My, Your, His, Her: A Definitive Guide to Possessive Adjectives

Are you ever unsure about which possessive adjective to use in English? Look no further! This guide will give you a clear understanding of these essential words.

Possessive Adjectives in English

Possessive adjectives tell us who owns something. In English, they're used a lot more frequently than in Spanish. They usually come before a noun that refers to body parts, family members, personal items, or clothing.

Here's the List:

• My (mái) - Indicates something belongs to you (the speaker):

  • "That's my phone."

  • Can also express affection ("My sweetheart...") or surprise ("My God!")

• Your (iór) - Used for the person or people you're talking to:

  • "Henry, this is your book." (singular)

  • "Dillon and Charlie, these are your books." (plural)

• His (jis) - For a male person:

  • "This is his house."

• Her (jer) - For a female person:

  • "That is her brother."

• Its (its) - For things, places, animals, or babies:

  • "The dog escaped from its house."

• Our (áuar) - For a group that includes you:

  • "Our neighbours are very quiet."

• Their (dér) - For a group that doesn't include you:

  • "Molly and James? Their house is at the end of the street."

Practice Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjective:

1. Henry is trying to sell ____ house.

2. Hannah lives close to ____ brother.

3. Louise and John are in New York. ____ flight was just on time.

4. We like this town. ____ neighbours are great people!

5. Finally I arrived at night. ____ train was late.

6. Do you like ____ job?

7. I'm studying Italian and ____ culture.

8. Hi, William and James! I saw ____ brother yesterday.

Answers:

1. His 2. Her 3. Their 4. Our 5. My 6. Your 7. Its 8. Your

What About Possessive Pronouns?

It's important to know the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns:

• Possessive Adjectives:

  • Refer to the person who owns something.

  • Always come before a noun.

• Possessive Pronouns:

  • Refer to the thing that is owned.

  • Usually go at the end of a sentence.

Examples:

• "This is my book." (possessive adjective)

• "That book is mine." (possessive pronoun)

Want to Learn More?

This post has covered the basics of possessive adjectives. To dive deeper into possessive pronouns and other aspects of English grammar, check out our other resources!