What are Possessive Adjectives?
Possessive adjectives are special words. They show who something belongs to. They come before a noun (a person, animal, or thing).
For example, in my car, my is a possessive adjective. It shows the car belongs to me.
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When do we use His?
We use his when the owner is a man or a boy. It means "belonging to him."
- He has a blue shirt. This is his shirt. (The shirt belongs to the boy/man.)
- Pablo is here. His bag is on the chair. (The bag belongs to Pablo.)
When do we use Her?
We use her when the owner is a woman or a girl. It means "belonging to her."
- She has a red dress. This is her dress. (The dress belongs to the girl/woman.)
- Maria is my friend. Her dog is very cute. (The dog belongs to Maria.)
When do we use Their?
We use their when the owners are two or more people, or a group. It means "belonging to them."
- They have new bikes. These are their bikes. (The bikes belong to the group.)
- My parents are happy. Their house is big. (The house belongs to my parents.)
How are Possessive Adjectives different from Subject Pronouns?
Subject pronouns like he, she, and they do actions. Possessive adjectives like his, her, and their show ownership.
Look at the difference:
- He is happy. (Subject pronoun)
- This is his book. (Possessive adjective)
- She is a teacher. (Subject pronoun)
- Her students are smart. (Possessive adjective)
- They live in London. (Subject pronoun)
- Their children play together. (Possessive adjective)
| Subject Pronoun | Possessive Adjective |
|---|---|
| I | my |
| You | your |
| He | his |
| She | her |
| It | its |
| We | our |
| They | their |
Examples
- This is his phone.
- Her name is Sofia.
- Their teacher is kind.
- He likes his new shoes.
- She loves her cat.
- They are proud of their team.
- Is this his pen?
- Where is her bag?
- What are their plans?
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers sometimes use one word like "su" for his, her, and their. In English, we must choose the correct word based on the owner's gender or number.
- Mistake: This is *her* book. (If the owner is a boy)
- Correct: This is his book. (The book belongs to a boy.)
- Mistake: That is *his* car. (If the owner is a girl)
- Correct: That is her car. (The car belongs to a girl.)
- Mistake: These are *his* bags. (If the bags belong to two people)
- Correct: These are their bags. (The bags belong to a group.)
Remember: In English, the possessive adjective matches the owner, not the thing owned.
Frequently asked questions
What is a possessive adjective?
A possessive adjective is a word that shows who owns something. It always comes before a noun. For example, my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
How do I choose between His and Her?
Choose his if the owner is a male (a boy or a man). Choose her if the owner is a female (a girl or a woman).
When do I use Their?
Use their when the owners are two or more people, or a group. For example, The students like their teacher.
Do His, Her, and Their change for plural nouns?
No, these possessive adjectives do not change. For example, you say his book and his books. The word his stays the same. The same is true for her and their.
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