2025.10.04

How to Use Possessive Adjectives｜A Comprehensive Guide to my, your, and More

Izumi

Expressions such as “my book” or “his name” in English require the use of possessive adjectives.

A possessive adjective is a word placed before a noun to indicate ownership or relationship.

To use possessive adjectives correctly in both conversation and writing, I will explain their forms, functions in sentences, and important points to keep in mind.

Contents

1. Types and Basic Rules of Possessive Adjectives
- 1-1. What Is a Possessive Adjective?
- 1-2. List of Possessive Adjectives
2. Possessive Adjectives Function Like Adjectives
3. Possessive Adjectives Clarify Ownership
4. Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns
- 4-1. Possessive Adjectives
- 4-2. Possessive Pronouns
5. The Difference Between its and it’s
- 5-1. its: Possessive Adjective (Shows Ownership)
- 5-2. it’s: Contraction of “it is” or “it has”
6. Summary

1. Types and Basic Rules of Possessive Adjectives

1-1. What Is a Possessive Adjective?

A possessive adjective shows “who owns something” and is placed before a noun.

In English, the form of the possessive adjective depends on the personal pronoun, and it changes according to person, number, and gender.

1-2. List of Possessive Adjectives

Person	Possessive Adjective	Corresponding Pronoun	Notes
First person singular	my	I	Used when the subject is I
Second person singular	your	you	Same form used for singular and plural
Third person singular (male)	his	he	Refers to a male person
Third person singular (female)	her	she	Refers to a female person
Third person singular (thing/animal)	its	it	Refers to things, animals, inanimate objects
First person plural	our	we	Used when the subject is we
Second person plural	your	you	Same form as singular
Third person plural	their	they	Refers to multiple people or things

2. Possessive Adjectives Function Like Adjectives

Possessive adjectives modify a noun in the same way adjectives do, adding information such as “whose” it is.

my bag → adds the idea of “my” to the noun bag
her idea → adds the meaning of “her” to the noun idea

They are always placed before the noun, just like adjectives, to specify meaning.

3. Possessive Adjectives Clarify Ownership

Because English has a strict word order, it is essential to place the possessive adjective before the noun to clearly indicate ownership or relationship.

This is my pen.
Their dog is very cute.
Our teacher is kind.

Using possessive adjectives correctly ensures that relationships and belonging are expressed clearly.

4. Possessive Adjectives vs. Possessive Pronouns

4-1. Possessive Adjectives

A possessive adjective is placed before a noun to show ownership, functioning like an adjective.

This is my pen.
Her bike is new.

In both cases, the combination “possessive adjective + noun” expresses “whose something it is.”

4-2. Possessive Pronouns

A possessive pronoun replaces a noun phrase and means “one’s own thing(s).”

That pen is mine.
This book is hers.

Using possessive pronouns avoids repeating the noun, making the sentence clearer and more concise.

5. The Difference Between its and it’s

One of the most common mistakes among English learners is confusing its and it’s. Although they sound the same, their meanings and grammatical roles are completely different.

5-1. its: Possessive Adjective (Shows Ownership)

“its” is a possessive adjective used to indicate that an object or animal possesses something.

The dog is wagging its tail.
This book has lost its cover.

It is always followed by a noun and cannot stand alone.

5-2. it’s: Contraction of “it is” or “it has”

“it’s ”is a contraction used in conversation or informal writing.

it’s = it is

It’s a beautiful day.
It’s very cold outside.

it’s = it has

It’s been a long time.
It’s just started to rain.

Note

The possessive adjective its never takes an apostrophe. Do not confuse it with it’s, as the meanings are completely different.

6. Summary

Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, etc.) are used before nouns to indicate ownership.
They must be used with a noun and cannot stand alone.
Their forms depend on the personal pronoun, number, and gender.
Do not confuse its (possessive adjective) with it’s (= it is / it has).
Understand the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, etc.) and use them appropriately according to sentence structure.

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