POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

If you want to say something BELONGS TO someone, or something, you use a POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE (sometimes known as possessive determiners).

A possessive adjective is followed by a noun.

my

example:  This is my computer.

(This computer belongs to me.)

your

example:  Is this your coffee cup?

(The coffee cup belongs to you.)

his

example:  Maria didn’t remember his name.

(The name belongs to a man/boy.)

her

example:  Do you have her phone number?

(The phone number belongs to a woman/girl.)

their

example:  That is their house.

(The house belongs to more than one person, not including me.)

our

example:  This is our car.

(The car belongs to more than one person, including me.)

its

example:  The dog licked its paws.

(The paws belong to the dog.)

Note:  The incorrect use of ITS is one of the most common mistakes in written English.

Lesson on IT’S vs ITS

 

If you want more information on the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive determiners, Wikipedia has a good explanation.

 

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