Possessive Adjectives
Possessive Adjectives – Exercises
These exercises focus on Possessive Adjectives
What Are Possessive Adjectives?
Possessive adjectives show ownership or possession. They tell us who something belongs to. For example, in the sentence:
"This is my book."
The word my tells us that the book belongs to the speaker.
The List of Possessive Adjectives
Here is a table to help you understand the possessive adjectives in English:
Subject Pronoun |
Possessive Adjective |
Example |
I |
my |
This is my pen. |
You |
your |
Is this your bag? |
He |
his |
That is his car. |
She |
her |
Her dress is beautiful. |
It |
its |
The dog wagged its tail. |
We |
our |
Welcome to our home. |
They |
their |
Their house is big. |
Rules for Using Possessive Adjectives
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Always Use Before a Noun
Possessive adjectives come before the thing they describe. -
Correct: This is my dog.
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Incorrect: This is dog my.
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Match the Subject Pronoun
The possessive adjective must match the subject of the sentence. -
If the subject is "she," use her.
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If the subject is "they," use their.
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Do Not Add an Apostrophe
Possessive adjectives never use an apostrophe. For example: -
Correct: The cat ate its food.
-
Incorrect: The cat ate it’s food. (it’s means "it is").
Common Mistakes
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Confusing "its" and "it’s"
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Its is a possessive adjective: "The dog wagged its tail."
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It’s means "it is" or "it has": "It’s a sunny day."
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Using Subject Pronouns Instead of Possessive Adjectives
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Incorrect: "This is she book."
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Correct: "This is her book."
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Mixing Up Their, There, and They’re
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Their is possessive: "Their car is red."
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There means a place: "The keys are there."
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They’re means "they are": "They’re coming soon."
Everyday Use of Possessive Adjectives
We use possessive adjectives in daily conversations to describe relationships, ownership, or parts of the body. Here are some examples:
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Talking About Family
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"This is my sister."
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"Is that your mother?"
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Describing Ownership
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"Can I borrow your pen?"
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"I left my phone at home."
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Body Parts
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"She hurt her leg."
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"The baby is moving its hands."
FAQ
What is a possessive adjective?
A word that shows who owns something (e.g., my, your, his).
What’s the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns?
Possessive adjectives come before a noun (e.g., "my book"). Possessive pronouns replace a noun (e.g., "This book is mine").
Is "it’s" a possessive adjective?
No, it’s means "it is" or "it has." The possessive form is its.
Can possessive adjectives be plural?
Yes, for example: "our," "their." They refer to plural subjects.
How do I avoid common mistakes with possessive adjectives?
Practice matching the subject with the correct adjective and remember the rules about placement and spelling.