Possessive Adjectives versus Possessive Pronouns

Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns are two different ways to show possession in English. Possessive adjectives are used to describe the noun. Possessive pronouns are used to replace the noun.

Here is some summary information between these two possessive cases. Further down the page you will find references to useful external sites that explain these concepts even more and provide you with practice exercises and quizzes.

Possessive Adjectives	Possessive Pronouns
WHAT IS IT? A possessive adjective is an adjective that is used to show ownership. It comes before a noun in the sentence and lets readers know to whom the noun belongs. While many cases of ownership are shown with possessive nouns (Karen's, children's), possessive adjectives are not nouns and are not formed by adding an apostrophe + s.	WHAT IS IT? A possessive pronoun does show ownership, but it does not come before a noun or in a noun phrase. It stands alone. It can also be used to replace a noun.
WHEN SHOULD I USE THEM? Use possessive adjectives with nouns or noun phrases.	WHEN SHOULD I USE THEM? Use these alone. Don't use them with nouns or noun phrases.
STRUCTURE / FORM Possessive Adjective + Noun	STRUCTURE / FORM Noun + Possessive Pronoun
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE WORDS? my, your, his, her, its, our, their	WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE WORDS? mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs
EXAMPLES 1. My computer is on the table. 2. Your computer is on the chair. 3. It is his money. 4. It is her money. 5. Our house is small. 6. I will visit their house. 7. The dog ate its tasty bone.	EXAMPLES 1. The computer is mine. 2. The computer on the chair is yours. 3. The money is his. 4. The money is hers. 5. The small house is ours. 6. The house I will visit is theirs. 7. ---
NOTES  --> Adjectives are not plural in English, so possessive adjectives have only one form.  For example:  That is our cat.  Those are our cats.	NOTES  --> Do not use possessive pronouns with nouns or noun phrases.  For example:  Have you met mine brother [incorrect]?  Have you met my brother [correct]?

SPECIAL NOTES:

• Notice that some forms of the possessive adjective and possessive pronoun are the same (his, its). So, you have to look at how they are used in the sentence.
• There is another way to show possession in English.  Click here to learn how.
• The words its and it's are pronounced the same, but they have different meanings and grammar.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, PRACTICE EXERCISES AND QUIZZES

Now that you have read the theory on the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns, visit these sites to learn even more or to practice to make sure you have mastered these elements.

Possessive Adjectives	Possessive Pronouns
YouTube (Shaw English Online): English Grammar: Possessive Adjectives ★★★★☆ For those people that prefer to have a teacher walk them through an explanation, this video is a great resource.	YouTube (Shaw English Online): English Grammar: Possessive Pronouns ★★★★☆ For those people that prefer to have a teacher walk them through an explanation, this video is a great resource.
English Club: Possessive Adjectives ★★★★☆ This website teaches possessive adjectives primarily through examples.	English Club: Possessive Pronouns ★★★★☆ This website teaches possessive pronouns primarily through examples.
Grammar Monster: Possessive Adjectives ★★★★☆ This website lists possessive adjectives, provides examples of these adjectives in sentences, and then explains what possessive adjectives are.  The site also lets students do a practice quiz to confirm their understanding of the grammatical element.	Grammar Monster: Possessive Pronouns ★★★★☆ This site defines possessive pronouns, offers examples, and allows students to do an online quiz to test themselves.