to replace the noun and still show possession, use a possessive pronoun (e.g., “That is mine.”).

Possessive Adjectives Reflect the Number of Possessors, Not the Noun:

The choice of possessive adjective (e.g., my, our) depends on whether the possessor is singular or plural, but it doesn’t change based on the number of objects being possessed.

(singular possessor): I lost my keys.
(plural possessor): We lost our keys.

Here, the possessive adjective my or our reflects the number of possessors, not the number of keys.

Common Mistakes

When learning to use possessive adjectives, beginners often make common mistakes that can lead to confusion. Let’s go over these errors to ensure clear understanding and help you avoid them:

Confusing Possessive Adjectives with Possessive Pronouns:

Many learners mix up possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns. Remember:

Possessive adjectives always come before a noun
(e.g., This is my book).
Possessive pronouns stand alone, replacing the noun
(e.g., This book is mine).

Incorrect: “This is mine book.
Correct: This is my book.

Using Apostrophes with Possessive Adjectives:

Apostrophes are not used with possessive adjectives. It’s common to see learners mistakenly use apostrophes, especially with “its” and “your.”

Its (possessive adjective) shows ownership by something non-human.
It’s is a contraction of it is.

Incorrect: The dog wagged it’s tail.
Correct: The dog wagged its tail.

Misusing Your and You’re:

Your is a possessive adjective, while you’re” is a contraction of you are. These two words are often confused.

Incorrect: Is this you’re phone?
Correct : Is this your phone?

Forgetting Agreement with the Possessor, Not the Object:

Possessive adjectives must agree with the person or thing who owns the noun, not with the noun itself. This is important for clarity in meaning.

Incorrect: John loves her car. (Referring to John’s car)
Correct: John loves his car.

Using Their for Singular Subjects:

With increasing acceptance of “they/their” as a gender-neutral singular pronoun, it’s important to understand how to use “their” in this context.

‘Their ‘ can now be used to refer to someone whose gender is unknown or non-binary. However, learners often mistakenly use it with plural objects or incorrectly apply it to singular, gender-specific subjects.

Incorrect: Sarah lost their keys.
(Referring to a known female)

Correct : Sarah lost her keys.
Gender-neutral usage: The student forgot their backpack.