Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are special words that come before a noun to show who owns or is related to something.
⏰ When do we use Possessive Adjectives?
We use possessive adjectives to show ownership or relationship.
This is their teacher.
To show ownership of things:
This is my phone.
That’s your car.
He lost his keys.
To show relationships with people:
She is my sister.
They are our friends.
📌 Structure
Possessive adjectives are very simple! You just put the possessive adjective before the noun it describes.
| Subject Pronoun | Possessive Adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | my | my dog |
| You | your | your house |
| He | his | his book |
| She | her | her bag |
| It | its | its toy (for an animal or thing) |
| We | our | our parents |
| They | their | their children |
📝 Notes
Possessive adjectives do not change based on whether the noun is singular or plural.
my book (singular)
my books (plural)
Be careful not to confuse its (possessive adjective for “it”) with it’s (which means “it is” or “it has”).
The dog wagged its tail. (Possessive)
It’s a beautiful day. (It is)
Examples: My name, her idea, their house.
💬 Examples
- My favorite color is blue.
- Is this your pen?
- He washes his car on Sundays.
- She lives with her family.
- The cat is playing with its ball.
- We love our new apartment.
- They enjoy their English classes.
Possessive ‘s (Apostrophe S) and s’
This shows possession by adding an apostrophe and ‘s (or just an apostrophe) to the end of a noun.
⏰ When do we use Possessive ‘s / s’?
We use ‘s or s’ to show that something belongs to a person, an animal, or sometimes a thing.
📌 Structure
This can be a little tricky, so let’s break it down:
The women’s clothes (The clothes for women)
For singular nouns (even if they end in ‘s’): Add ‘s
Noun + 's
John’s car (The car belongs to John)
The dog’s bone (The bone belongs to the dog)
The boss’s office (The office belongs to the boss)
James’s book (The book belongs to James, even though “James” ends in ‘s’)
For plural nouns ending in ‘s’: Add only the apostrophe ‘
Plural Noun + '
The students’ desks (The desks belong to the students – many students)
The parents’ house (The house belongs to the parents – both parents)
The boys’ toys (The toys belong to the boys – many boys)
For irregular plural nouns (that don’t end in ‘s’): Add ‘s
Irregular Plural Noun + 's
The children’s toys (The toys belong to the children)
The men’s room (The room for men)
💬 Examples
- This is Sarah’s phone.
- The teacher’s desk is in the front.
- I like my friend’s new apartment.
- The children’s playground is big.
- These are the students’ books. (Many students)
- That’s the dog’s leash.
Ready to Master Ownership in English?
Possessive adjectives and the possessive ‘s / s’ are crucial for clear communication. They help you specify exactly who owns or is related to something, making your sentences much more precise.
Do you want more practice to make sure you use “my” vs. “mine,” and “John’s” vs. “Johns'” correctly? My online English classes are designed to give you practical exercises and real-time feedback, so you can confidently show possession in any conversation!
Don’t just understand the rules, use them with confidence!
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