Possessive Adjectives

Illustration of Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives show ownership or possession.

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

  1. Always Use Before a Noun
    Possessive adjectives come before the thing they describe.

    • Correct: This is my dog.

    • Incorrect: This is dog my.

  2. Match the Subject Pronoun
    The possessive adjective must match the subject of the sentence.

    • If the subject is "she," use her.

    • If the subject is "they," use their.

  3. 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

  1. Confusing "its" and "it’s"

    • Its is a possessive adjective: "The dog wagged its tail."

    • It’s means "it is" or "it has": "It’s a sunny day."

  2. Using Subject Pronouns Instead of Possessive Adjectives

    • Incorrect: "This is she book."

    • Correct: "This is her book."

  3. Mixing Up Their, There, and They’re

    • Their is possessive: "Their car is red."

    • There means a place: "The keys are there."

    • 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:

  1. Talking About Family

    • "This is my sister."

    • "Is that your mother?"

  2. Describing Ownership

    • "Can I borrow your pen?"

    • "I left my phone at home."

  3. Body Parts

    • "She hurt her leg."

    • "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.

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