Possessive Adjectives Explained with Examples

Possessive adjectives in English grammar help show ownership or association. They are used in school writing, exam questions, and daily communication to make meaning clear and sentences smooth. Mastering possessive adjectives supports confidence in both spoken and written English for students at every level.

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are short words placed before a noun to show who owns or is connected to that noun. Examples include “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.” Using them correctly helps avoid confusion about who something belongs to in any English sentence.

Possessive Adjectives in Sentences

Students often come across possessive adjectives in assignments, practical conversations, or exam questions. Notice how they clarify who owns each item in these examples:

• My friends are waiting outside.
• Your lunch smells delicious.
• His backpack is heavy today.
• Her phone is on the table.
• Its fur is soft and clean.
• Our teacher gave us homework.
• Their answers were correct.

Difference Between Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Many learners confuse possessive adjectives with possessive pronouns. Remember:

• Possessive adjectives come before nouns: my book, your idea.
• Possessive pronouns replace the noun: Mine is orange, yours is blue.

At Vedantu, we make this distinction clear for better exam and writing skills.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Adjectives

Students sometimes mix up “its” and “it’s”, or use pronouns when adjectives are needed. To avoid errors:

• “Its” shows possession; “it’s” means “it is.” (Correct: The cat chased its tail.)
• Never use apostrophes in possessive adjectives (“her,” “their,” etc.).
• Don’t use possessive pronouns instead of adjectives before a noun. (Incorrect: Mine car is red.)

Possessive Adjectives in Other Languages

Students also ask about possessive adjectives in other languages. In Spanish and French, forms change for gender and number. In English, possessive adjectives stay the same except for “his” and “her,” which depend on gender.

Practice: Possessive Adjectives Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjective:

• This is ______ (I) homework.
• ______ (they) teacher is very kind.
• The cat chased ______ (it) own shadow.
• We love ______ (we) new classroom.
• Is that ______ (you) notebook on the desk?

Answers: my, their, its, our, your.

Page Summary

Possessive adjectives in English (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) help show who owns or is linked to something. By using them correctly, students can make writing clear and avoid common grammar mistakes. Practice makes mastering this concept easier for school, exams, and everyday English.