Possessive Adjectives | Examples & Definition
A possessive adjective (also called a possessive determiner) is a word that is used to modify a noun to indicate ownership. In English, there are eight possessive adjectives: “my,” “your,” “her,” “his,” “its,” “our,” “their,” and “whose.”
I told Madeline and Pilar to bring their kayak.
This plant is about to die. Its leaves are drooping.
What is a possessive adjective?
Like all adjectives, possessive adjectives modify nouns by giving information about who or what owns the noun. They are also used to indicate relationships rather than literal ownership (e.g., “my sister”).
Possessive adjectives are not considered pronouns because they do not take the place of a noun. However, they are connected with another noun that has been mentioned previously or is clear from context. That previous noun determines the gender and number of the possessive adjective.
Marco is a wonderful parent. His children are delightful.
Alex and Logan won’t be able to come. Their car is in the shop.
Possessive adjectives vs possessive pronouns
Possessive adjectives are very similar to possessive pronouns, but there are differences between them:
- Possessive adjectives precede the noun that they modify.
- Possessive pronouns (“mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “ours,” “theirs,” and “whose”) replace a noun and stand on their own.
| Possessive adjectives | Possessive pronouns |
|---|---|
| My phone is charging. | That phone is not mine. |
| Your daughter is so cute. | Is the girl wearing the yellow coat yours? |
| I love his painting. | His is the best. |
| Her dog is missing. | Is that dog hers? |
| This auditorium is huge; its capacity is 5,000 people. | (Not typically used) |
| Do you want to go to our house? | Let’s go to your house. Ours is too far away. |
| Their coffee is the best in town. | I’ve always thought theirs was too expensive. |
| Whose parents are coming to the party? | Whose is this? |
Common mistakes with possessive adjectives
People generally use possessive adjectives correctly in speech, but in writing, there are some common spelling errors. Most of these are because people associate apostrophes with possession (e.g., “Anne’s cat”). However, none of the possessive adjectives have an apostrophe.
Its vs it’s
“Its” and “it’s” sound the same but have different meanings (they are homophones). Its is a possessive adjective, while it’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” To verify that you are using the correct version, expand the contraction and see if the sentence still makes sense.
- It’s so cold today. [It is so cold today]
- My car is very old. Its trunk won’t even open anymore.
- My car is very old. It’s trunk won’t even open. [It is trunk won’t even open]
Their vs there vs they’re
“Their” can be tricky because two other words sound just like it: “there” and “they’re.”
- Their is a possessive adjective.
- There has many different functions in English. It is often used to express location (e.g., “We want to go there soon”) or to introduce a phrase (e.g., “There is no reason to wait”).
- They’re is the contracted form of “they are.”
To differentiate between “they’re” and “their,” you can use the full form of the contraction in the sentence to see if it makes sense. For the “their” and “there” distinction, remember that “their” always comes before a noun and indicates possession.
There are too many people here.
They’re going to the concert. [They are going to the concert]
Whose vs who’s
“Whose” and “who’s” are also homophones. Whose is a possessive adjective used to indicate an unknown owner of something (e.g., “Whose bag is this?”) or in an adjective clause that shows possession (e.g., “My sister, whose house is being renovated, is staying with me”). Who’s is the contracted form of “who is” or “who has.”
Who’s taking their car to the restaurant? [Who is taking their car to the restaurant]
“Their” as a gender-neutral possessive adjective
Possessive adjectives typically agree in number and gender with the possessor (e.g., “my mom loves her dogs”).
This raises the question of what to do when the gender of the possessor is unknown, the possessor identifies as nonbinary, or a general category of people is being referred to. In all of these cases, “their” can be used as a gender-neutral singular possessive adjective.
“Their” has long been used in this way in speech, but it is now accepted in writing as well. This is preferred to older conventions, such as using “his or her” or using “his” in a universal way.
- The applicant sent me their resume
- The applicant sent me his or her resume.
- Each student must bring their own notebook to the exam.
- Each student must bring his own notebook to the exam.
Frequently asked questions about possessive adjectives
- Is “my” an adjective?
-
Yes, “my” is considered a possessive adjective, along with “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” “their,” and “whose.” These adjectives modify nouns to show ownership (e.g., “my watch”).
Sometimes, possessive adjectives are also referred to as possessive determiners.
- What is the difference between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun?
-
Possessive adjectives are very similar to possessive pronouns, but there are differences between them:
- Possessive adjectives (“my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” “their,” and “whose”) precede the noun that they modify (e.g., “my ticket,” “their sister”).
- Possessive pronouns (“mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “ours,” “theirs,” and “whose”) replace a noun and stand on their own (e.g., “That’s mine!” “Which one is his?”).
- Is their singular or plural?
-
The possessive adjective “their” is technically plural. Thus, it is most frequently used to indicate possession by a plural noun (e.g., “Tony and Kyra brought their children on vacation”).
However, “their” is also acceptable as a replacement for the singular possessive adjectives “his” or “her” in several circumstances: when the gender of the possessor is unknown, when the possessor identifies as nonbinary, or when a general category of people is being referred to (e.g., “Each student should submit their own work”).
Using “their” as a singular possessive adjective is typically preferred to using the phrase “his or her” or using “his” in a general sense. “Their” has long been used in this way in speech, and it is now acceptable in writing as well.
