Possessive adjectives show who owns or is connected to something. This guide goes through the common possessive adjectives with clear examples.
Key Possessive Adjectives
The main possessive adjectives are short words like my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. They come before nouns to show ownership.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| my | your | |
| his | her | |
| its | our | |
| their |
Usage
Use a possessive adjective directly before a noun to show who owns or is associated with it. They do not change form according to number beyond matching singular or plural nouns.
Examples
Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns
Possessive adjectives come before nouns, while possessive pronouns replace nouns. For example, my book uses a possessive adjective, but mine is a possessive pronoun that stands alone.
Summary
Possessive adjectives like my, your, his, her, its, our, and their show ownership when placed before a noun. Use them to clearly signal who something belongs to.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025