Possessive pronouns Guide: Definitions and examples

What is a possessive pronoun?

Possessive pronouns are words that show that something belongs to someone. We use them instead of repeating the noun to avoid saying the same thing twice.

The possessive pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs.

For example:

• That book is my book. → That book is mine.
Here, we use 'mine' so that we don't have to repeat 'my book'.

• This pen is her pen. → This pen is hers.

Here, we use 'hers' so that we don't have to repeat 'her pen'.

How to use possessive pronouns in a sentence

Possessive pronouns replace a noun.

• That big house is their big house. → That big house is theirs.
(The word 'theirs' replaces 'their big house', so we don't need to repeat the noun.)


• This pen is my pen. → This pen is mine.
(The word 'mine' replaces 'my pen', so we don't need to repeat the noun.)

Possessive pronouns can't go before a noun.

• NOT: That is mine book.
• That is mine.

We often use them after the verb 'be', like is, are, was, and were, or with modal verbs + 'be' like must be, might be, or could be:

• That bag is hers.
• The shoes are theirs.
• The last cookie was hers.
• The backpacks were theirs.
• This phone must be yours.
• Those keys might be ours.

A possessive pronoun must match the person (or people) who owns the thing:

If one person owns something:

• Julie brought her phone. The phone is hers. (one owner (Julie) → 'hers' for a singular owner)
• Those cookies are mine. (one owner (me) → 'mine' for a singular owner, even though 'cookies' is plural)

If several people own something:

• They brought their phones. The phones are theirs. (multiple owners (they) → 'theirs' for plural owners)
• We bought a new car. The car is ours. (multiple owners (we) → 'ours' for plural owners)

Traditionally, singular owners need his or hers, and plural owners need theirs. However, we can also use 'theirs' for a singular noun when we don't know the person's gender or when it's not important:

• Someone left theirs here.

We don't use 'its' as a possessive pronoun - we just use a different kind of sentence!

• NOT correct (talking about a dog!): The tail is its.
• Correct: Its tail is very long.
Click here to practise using possessive pronouns in a sentence.




Possessive pronouns examples



• I wasn't sure if the sandwich in the fridge was mine, so I put it back.
• That leather handbag by the window is yours, isn't it?
• I think that brand new laptop on the table was his.
• This scarf smells like Julie, so it must be hers.
• Those homemade cookies in the kitchen are ours.
• Those bicycles near the fountain are theirs, so they must have gone to get ice cream.
• Whose notebook is this on the desk? I think it's yours.
• That corner table at the cafe is hers - she always sits there when she studies.
• The students finished their project yesterday, so the essays on the shelf are theirs.
• I left my book on the sofa, so the one on the chair must be yours.




Possessive pronouns vs. possessive determiners




Possessive pronouns are different from possessive determiners. Possessive determiners (also called 'possessive adjectives') include my, your, his, her, our, their and its, and they always come before a noun.

For example:

• My book is on the table. (possessive determiner = my; noun = book)
• Her pen is on the floor. (possessive determiner = her; noun = pen)



On the other hand, possessive pronouns replace a noun.

• That car belongs to me. It's mine.
• That phone belongs to him. It's his.
• This house belongs to us. It's ours.
• This phone number belongs to them. It's theirs.

To read more about the difference between possessive pronouns and possessive determiners (adjectives), click here.
Click here for an exercise on possessive pronouns and possessive determiners (adjectives).
Click here for another exercise on possessive pronouns and possessive determiners (adjectives).



Common mistakes with possessive pronouns




1. Confusing possessive pronouns with possessive determiners. For example:

• NOT: Is this yours bag?
The correct sentence is:
• Is this your bag? (possessive determiner before a noun)
• Is this yours? (possessive pronoun replacing the noun)




2. Confusing the possessive determiner its with the contraction it's (it is). For example:

• NOT: The dog hurt it's paw.
The correct sentence is:
• The dog hurt its paw. (possessive determiner)
• It's raining outside. (it is)




3. Confusing your (possessive determiner) with you're (you are). For example:

• NOT: Your welcome to join us!
The correct sentence is:
• You're welcome to join us! (you are)
• Is this your bag? (possessive determiner)




4. Confusing their (possessive determiner), they're (they are), and there (place) because we pronounce them in the same way. For example:

• NOT: Their going to the park.
The correct sentence is:
• They're going to the park. (they are)
• Their car is new. (possessive determiner)
• The keys are over there. (place)




5. Another point of confusion is how to pronounce our, ours , and are.

This is our house.	/ˈaʊə/	→ Has two syllables.
This house is ours.	/ˈaʊəz/	→ Has two syllables and ends with a /z/ sound.
These are mine.	/ˈɑː/	→ Has one syllable with a long vowel sound, similar to the vowel sound in 'start' or 'car'.


Click here for an exercise on easily confused words.




Conclusion

Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours and theirs) show that something belongs to someone, and they avoid repeating the noun. They are different from possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, our, their, and its), which always come before a noun.

We use possessive pronouns after verbs like is, are, was, were, and sometimes with modal verbs like must be or might be.



To learn more about adjectives, click here.
To learn more about pronouns, click here.
To learn more about nouns, click here.




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