Possessive Adjectives and Subject Pronouns

These elements are the building blocks of sentences, and mastering them can significantly improve your communication skills. This guide will help you understand their definitions, rules, common errors, and how to use them in everyday conversations.

What Are Subject Pronouns?

Subject pronouns replace the subject of a sentence, meaning they take the place of nouns that are doing the action. They help avoid repetition and make sentences shorter and clearer. The English subject pronouns are: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.

Examples:

I like pizza. ("I" replaces the speaker's name.)

You are my friend. ("You" replaces the person's name you are talking to.)

He is a doctor. ("He" replaces a man's name.)

She loves cats. ("She" replaces a woman's name.)

It is raining. ("It" replaces the weather or rain.)

We are going to the park. ("We" replaces the speaker and others.)

They are playing soccer. ("They" replaces a group of people.)

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives indicate ownership or relationship. They modify nouns to show who owns or possesses something. The English possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.

Examples:

This is my book. ("My" shows that the book belongs to the speaker.)

Is that your car? ("Your" shows that the car belongs to the person being spoken to.)

His name is John. ("His" shows that the name belongs to a man.)

Her dress is beautiful. ("Her" shows that the dress belongs to a woman.)

The dog wagged its tail. ("Its" shows that the tail belongs to the dog.)

Our house is big. ("Our" shows that the house belongs to the speaker and others.)

Their team won the game. ("Their" shows that the team belongs to a group of people.)

Rules for Using Subject Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Subject Pronouns are always used to replace the subject of the sentence, which is the person or thing performing the action.

Correct: She is a teacher.

Incorrect: Her is a teacher.

Possessive Adjectives are used to show who owns something. They come before the noun they modify.

Correct: This is his pen.

Incorrect: This is he pen.

Possessive adjectives do not change based on the number or gender of the noun they modify, except for "his," "her," and "its" which are already gender-specific.

Correct: Their house is large. (Can refer to one person or many people.)

Common Errors

Mixing up subject pronouns and possessive adjectives:

Incorrect: Me dog is cute. (Should be "My dog is cute.")

Incorrect: Him is tall. (Should be "He is tall.")

Using "its" and "it's" incorrectly:

Incorrect: Its raining. (Should be "It's raining.")

Incorrect: The cat hurt it's paw. (Should be "The cat hurt its paw.")

Using possessive adjectives with the wrong subject pronoun:

Incorrect: Her likes to read. (Should be "She likes to read.")

Incorrect: Is this you book? (Should be "your book?")

Everyday Use

Understanding how to use subject pronouns and possessive adjectives correctly can help you communicate more clearly. Here are some examples of everyday conversations:

Conversation 1:

Person A: "Who is your best friend?"

Person B: "She is my best friend. Her name is Anna."

Conversation 2:

Person A: "Whose jacket is this?"

Person B: "It's his jacket."

Conversation 3:

Person A: "Is this our table?"

Person B: "Yes, this is our table."

FAQ

What is the difference between "its" and "it's"?

"Its" is a possessive adjective (e.g., "The dog wagged its tail."). "It's" is a contraction for "it is" (e.g., "It's raining.").

Can "they" be used as a singular pronoun?

Yes, "they" can be used as a singular pronoun to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or to be inclusive (e.g., "Someone left their bag here.").

What is the possessive adjective for "I"?

The possessive adjective for "I" is "my" (e.g., "This is my book.").

How do you use "your" correctly?

"Your" is a possessive adjective used to show that something belongs to "you" (e.g., "Is this your pen?").

What is the subject pronoun for a group of people?

The subject pronoun for a group of people is "they" (e.g., "They are going to the concert.").