Possessive Adjectives with Meaning, Definition and Examples

Similar to possessive nouns and possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives indicate ownership or possession of a specific object. To delve deeper into possessive adjectives, explore the meanings, definitions, uses, and examples provided in the following sections.

Exploring the Realm of Possessive Adjectives

When delving into the nuances of language, one encounters a fascinating aspect known as possessive adjectives. These linguistic tools serve the purpose of indicating ownership or association with someone or something.

Understanding of Possessive Adjective

In the lexicon of grammar, a possessive adjective, as defined by the esteemed Collins Dictionary, embodies descriptors like ‘my’ or ‘your,’ elucidating the possessor or affiliation of a subject. Merriam-Webster Dictionary further elaborates, describing possessive adjectives as pronominal adjectives that convey possession.

Illustrative Instances of Possessive Adjective

Mastering the art of employing possessive adjectives is pivotal in effective communication. Their function lies in attributing ownership or association to the nouns acting as subjects or objects within sentences. To grasp their usage better, consider the following examples:

• Ram is my sibling.
• Mikki mentioned encountering your offspring in Chennai.
• Could you kindly replenish my water vessel?
• Our journey to Bangalore transpired in my sedan.
• Have you retrieved your belongings from the depot?
• The laptop in need of repair belongs to me.
• Aldrin and I ventured to Tambaram on his motorcycle.
• Her paternal figure toils as a heavy-duty mechanic in Saudi Arabia.
• Sanju borrowed my crimson attire for the occasion’s dress code.
• Their faithful companion is Shadow, a canine companion.

In navigating the realm of language, possessive adjectives emerge as indispensable tools, enriching communication with nuances of ownership and affiliation.

Differentiating between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns

Is straightforward once you understand a few key points. Once you grasp these differences, everything else becomes much simpler.

Test Your Knowledge of Possessive Adjective

Complete each sentence by selecting the correct possessive adjective:

• Have you met ______ father? Don’t I look just like him?
• Sid purchased a new bike. Have you seen ______ new bike?
• Mazeeka and Gowtham are tying the knot. ______ wedding reception starts at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
• We recently relocated to this area and discovered that no one likes ______ neighbor.
• ______ English instructor asked us to finish the grammar exercises on possessive adjectives by Friday.
• ______ house in Ooty is a farmhouse. He visits it every summer.
• Sharanya is departing tomorrow. Do you know when ______ flight to London is?
• I need to buy some acrylic paints to complete ______ painting.
• Did you inquire where ______ husband is employed?
• Could you bring ______ certificate file when you visit?

Let us find out if you have understood how to use possessive adjectives.

• Have you met my father? Don’t I look just like him?
• Sid purchased a new bike. Have you seen his new bike?
• Mazeeka and Gowtham are tying the knot. Their wedding reception starts at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
• We recently relocated to this area and discovered that no one likes our neighbor.
• Our English instructor asked us to finish the grammar exercises on possessive adjectives by Friday.
• His house in Ooty is a farmhouse. He visits it every summer.
• Sharanya is departing tomorrow. Do you know when her flight to London is?
• I need to buy some acrylic paints to complete my painting.
• Did you inquire where her husband is employed?
• Could you bring your certificate file when you visit?

Subject Pronouns and Their Corresponding Possessive Adjective

Each personal pronoun has a corresponding possessive adjective, as shown below:

Interestingly, possessive adjectives can also function as pronouns. This means they can replace a noun in a sentence while retaining the original meaning. Let’s examine an example:

“Is this Salma’s jacket?” “No, it’s her coat.”

In this case, the possessive adjective “her” replaces the noun “Salma” and still conveys the same information.

See More “Compound Adjectives”

Examples of Possessive Adjective

• That pen belongs to me.
• Your home is absolutely stunning.
• Her mood hasn’t gotten better as she’s grown older!
• Never judge a book by its cover.
• This website belongs to us.
• Their living room has all sorts of modern gadgets.

Categories of Possessive Adjective

In the English language, possessive adjectives are utilized to express ownership or the relationship between different entities. They modify nouns or pronouns and can be divided into three groups based on the perspective they represent: first person, second person, and third person.

First Person First-person possessive adjectives denote ownership or a relationship associated with the speaker:

• Singular – “my”: indicates possession by the speaker
  • Examples: my book, my job, my friend
• Plural – “our”: indicates possession by a group that includes the speaker
  • Examples: our house, our project, our memories

Second Person Second-person possessive adjectives refer to the person or people being spoken to:

• Singular and plural – “your”: indicates possession by the person or people being addressed
  • Examples: your car, your dress, your opinions, your responsibilities

Third Person Third-person possessive adjectives indicate ownership or relationships involving other individuals or things:

• Singular
  • “His”: for possession by a male
    • Examples: his wallet, his decision, his ambition
  • “Her”: for possession by a female
    • Examples: her bag, her skills, her family
  • “Its”: for possession by non-human entities (objects, animals, or concepts)
    • Examples: its color, its tail, its importance
• Plural – “their”: indicates possession by a group that does not include the speaker or the person(s) being addressed
  • Examples: their goals, their culture, their legacy

Understanding Possessive Adjective and Possessive Pronoun

Possessive adjectives, also referred to as possessive determiners, demonstrate ownership or a connection between one entity and another. In English, these adjectives include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. They are positioned before a noun to indicate possession or relationship. For example:

• This is my car.
• Is that your phone?
• His cat is adorable.

On the other hand, possessive pronouns replace both the noun and the possessive adjective to prevent redundancy. They are mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs. For instance:

• The car is mine.
• Is this phone yours?
• The cat is hers.

It’s crucial to distinguish between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns for precise and clear communication. Here’s a summary table that highlights the differences:

Understanding these distinctions ensures that your communication is accurate and effective.

Common Errors in Using Possessive Adjective

Possessive adjectives in English grammar have specific rules that are important to follow. Here, we’ll explore some of the common mistakes and clarify how to use possessive adjectives correctly.

Its vs. It’s

A frequent error is to use an apostrophe with the possessive adjective ‘its’ when it’s not necessary. Remember, we use an apostrophe with ‘it’s’ only when shortening ‘it is’ or ‘it has’. A possessive adjective like ‘its’ never needs an apostrophe.

Your vs. You’re

Similarly, many people confuse ‘your’ and ‘you’re’. When using a possessive adjective, always use ‘your’. ‘You’re’ is a contraction of ‘you are’ and not a possessive adjective.

Their, They’re, and There

Confusion often arises between ‘their’, ‘they’re’, and ‘there’. When using these as possessive adjectives, use ‘their’. The others have different meanings (‘there’ indicates a place, and ‘they’re’ is a contraction of ‘they are’).

Whose vs Who’s

People sometimes mistake the possessive adjective ‘whose’ for ‘who’s’, which is a contraction of ‘who is’. Ensure correct usage based on whether you are indicating possession or a contraction.

His, Her, and Its

When referring to people in general in English, gender-neutral language is often used. ‘Its’ is typically reserved for inanimate objects or animals. For people, ‘his’ and ‘her’ are used based on the person’s gender.

Correct Example:

Each parent is in charge of their own child.

Incorrect Example:

Each parent is responsible for its own child.

The possessive adjective ‘its’ should not be used when referring to people.

Understanding the Distinction Between Subject Pronouns and Possessive Adjective

Subject pronouns and possessive adjectives are essential parts of English grammar that help clarify ownership and relationships within sentences.

Subject pronouns, such as I, you, he, she, it, we, and they, replace nouns in sentences and are typically used before verbs. For instance:

• He is an English teacher.
• They want to learn Chinese.

On the other hand, possessive adjectives like my, your, his, her, its, our, and their indicate ownership or possession. These adjectives are placed before a noun or an adjective followed by a noun, such as “her hair” or “her new hair“. Unlike possessive nouns, possessive adjectives do not change form based on whether the noun is singular or plural. For example:

• His ball (singular)
• Their balls (plural)

Using the correct possessive adjective is crucial for indicating who owns the noun in question. While there are specific rules and common errors associated with possessive adjectives, these mistakes can be avoided by familiarizing oneself with the rules and ensuring sentences are grammatically correct.

FAQs about Possessive Adjectives

• What are possessive adjectives? Possessive adjectives are words used to indicate ownership or possession. They modify nouns to show who or what owns or possesses something.
• What are the common possessive adjective in English? Common possessive adjectives include: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.
• How are possessive adjectives different from possessive pronouns? Possessive adjectives modify nouns, whereas possessive pronouns stand alone to show possession. For example, in “This is my book” (possessive adjective), “mine” is used in “The book is mine” (possessive pronoun).
• How do you use possessive adjective in a sentence? Possessive adjectives are used before nouns to show ownership or possession. For example, “her car,” “our house,” “their cat.”
• Do possessive adjective change based on gender or number? No, possessive adjectives do not change based on gender or number. They remain the same regardless of whether the noun is singular or plural, or whether it is masculine or feminine.
• Can possessive adjective be used with inanimate objects? Yes, possessive adjectives can be used with inanimate objects. For example, “its color,” “my book,” “our car.”
• What are the possessive adj for each person?
• First person singular: my (I)
• Second person singular: your (you)
• Third person singular: his, her, its (he, she, it)
• First person plural: our (we)
• Second person plural: your (you)
• Third person plural: their (they)
• Can possessive adjective be used without nouns? No, possessive adjectives must always be used with a noun. They cannot stand alone.
• How do you form possessive adjective in English? Possessive adjectives are typically formed by adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ to the noun. For example, “John’s car,” “Mary’s house.”
• Are there any exceptions or irregularities in possessive adj? Yes, there are a few irregularities in possessive adjectives in English. For example, “its” is used instead of “it’s” for possession, and “one’s” is used for general possession.