Possessive Pronoun: Meaning, Functions, Types, & Usage

Possessive pronouns play a crucial role in the English language, allowing us to communicate who something belongs to without repeating the noun over and over. In this post, we will learn about the possessive pronoun and equip you with the knowledge to use them effectively. Happy learning!

What is a possessive pronoun?

A possessive pronoun is a special type of pronoun that shows ownership or possession. It helps us talk about things that belong to someone or something. Instead of using the actual name of the owner or the noun, we use a possessive pronoun to make our sentences shorter and clearer.

For example, let’s say your friend Sarah has a book. Instead of saying, “The book belongs to Sarah,” you can say, “The book is hers.” In this case, “hers” is a possessive pronoun that shows that the book belongs to Sarah. It tells us who the owner of the book is without repeating the name.

Here are some commonly used possessive pronouns and their meanings:

• “Mine”: Shows that something belongs to the person speaking. For example, “The toy is mine.”
• “Yours”: Shows that something belongs to the person you are speaking to. For example, “Is this pencil yours?”
• “His” and “Hers”: Show that something belongs to a specific person (a boy or a girl). For example, “The bike is his” or “The doll is hers.”
• “Ours” and “Theirs”: Show that something belongs to a group of people. For example, “The house is ours” or “The toys are theirs.”

List of All Possessive Pronouns

Here’s a list of possessive pronouns along with their meanings:

1. My: Shows ownership or possession by the speaker. Example: “This is my book.”

2. Your: Shows ownership or possession by the person you are speaking to. Example: “Is this your bag?”

It also shows ownership or possession by a group of people. Example: “The team forgot their equipment.”

3. His: Shows ownership or possession by a male person. Example: “The car is his.”

4. Her: Shows ownership or possession by a female person. Example: “The necklace is hers.”

5. Its: Shows ownership or possession by a non-living object or an animal. Example: “The cat loves its bed.”

6. Our: Shows ownership or possession by a group of people, including the speaker. Example: “Let’s put our books on the shelf.”

7. Their: Shows ownership or possession by a group of people or things. Example: “The students forgot their notebooks.”

8. Mine: Indicates something that belongs to the speaker. Example: “The red bicycle is mine.”

9. Yours: Indicates something that belongs to the person you are speaking to. Example: “The blue pen is yours.”

10. His: Indicates something belongs to a male person. Example: “The hat is not mine; it’s his.”

11. Hers: Indicates something belongs to a female person. Example: “The jacket is not his; it’s hers.”

12. Ours: Indicates something that belongs to a group that includes the speaker. Example: “The picnic blanket is ours.”

13. Theirs: Indicates something belonging to a group of people or things. Example: “The keys are not ours; they’re theirs.”

Functions of possessive pronouns

By understanding these functions, you can use possessive pronouns effectively. Practice using them in sentences and pay attention to how they help make your communication clearer and more efficient.

1. Showing Ownership

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate that something belongs to someone or something. Instead of repeating the name or noun, we use possessive pronouns to make our sentences shorter and clearer. For example:

The bike is mine. (The possessive pronoun “mine” shows that the bike belongs to the speaker.)

The cat is yours. (The possessive pronoun “yours” shows that the cat belongs to the person being spoken to.)

2. Replacing Nouns

Possessive pronouns can replace nouns in a sentence. They help avoid repetition and make our writing or speech more concise. For example:

Sarah’s book is on the table. Hers is the one with the red cover. (The possessive pronoun “hers” replaces the noun “Sarah’s book” and indicates ownership.)

3. Indicating Relationships

Possessive pronouns can also be used to show relationships between people or things. They help us express connections or associations. For example:

That is our house. (The possessive pronoun “our” shows that the house belongs to a group of people.)

4. Expressing Absence

Possessive pronouns can be used to indicate the absence of ownership or possession. They help us say that something doesn’t belong to anyone. For example:

I found a lost toy, but it doesn’t belong to anyone. (The possessive pronoun “anyone” indicates that nobody owns the toy.)

Types of Possessive Pronouns

Let’s explore the various types of possessive pronouns that will help you to understand easily.

1. Personal Possessive Pronouns:

Personal possessive pronouns show ownership for specific individuals. They indicate that something belongs to a particular person or people. Here are some examples:

• Mine: This shows that something belongs to the person speaking. For example, “The toy is mine.”
• Yours: This shows that something belongs to the person you are speaking to. For example, “Is this pencil yours?”
• His and Hers: These show that something belongs to a specific person (a boy or a girl). For example, “The bike is his” or “The doll is hers.”
• Ours and Theirs: These show that something belongs to a group of people. For example, “The house is ours” or “The toys are theirs.”

2. Demonstrative Possessive Pronouns:

Demonstrative possessive pronouns indicate ownership by pointing to specific objects. They help us show which objects are being referred to. Here are some examples:

• This and These: These indicate that something belongs to the speaker and is close in proximity. For example, “This is my book” or “These are my pencils.”
• That and Those: These indicate that something belongs to the speaker and is farther away. For example, “That is your backpack” or “Those are their shoes.”

3. Indefinite Possessive Pronouns:

Indefinite possessive pronouns show ownership without specifying any particular person or thing. They express possession in a general or non-specific sense. Here are some examples:

• Someone else’s: This indicates that something belongs to another person, not the speaker or the listener. For example, “I found a book, but it must be someone else’s.”
• Anyone’s and Nobody’s: These indicate that something can belong to anyone or nobody in particular. For example, “Is this pen anyone’s?” or “The abandoned bag is nobody’s.”

4. Interrogative Possessive Pronouns:

Interrogative possessive pronouns are used to ask questions about ownership. They help us inquire about who something belongs to. Here is an example:

• Whose: This is used to ask about the owner of something. For example, “Whose bike is this?”

5. Relative Possessive Pronouns:

Relative possessive pronouns show ownership in relation to other elements in a sentence. They connect to a noun or pronoun and describe its ownership. Here are some examples:

• Whose: This is used to indicate ownership in a relative clause. For example, “I met a girl whose dog won a contest.”
• Where: This is used to indicate ownership in a relative clause when referring to places. For example, “He lives in a house where the garden is well-maintained.”
• Which: This is used to indicate ownership in a relative clause when referring to things. For example, “She received a scholarship for the program which required dedication.”

6. Singular Possessive Pronouns

Singular possessive pronouns that indicate ownership or possession of a single person or thing. They help us talk about something that belongs to one individual. Let’s explore:

• My: For example, “This is my book.”
• Your: For example, “Is this your pencil?”
• His: For example, “The bag is his.”
• Her: For example, “The hat is hers.”
• Its: For example, “The cat loves its toy.”

7. Plural Possessive Pronouns

Plural possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession of multiple people or things. They help us talk about something that belongs to a group or multiple individuals. Let’s explore:

• Our: For example, “This is our house.”
• Your: For example: “Are these your bicycles?”
• Their: For example, “The students forgot their notebooks.”

8. Independent Possessive Pronouns

Independent possessive pronouns, also known as absolute possessive pronouns, are a type of possessive pronoun that can stand alone in a sentence without being followed by a noun. They indicate ownership or possession independently. Let’s explore:

• Mine: For example, “The red bicycle is mine.”
• Yours: For example, “The blue backpack is not mine; it’s yours.”
• His: For example, “The hat is not hers; it’s his.”
• Hers: For example, “The book is not his; it’s hers.”
• Ours: For example, “The picnic spot is reserved; it’s ours.”
• Theirs: For example, “The bicycles by the door are not ours; they’re theirs.”

9. Dependent Possessive Pronouns

Dependent possessive pronouns, also known as attributive possessive pronouns, are a type of possessive pronouns that are used together with a noun to show ownership or possession. They depend on a noun to complete their meaning. Let’s explain:

• My: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the speaker. For example, “I brought my book to school.”
• Your: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the person you are addressing. For example, “Is this your backpack?”
• His: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the male person being referred to. For example, “He forgot his pencil.”
• Her: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the female person being referred to. For example, “She left her notebook at home.”
• Our: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the group. For example, “Let’s put our project in the folder.”
• Their: It is used before a noun to indicate that something belongs to the group being referred to. For example, “The students forgot their homework.”

Possessive Pronouns vs Possessive Adjectives

Let’s explore the differences between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives.

Possessive Adjectives:

• Possessive adjectives are used to describe or modify a noun by showing ownership or possession.
• They come before a noun and agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
• Possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.

Example:

• “This is my book.” (The possessive adjective “my” describes the noun “book” and shows that the book belongs to the speaker.)

Possessive Pronouns:

• Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun and indicate ownership or possession independently.
• They can stand alone in a sentence and do not need to be followed by a noun.
• Possessive pronouns include mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs.

Example:

• “The book is mine.” (The possessive pronoun “mine” replaces the noun “book” and indicates that the book belongs to the speaker.)

To summarize:

• Possessive adjectives are used to describe or modify a noun, while possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun.
• Possessive adjectives come before a noun and agree with it in gender and number, whereas possessive pronouns can stand alone in a sentence.
• Possessive adjectives indicate ownership or possession in relation to a specific noun, while possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession independently.

Placement and Agreement of Possessive Pronouns

Let’s explore the placement and agreement of possessive pronouns

Placement of Possessive Pronouns:

• Possessive pronouns are placed before a noun or can stand alone in a sentence without a noun.
• When used before a noun, possessive pronouns act as determiners and describe the ownership or possession of the noun. Example: “This is my book.” (The possessive pronoun “my” is placed before the noun “book” to indicate ownership.)
• When used alone, possessive pronouns replace the need for a noun and convey ownership or possession independently. Example: “The book is mine.” (The possessive pronoun “mine” stands alone to indicate ownership of the book.)

Agreement of Possessive Pronouns:

• Possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they replace or modify.
• The form of the possessive pronoun changes depending on the noun it refers to.

Here’s an overview of the possessive pronouns and their agreement:

• My: Used for a singular noun belonging to the speaker. Example: “This is my pencil.”
• Your: Used for a singular noun belonging to the person you are speaking to. Example: “Is this your bag?”
• His: Used for a singular noun belonging to a male person. Example: “The car is his.”
• Her: Used for a singular noun belonging to a female person. Example: “The necklace is hers.”
• Its: Used for a singular noun belonging to a non-living object or an animal. Example: “The cat loves its bed.”
• Our: Used for a plural noun belonging to a group that includes the speaker. Example: “Let’s put our books on the shelf.”
• Their: Used for a plural noun belonging to a group. Example: “The students forgot their notebooks.”

What are the Common Mistakes to Avoid?

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using possessive pronouns:

1. Confusing “its” and “it’s”:

“Its” is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership, while “it’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” Remember, “its” shows possession, while “it’s” is a shorter way of saying “it is” or “it has.”

Example: Incorrect: “The dog wagged it’s tail.” Correct: “The dog wagged its tail.”

2. Using an apostrophe with possessive pronouns

Unlike possessive nouns, possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes. The pronoun itself shows ownership.

Example: Incorrect: “The book is your’s.” Correct: “The book is yours.”

Usage of possessive pronouns examples in sentences

Certainly! Here’s a broad list of examples for each possessive pronoun, explained in an easy-to-understand way for a school-going student:

My:

• “This is my pencil.”
• “I brought my lunch to school.”
• “The dog is my pet.”

Your:

• “Is this your backpack?”
• “Please pass me your notebook.”
• “What is your favorite color?”

His:

• “The car is his.”
• “He forgot his umbrella.”
• “That is his basketball.”

Her:

• “The necklace is hers.”
• “She left her book at home.”
• “That is her bicycle.”

Its:

• “The cat loves its bed.”
• “The tree shed its leaves.”
• “The robot lost its battery.”

Our:

• “Let’s put our books on the shelf.”
• “We enjoyed our picnic at the park.”
• “This is our classroom.”

Their:

• “The students forgot their notebooks.”
• “The birds built their nests in the trees.”
• “The team celebrated their victory.”

Mine:

• “The blue backpack is not mine; it’s yours.”
• “The red bicycle is mine.”
• “The book is not his; it’s mine.”

Yours:

• “The pen on the table is not mine; it’s yours.”
• “Is this blue shirt yours?”
• “The green bag is yours.”

Hers:

• “The hat is not his; it’s hers.”
• “The phone is hers, not mine.”
• “The jacket belongs to her; it’s hers.”

Theirs:

• “The bicycles by the door are not ours; they’re theirs.”
• “The keys are theirs.”
• “The garden tools belong to the neighbors; they’re theirs.”

FAQs

Also read:

• Personal Pronouns
• Noun Formation
• Gender Noun
• Number Noun

Some online references:

• Possessive Pronouns in English – Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Ours, Theirs
• Possessive pronoun and Examples (अधिकार सर्वनाम और उदाहरण)
• Possessive Pronouns | Reflexive Pronouns-What Are Possessive & Reflexive Pronouns | Class 4th to 8th