What Are Possessive Determiners? Definition, List & Usage
| Person | Number | Possessive Determiner | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| First person | Singular | my | my bag |
| Second person | Singular/Plural | your | your idea |
| Third person (male) | Singular | his | his shoes |
| Third person (female) | Singular | her | her dress |
| Third person (neuter) | Singular | its | its color |
| First person | Plural | our | our school |
| Third person | Plural | their | their house |
What Are Possessive Determiners?
Possessive determiners in English grammar are words like my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. They come before a noun to show that something belongs to someone or something. Examples include “my pen” and “their car.” These words help make sentences clear in meaning.
List of Possessive Determiners with Examples
Here is a quick reference list of all the English possessive determiners. Use these words before nouns to show ownership.
- my (my friend)
- your (your idea)
- his (his book)
- her (her dog)
- its (its tail)
- our (our plan)
- their (their school)
Example sentences:
- This is my pencil.
- Her car is blue.
- Our house is near the park.
- It lost its way home.
- Your shoes are new.
- Their jobs are important.
- His shirt is wet.
Possessive Determiners vs Possessive Pronouns
Many students confuse possessive determiners with possessive pronouns. Remember, possessive determiners always come before a noun, while possessive pronouns replace the noun. See the direct comparison below.
| Possessive Determiner | Example (with noun) | Possessive Pronoun | Example (replaces noun) |
|---|---|---|---|
| my | my bag | mine | This bag is mine. |
| your | your idea | yours | The idea is yours. |
| his | his book | his | This book is his. |
| her | her cat | hers | The cat is hers. |
| our | our car | ours | The car is ours. |
| their | their school | theirs | The school is theirs. |
| its | its tail | - | (No possessive pronoun form) |
At Vedantu, you can also study more about possessive pronouns and determiners vs pronouns for exam preparation.
Placement of Possessive Determiners in a Sentence
Possessive determiners always come before the noun or noun phrase. If there are adjectives, the determiner comes first, then adjectives, then the noun. This order makes the ownership clear.
- My new phone is expensive.
- Their big black dog barked loudly.
Special Note: “Whose” as a Determiner
“Whose” is often used as an interrogative determiner in questions. It asks about ownership. For example:
- Whose bag is this?
- Whose idea was chosen?
Common Mistakes with Possessive Determiners
Students often make errors with possessive words, especially with similar-sounding words (homophones). Watch out for these cases:
- its vs it’s (“Its” shows ownership. “It’s” means “it is”.)
- your vs you’re (“Your” shows ownership. “You’re” means “you are”.)
- their vs they’re vs there (“Their” shows ownership. “They’re” means “they are”. “There” refers to a place.)
Always double-check which word you need—especially in exams and writing tasks!
Practice Exercises: Possessive Determiners
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive determiner:
- ________ friends are coming to the party. (we)
- Is this ________ umbrella? (you)
- She lost ________ keys. (she)
- The dog hurt ________ paw. (it)
- That is ________ house on the corner. (they)
- ________ mother is a doctor. (I)
Answers: 1. our, 2. your, 3. her, 4. its, 5. their, 6. my
Why Learning Possessive Determiners Is Important
Possessive determiners are used in almost every English sentence to show who owns something. They are tested in CBSE, ICSE, and all major English exams. Good knowledge also helps you avoid common mistakes and makes your writing or speaking sound natural and correct.
For a complete understanding of the topic and for more practice, you can also review related pages like possessive adjectives, types of determiners, and nouns on Vedantu.
In summary, possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) are crucial for showing ownership in English. They always appear before nouns, help make your meaning clear, and are essential for success in both exams and real-world English. Practice often to master their use!
FAQs on Possessive Determiners: Meaning, Uses, and Examples
1. What are possessive determiners in English grammar?
Possessive determiners are words that show ownership or possession. They come before a noun and tell us who or what something belongs to. Examples include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. They are also sometimes referred to as possessive adjectives.
2. How do possessive determiners show ownership?
Possessive determiners indicate ownership by directly preceding the noun they modify. For example, in "My car is red," my shows that the car belongs to the speaker. They establish a relationship of belonging between a possessor and a possessed item. They are essential for demonstrating possession in English sentences.
3. Can you give five examples of possessive determiners?
Here are five examples of possessive determiners: my (my book), your (your house), his (his pen), her (her bag), its (its tail). Remember that these words always precede the noun they modify.
4. What is the difference between possessive determiners and possessive pronouns?
Possessive determiners (like my, your, his) modify nouns; they show possession but are part of the noun phrase. Possessive pronouns (like mine, yours, his) stand alone and replace noun phrases; they show possession independently. For example: "That's my car" (determiner) vs. "That car is mine" (pronoun).
5. What are the placement rules for possessive determiners in a sentence?
Possessive determiners always come immediately before the noun they modify. They are part of the noun phrase. For example: "My new red car." The determiner precedes both the adjective (red) and the noun (car). This placement is crucial for correct grammar.
6. How do I use “whose” as a determiner?
"Whose" functions as an interrogative possessive determiner, used to ask about possession. It always precedes the noun. For instance: "Whose book is this?" It indicates that we are asking about the owner of the book. It can also be used in relative clauses: "The person whose car was stolen called the police."
7. What are 5 examples of possessive pronouns?
Five examples of possessive pronouns are: mine, yours, his, hers, and ours. Unlike possessive determiners, these stand alone and replace noun phrases. For instance, instead of saying "That is John’s car," you can say, "That car is his."
8. What is the rule for possessive determiners?
The basic rule is that possessive determiners always come before the noun they modify, indicating possession. They agree in number and gender with the possessor. For example, "His house," not "House his." Understanding this simple rule is key to proper grammar.
9. How to use possessive determiners in a sentence?
To use possessive determiners, place them directly before the noun indicating what is owned. For example: "This is my pen." "Your dog is cute." "They took their seats." The determiner clearly shows the relationship of possession.
10. What are common mistakes with “its” and “it’s”, and how can I avoid them?
A common error is confusing its (possessive determiner) with it's (contraction of 'it is'). Its shows possession ("The dog wagged its tail."), while it's is a contraction. To avoid mistakes, remember that its never has an apostrophe.
11. What are possessive determiners with examples?
Possessive determiners show ownership. Examples include: my (my car), your (your book), his (his house), her (her cat), its (its collar), our (our team), their (their friends). These words always come before the noun they modify.
