WHAT IS A POSSESSIVE PRONOUN?

 

In English, we use possessives to indicate ownership or a relationship with qualities of ownership.  Nouns, pronouns, and adjectives may all show possession.

In this unit, we discuss possessive pronouns.

SINGULAR PLURAL

mine ours
yours yours
hers, his, its theirs
   


Please notice that a possessive pronoun does not use an apostrophe ( ' ).

  1. My parents grew up in a world that was very different from mine.

  2. Adam will also feel that his fighting the Redcoats could make a lot of difference in the outcome of their fight for what is rightfully theirs.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU

                                  
NOW look at the two sentences above and answer these questions.

  1. a.  For Example #1 above, what does mine refer to?

    b.  Write the sentence of Example #1 substituting a possessive adjective and a noun for mine.

  2. For Example #2 above, without having read April Morning, the book which the sentence refers to, whom might the possessive pronoun theirs refer to?

You will find the answers to the above questions in our ANSWER KEY.

Next...  Possessive Adjectives

 

Our next lesson is Possessive Adjectives.

All material is copyrighted, Software for Students.  Copying for PERSONAL USE ONLY. All others must contact Software for Students for permission to use in schools or other educational institutions.

 Music by Grover Washington, Sassy Stew