Possessive Adjectives

If you write and speak in English, you surely use possessive adjectives even if you’re not always aware that you are.

Further understanding verbal components gives you even greater insight and command in using them. In this discussion, we’ll review what possessive adjectives are and look at several proper examples of them.

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words that come before a noun to show who (or what) owns the noun (his car). They are also used to indicate a relation to someone or something (their parents).

Common possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose.

Examples of Possessive Adjectives in Sentences

Here are some everyday examples of possessive adjectives in action:

The Thompsons covered their pool for the winter.

Shelly’s blue bike is gradually losing its paint.

I saw Jane’s dog running around without his [or its] leash.

Have you seen my car keys anywhere?

The wedding will be our best chance to visit with Jacob.

I don’t know where Tanya gets her ideas.

Even though possessive adjectives are common, they can still be sometimes misused. If a difficulty with a possessive adjective arises, it is typically a matter of misspelling it (its vs. it’s) or confusing it with a homonym (e.g., their, there, they’re).

Examples

The team is showing its character. (possessive adjective)
The team is showing it’s made of character. (contraction for it is)

That is their picnic basket. (possessive adjective)
The picnic basket is over there. (adverb)
They’re looking for the picnic basket. (contraction for they are)

These spelling variations of words that sound the same when spoken can be tricky for native and non-native speakers alike. With a little practice and extra mindfulness, the distinctions can be mastered for precision in writing.

Pop Quiz

Fill in each blank with the correct possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their, or whose).

1. June lost her coat, so she had to wear _____ jacket instead even though it was cold and snowy out.

2. The boat belongs to the Jackson family. It is _____ boat.

3. My sister and I tend the garden. On weekends we like to collect ____fresh vegetables.

4. The computer is really no good for use without _____ monitor.

5. I was planning on helping Tommy with _____ homework after dinner.

 

Pop Quiz Answers

1. June lost her coat, so she had to wear her jacket instead even though it was cold and snowy out.

2. The boat belongs to the Jackson family. It is their boat.

3. My sister and I tend the garden. On weekends we like to collect our fresh vegetables.

4. The computer is really no good for use without its monitor.

5. I was planning on helping Tommy with his homework after dinner.

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