Possessive Adjectives in English
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Possessive adjectives are used in English to refer to the ownership or possession of something. When we use them to talk about a person, it is more in the sense of a relationship with that person.
English possessive adjectives :
- my
- your
- his / her / its (not
it’s!) - our
- your
- their
Examples:
- My bike is very old.
- His girlfriend is very friendly.
- Our cat is black.
- Their homework is on the desk.
Like all adjectives in English, they are always placed directly in front of the noun to which they refer (possessive adjective + noun).
⚠️ We do not put an S to the possessive adjective when the noun is plural!
- Our bikes are expensive.
Oursbikes are expensive.
However, the verb used must be plural if the noun is plural, and singular if the verb is singular.
- My pen is blue. (sing)
- My pens are blue. (plur)
- Our child is smart. (sing)
- Our children are smart. (plur)
⚠️ Its or It’s ?
Be careful not to confuse it’s and its
- Its = the possessive adjective of it for things or animals. Do not use an apostrophe.
- It’s = the contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’
Ex: I’m taking my cat to the vet. Its leg is broken.
⚠️ Their, They’re or There ?
Be careful not to confuse the two! Same as for its / it’s
- Their = the possessive adjective of They
- They’re = the contraction of ‘they are’
- There = adverb
⚠️ Be careful not to confuse possessive pronouns with complementary personal pronouns or possessive adjectives!
- This is your (possessive adjective) book and this is mine (possessive pronoun).
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