Here is a list of the possessive adjectives in English.
- my
- your
- our
- his
- her
- its
- their
We use possessive adjectives before a noun to show who the thing belongs to or who the thing is related to. We always use a possessive pronoun before a noun.
- My dog is cute.
- Her hair is black.
- His hair is red.
- Their house is big.
- I did my homework.
- She finished her work.
- They came to our house.
We can use a possessive adjective instead of a possessive. Take a look at the difference.
| Possessive | Possessive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| X | My shirt is dirty. |
| X | Your car looks nice. |
| Mary and I’s house is big. | Our house is big. |
| Jon’s cat is fat. | His cat is fat. |
| Jane’s job is hard. | Her job is hard. |
| The dog’s fur is dirty. | Its fur is dirty. |
| We went to Mary and Jon’s house. | We went to their house. |
Here are a few things to remember about possessive adjectives.
1. We always put them before a noun.
2. “His” is used for one man. “Her” is used for one woman.
3. “Another person + I’s + noun” is okay, but do not use “I’s” at any other time. This is the only time that we use “I’s”.
4. We often use possessive pronouns before people who are connected or related to us in some way.
- My boss is smart.
- Her mother is kind.
- Her father didn’t go on vacation with the family.
- Their teacher is pretty.
- My friend said that.
- Our brother is tall.
5. We often use possessive pronouns for body parts.
- His hair is long.
- Her arms are skinny.
- My eyes are green.
- Her nose is broken.
- Our ears are big.
- I don’t like my hair today.
- She hates her big nose.
This is a basic English grammar point that is very important to know. Study and practice this English grammar until you know and understand it well.
