Possesives
Learn how to use possessives in English.
Answer the following grammar questions.
Possessives
Point 1: A possessive adjective comes before a noun to show who something belongs to. These adjectives do not change based on the gender or number of the noun.
- my - This is my desk.
- your - This is your desk.
- her - This is her desk.
- his - This is his desk.
- its - This is its desk (used for things or animals).
- their - This is their desk (for groups).
- our - This is our desk (for "we").
Point 2: A possessive pronoun replaces both the noun and the possessive adjective. It stands alone.
- mine - This is mine.
- yours - This is yours.
- hers - This is hers.
- his - This is his (same as the adjective).
- theirs - This is theirs.
- ours - This is ours.
Point 3: Use the contraction 's after a name or a noun (person or place) to show possession.
- This is Joe's desk.
- I love Mary's new house.
- The hotel's pool is very nice.
- This is my company's car.
Point 4: Use the question word "whose" to ask about ownership or possession. You can also use the verb "belong" to show possession.
- Whose coffee cup is this?
- It belongs to Mary.
- Whose tablet is this?
- It belongs to the school.
Point 5: In summary, there are four ways to show possession.
- Whose coffee cup is this?
- It is Mary's cup. (with 's)
- It is her cup. (possessive adjective)
- It is hers. (possessive pronoun)
- It belongs to Mary. (using the verb "belong")
About the Teacher
My name is Todd Beuckens and I am an ESL teacher in Thailand. I created this site to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.