Imagine you’re talking to a friend and want to tell them about a book you own. You wouldn’t just say, “This is book.” That sounds incomplete, right? Instead, you’d say:
“This is my book.”
Here, “my” is a possessive adjective—a small but powerful word that shows ownership or belonging.
Possessive adjectives are essential in English because they help us clarify who something belongs to. We use them all the time in daily conversations, emails, and even storytelling.
For example:
- Is this your phone?
- They love their new house.
- Our school has a big library.
Without possessive adjectives, our sentences would feel unclear or unnatural.
Why This Guide Matters
Many English learners (and even native speakers) often:
- Confuse possessive adjectives with possessive pronouns.
- Misuse “its” and “it’s”.
- Forget where to place them in a sentence.
This guide will break down everything step by step, with examples, tables, and real-life usage to make it easy for you to understand. By the end, you’ll be able to use possessive adjectives correctly and confidently!
What Are Possessive Adjectives?
A possessive adjective is a word that modifies a noun to show ownership or possession.
Simple Definition
A possessive adjective tells us who owns something or who it belongs to.
For example:
- This is my pen. (The pen belongs to me.)
- She loves her dog. (The dog belongs to her.)
Each possessive adjective is always followed by a noun because it describes whose noun it is.
List of Possessive Adjectives
There are seven possessive adjectives in English:
| Subject Pronoun | Possessive Adjective | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I | my | This is my phone. |
| You | your | Is that your jacket? |
| He | his | His car is expensive. |
| She | her | Her idea was brilliant. |
| It | its | The cat licked its paw. |
| We | our | We enjoy our vacation. |
| They | their | Their team won the match. |
How to Use Possessive Adjectives Correctly
Now that we know what they are, let’s see how to use them correctly.
Basic Sentence Structure
A possessive adjective always comes before a noun:
Possessive Adjective + Noun
- “My car” (Not “Car my”)
- “Your book” (Not “Book your”)
- “Their house” (Not “House their”)
Singular vs. Plural Usage
Unlike some adjectives, possessive adjectives do not change based on singular or plural nouns:
- My friend is kind.
- My friends are kind.
- Their child is cute.
- Their children are cute.
The possessive adjective remains the same!
Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns are often confused because they both indicate ownership or possession. However, they function differently in a sentence.
- Possessive Adjectives modify a noun and must always be followed by one.
- Possessive Pronouns replace a noun and stand alone in a sentence.
What are Possessive Adjectives?
A possessive adjective comes before a noun and tells us who owns or is related to something.
Example:
- This is my car. (my modifies “car”)
- She loves her new dress. (her modifies “dress”)
- They forgot their passports. (their modifies “passports”)
Notice how possessive adjectives always describe a noun in the sentence.
What are Possessive Pronouns?
A possessive pronoun replaces a noun instead of modifying one.
Example:
- This car is mine. (Instead of saying “This is my car”)
- That dress is hers. (Instead of saying “That is her dress”)
- These passports are theirs. (Instead of saying “These are their passports”)
Notice how possessive pronouns stand alone—they don’t need a noun after them.
Key Differences (With Explanation)
| Possessive Adjective | Possessive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| Modifies a noun | Replaces a noun |
| Always comes before the noun | Stands alone, no noun after it |
| “This is my book.” (modifies “book”) | “This book is mine.” (replaces “my book”) |
| “She lost her phone.” (modifies “phone”) | “That phone is hers.” (replaces “her phone”) |
Possessive Adjectives with Gerunds
A gerund is a verb that ends in “-ing” but acts as a noun. Because it’s a noun, it must be preceded by a possessive adjective, not a pronoun.
Example:
- I appreciate your helping me. (“helping” is a gerund, so we use “your”)
- His singing is beautiful. (“singing” is a gerund, so we use “his”)
- She didn’t like their arriving late. (“arriving” is a gerund, so we use “their”)
🚫 Incorrect:
- I appreciate you helping me. (Wrong because “helping” is a noun, not a verb here)
- She didn’t like them arriving late. (Wrong because “arriving” is a noun, not a verb)
Rule: Use possessive adjectives before gerunds, not subject pronouns.
Possessive Adjectives with Collective Nouns
A collective noun refers to a group of people or things that act as a single unit (e.g., family, team, company, group). Even though these nouns represent multiple people, we still use a singular possessive adjective with them.
Example:
- Our team is winning the match. (“team” is singular, so we use “our”)
- His family lives in New York. (“family” is singular, so we use “his”)
- Their company was founded in 1990. (“company” is singular, so we use “their”)
🚫 Incorrect:
- Their families is visiting us. (Wrong—should be “family”)
Rule: Even if a collective noun refers to multiple people, treat it as singular when using possessive adjectives.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Possessive adjectives work the same way in both formal and informal English, but formal writing avoids contractions and informal phrasing.
Formal Writing:
- Our office policy does not allow food inside.
- We appreciate your cooperation.
Informal Speech:
- Hey, is that your phone?
- Where’s their house?
🚫 Incorrect Formal Use:
- Your cooperation’s needed. (❌ Too informal for professional writing)
Rule: Use full sentences in formal writing but feel free to use casual language in speech.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Possessive adjectives may seem simple, but many learners make common errors when using them. Here, we’ll break down these mistakes, explain why they happen, and show you how to fix them so you never make them again!
#1 Mistake: Confusing “It’s” and “Its”
Wrong: The dog wagged it’s tail.
Correct: The dog wagged its tail.
Why This Mistake Happens:
Many people confuse “it’s” and “its” because the apostrophe (‘) is usually used to show possession (e.g., “John’s book”). However, “it’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has”—not a possessive adjective!
How to Fix It:
Use “it’s” only when it means “it is” or “it has.” If the sentence doesn’t make sense when you replace “it’s” with “it is,” then use “its” (possessive adjective).
Test the sentence:
- “The dog wagged it is tail.” (Incorrect)
- “The dog wagged its tail.” (Correct)
More Correct Examples:
- The cat licked its paws.
- The company updated its website.
- The tree lost its leaves.
Pro Tip: If you’re ever unsure, try replacing “it’s” with “it is” in the sentence. If it still makes sense, keep “it’s.” If not, use “its.”
#2 Mistake: Using a Possessive Pronoun Instead of a Possessive Adjective
Wrong: This is mine book.
Correct: This is my book.
Why This Mistake Happens:
People sometimes confuse possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns because they both indicate ownership. However, a possessive adjective must always be followed by a noun, while a possessive pronoun stands alone.
How to Fix It:
Use a possessive adjective when there’s a noun after it.
“This is my book.” (my + noun “book”)
Use a possessive pronoun when replacing the noun.
- “This book is mine.” (mine replaces “my book”)
More Examples:
- “This is our house.” (our + noun “house”)
- “That phone is yours.” (yours replaces “your phone”)
Pro Tip: If you see a noun right after the word, it should be a possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their). If the word stands alone, use a possessive pronoun (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs).
#3 Double Possessives
Never use a possessive adjective and a noun with a possessive marker (‘s) together.
Incorrect: This is John’s his book.
Correct: This is John’s book.
Incorrect: That car is theirs their own.
Correct: That car is theirs.
#4 Not Using Possessive Adjectives with Nouns
A possessive adjective must always be followed by a noun.
Incorrect: This is mine pen.
Correct: This is my pen.
Incorrect: She loves hers dog.
Correct: She loves her dog.
Possessive Adjectives in Different Sentence Types
Possessive adjectives can be used in various types of sentences, including affirmative statements, negative sentences, questions, and commands. Let’s go through each one in detail.
Affirmative Sentences (Positive Statements)
In affirmative sentences, a possessive adjective is used before a noun to show ownership. These sentences state facts or express opinions positively.
- I love my family.
- She enjoys her job.
- He plays with his dog every day.
- We like our new apartment.
- They visit their grandparents often.
Negative Sentences (Statements with “Not” or “Don’t”)
Negative sentences deny ownership or possession. They often include “not” or “don’t/doesn’t” to make the statement negative.
- This is not my phone.
- They don’t like their teacher.
- This is not her problem.
- He doesn’t know his neighbors.
- We did not receive our package.
Pro Tip: The possessive adjective remains the same in both positive and negative sentences. The only difference is the addition of “not” or a negative verb.
Questions (Interrogative Sentences)
In questions, possessive adjectives are used to ask about ownership. They usually come before the noun, just like in statements.
- Is this your laptop?
- Where is his car?
- Whose book is this? Is it your book?
- Did she find her keys?
- Why didn’t they bring their tickets?
Pro Tip: You can often answer these questions using a possessive pronoun instead of repeating the noun.
- Is this your laptop?
- Yes, it’s mine.
Commands (Imperative Sentences)
Commands give instructions or orders. Possessive adjectives are used in imperative sentences to make the command more specific.
- Check your email.
- Bring your passport.
- Wear your jacket.
- Take your time.
- Follow your dreams.
Pro Tip: Imperative sentences often omit the subject (“you”), but possessive adjectives still make it clear who the message is for.
Possessive Adjectives Examples
Here are 50 example sentences using possessive adjectives:
- My phone is missing.
- I love my new job.
- My parents are visiting tomorrow.
- She borrowed my book.
- My car needs a wash.
- Is this your pen?
- Your idea sounds great!
- Don’t forget your keys.
- I like your dress.
- Your dog is very friendly.
- His house is near the park.
- John forgot his wallet at home.
- His new bike is very expensive.
- I found his notebook on the table.
- He never shares his food.
- Her brother is a doctor.
- She lost her sunglasses.
- Her laptop is broken.
- I met her mother yesterday.
- Her handwriting is beautiful.
- The cat is licking its paws.
- This tree loses its leaves in autumn.
- The company changed its policy.
- The dog wagged its tail happily.
- The machine stopped working because its battery was dead.
- We love our new house.
- Our teacher is very kind.
- Let’s meet at our favorite restaurant.
- Our team won the match.
- We forgot our tickets at home.
- They lost their passports.
- Their car broke down on the way.
- The children packed their bags for school.
- I visited their house last week.
- Their vacation photos look amazing.
- I can’t find my notebook.
- Is this your cup of coffee?
- Tom washed his car yesterday.
- She gave me her address.
- The bird is building its nest.
- We love spending time with our family.
- Their dog is very playful.
- She always carries her diary.
- You should bring your umbrella.
- They are proud of their achievements.
- He is taking his final exams.
- The company updated its software.
- We decorated our home for the holidays.
- Your idea was brilliant!
- I need to charge my phone.