Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Adjectives

Possessive words show ownership, but there are two different forms: possessive adjectives (also called determiners) and possessive pronouns.

The Difference

Possessive adjectives go before a noun. Possessive pronouns replace the noun.

| Person | Possessive Adjective (+ noun) | Possessive Pronoun (replaces noun) | | ------ | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | I | my book | mine | | you | your book | yours | | he | his book | his | | she | her book | hers | | it | its bowl | (rarely used) | | we | our book | ours | | they | their book | theirs |

Examples

Possessive adjectives always need a noun after them:

• This is my car.
• Her house is beautiful.
• I like their garden.

Possessive pronouns stand alone:

• This car is mine.
• That house is hers.
• The garden is theirs.

No Apostrophe

Possessive pronouns do not use an apostrophe. This is a very common error.

• Incorrect: This book is your's.

• Correct: This book is yours.

• Incorrect: The car is their's.

• Correct: The car is theirs.

"Its" vs. "It's"

Its (no apostrophe) is the possessive form of "it."

• The dog wagged its tail.

It's (with apostrophe) is the contraction of "it is" or "it has."

• It's raining outside.

Comparison Table

| Before a noun | Without a noun | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | This is my seat. | This seat is mine. | | I like your shoes. | These shoes are yours. | | His answer was wrong. | The wrong answer was his. | | Her dress is red. | The red dress is hers. | | Our team won. | The victory is ours. | | Their house is big. | The big house is theirs. |