Parts of Speech:
What is a possessive pronoun?
A possessive pronoun takes the place of a noun that is known or has been previously mentioned. At the same time, a possessive pronoun is a word that shows belonging or a relationship of possession. A possessive pronoun can be used as a subject or an object.
Statement with Possessive Pronoun
- The apple is mine.
- These oranges are yours.
- Jen and I both have cars. My car is red. Hers is blue.
- Have you seen Arnold? These books are his.
- The house on the left is ours.
- These books are yours?
- The skateboards are theirs.
Meaning
- The apple belongs to me.
- These oranges belong to you.
- The blue car belongs to Jen.
- The books belong to Arnold.
- The house belongs to us.
- These books belong to you.
- The skateboards belong to them.
There are singular and plural possessive pronouns. Singular possessive pronouns are: mine, yours, his, and hers. Plural possessive pronouns are: ours, yours, and theirs.
1st Person Singular
- This is mine.
2nd Person Singular
- That is yours.
3rd Person Singular
- That is his.
- That is hers.
1st Person Plural
- These are ours.
2nd Person Plural
- Those are yours.
3rd Person Plural
- Those are theirs.
Can a possessive pronoun be a subject?
A possessive pronouns can be used as subject. It is important that both the subject and thing possessed are known (have previously been mentioned).
- We have apples. Your apple is sour. Mine is juicy.
- You and Pat have bananas. Pat’s banana is ripe. Yours is not ripe.
- Sarah and Sean have new cars. Her car is expensive. His is fast.
- My sister’s baked some cookies. Mary makes sugar cookies. Hers are better.
- The kids start school soon. Your kids start next week. Ours started today.
- We are writing essays. Their essays are done. Yours need a lot of work.
- Everyone’s shirt got dirty. Some shirts are drying. Theirs are in the washing machine.
What is the difference between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun?
A possessive adjective modifies a noun by showing a relationship of something or someone to another person or thing. Possessive adjectives give additional information about an existing noun.
A possessive pronoun is different from a possessive adjective because it takes the place of a the existing noun but at the same assigns possession to that noun. The referent noun (the noun to which the pronoun refers) is usually known.
Possessive Adjective
- This book is my book.
- This is my book.
- These pencils are your pencils.
- These are your pencils.
- The ball is his ball.
- It is his ball.
- Her necklace is broken.
- It is her necklace.
- Those tables are our tables.
- Those are our tables.
- Their coats are on the bus.
- Where are their coats?
Possessive Pronoun
- This book is mine.
- This is mine.
- These pencils are yours.
- These are yours.
- The ball is his.
- It is his.
- Hers is broken.
- It is hers.
- Those tables are ours.
- Those are ours.
- Theirs are on the bus.
- Where are theirs?
How are possessive pronouns used with questions?
Possessive pronouns are very common in conversations about possession. Once a referent noun has been established, it can be replaced with a possessive pronoun. Possessive pronouns are common in questions and answers.
Question
- Is this notebook mine?
- Is that car yours?
- Whose kids are they?
- Are these your bats?
- Are these tools ours?
- Which coats are yours?
Answer
- No, it’s not yours. The notebook is mine.
- No, it’s not mine.
- They’re hers.
- No, they’re not mine. The are his.
- No, all of the tools are theirs.
- These coats are ours.
