What are Possessive Pronouns?
Possessive pronouns show that something belongs to or is associated with someone. They replace a noun and a possessive adjective. For example, instead of saying 'my book', you can say 'mine'.
Possessive pronouns are pronouns that show ownership. The list includes: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs. They replace a possessive adjective + noun (e.g., 'my car' → 'mine').
- •my book
- •your pen
- •his car
- •her house
- •the book is mine
- •the pen is yours
- •the car is his
- •the house is hers
Step-by-step worked examples
Your friend has a bike. Who does it belong to?
Replace 'your bike' with a possessive pronoun. The answer: It's yours. or The bike is yours.
Sarah and Tom share an apartment. Describe it.
Use a possessive pronoun for 'their apartment'. The apartment is theirs.
I have a cat. He has a dog. Compare the pets.
My cat: the cat is mine. His dog: the dog is his. We compare two pets.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which is the correct possessive pronoun for 'my house'?
Q2.Replace 'their car' with a possessive pronoun.
Q3.Is 'our' a possessive pronoun or adjective?
Q4.Which sentence uses a possessive pronoun correctly?
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Possessive Pronouns?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
This car is my. — Correct: This car is mine. ('my' is an adjective; 'mine' is the pronoun)
The book is your. — Correct: The book is yours. ('your' is an adjective; 'yours' is the pronoun)
Is this of hers? — Correct: Is this hers? (don't add 'of' with possessive pronouns)
Its is their dog's toy. — Correct: Its is a possessive adjective, not a pronoun in this context.
FAQ
Can you use a possessive pronoun before a noun?
No. Possessive pronouns replace the noun. Use adjectives (my, your, his) before a noun.
What is the possessive pronoun for 'it'?
Its (adjective), but there is no pronoun form. Just say 'It belongs to it' (rarely used).
Is 'whose' a possessive pronoun?
Whose is a possessive interrogative pronoun used in questions: 'Whose is this?'
Can possessive pronouns be plural?
Yes: ours (plural of mine), yours (plural or singular), theirs.