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Personal pronouns – Possessives

Personal pronouns – Possessives

Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 16:59 GMT+7

Dr. Grammar says:

“What’s wrong with this sentence? Mine dog got into a fight and hurt it’s ear.”

EXPLANATION:

We looked at an introduction to personal pronouns and their uses in our previous lessons, and this week we will look at other cases of pronouns. This lesson will explore how to use possessives of the personal pronouns.

(If you haven’t already, go and read “Personal Pronouns – Introduction” and “Personal Pronouns – Other uses” before this lesson.)

What are possessives?

Possessives show when something belongs to somebody or something.

How do we use the possessives?

They are used in a different way to how we used the personal pronouns from last time. It does not matter if the pronoun is in the subject or object position (before or after the verb). We must look if the possessive is followed by a noun or not. For example:

My book is in my bag.

I would love to have her hair as it is beautiful.

Their flight leaves at midnight tonight.

(The possessive is followed by a noun: this is called a possessive adjective or possessive determiner)

The book in the bag is mine.

Hers is much more beautiful.

The flight that just left was theirs.

(The possessive is alone with no noun added to it: this is called a possessive pronoun)

Which personal pronouns have possessives?

The following is a list of the personal pronouns we have looked at, and their possessive forms:

I > my + noun (possessive adjective)

  > mine (possessive pronoun) you > your + noun (possessive adjective)

       > yours (possessive pronoun)

he > his + noun (possessive adjective)

     > his (possessive pronoun) she > her + noun (possessive adjective)

        > hers (possessive pronoun) it > its + noun (possessive adjective)

   > its (possessive pronoun)

Note: its is nearly always used as a possessive adjective. It is very rarely used as a possessive pronoun we > our + noun (possessive adjective)

      > ours (possessive pronoun)

they > their + noun (possessive adjective)

        > theirs (possessive pronoun)

What mistakes are commonly made?

Unfortunately there are some possessive pronouns and adjectives which sound very similar or the same as other words. Even many native speakers commonly make mistakes with the following words:

its or it’s?

its = possessive adjective

it’s = contracted form of “it is”Its very cold in here today. X

It’s very cold in here today. √your or you’re?

your = possessive adjective

you’re = contracted form of “you are”

Your late for the start of class. X

You’re late for the start of class. √

their, they’re or there?their = possessive adjective

they're = contracted form of “they are”

there = can be an adverb, pronoun, noun, adjective or interjection!

There house is much more beautiful than I thought it would be. X

They’re house is much more beautiful than I thought it would be. X

Their house is much more beautiful than I thought it would be. √

So…

Mine dog got into a fight and hurt it’s ear. X

My dog got into a fight and hurt its ear. √

EXERCISE:

Choose the correct option for the following sentences (subject or object), and remembering the possible common errors!

1. I would love to go and see (their, they’re, there) band play tomorrow. 2. (My, Mine) is the book on the table over (their, they’re, there).

3. The doctor said (his, his’s) back hurts from leaning over to look at (her, hers) broken foot.

4. “(Your, Yours, You’re) going to be late if you don’t finish (your, yours, you’re) breakfast.”

5. I think (its, it’s) going to rain, and today (my, mine) team are playing football.

Answers:

1. I would love to go and see their band play tomorrow. 2. Mine is the book on the table over there.

3. The doctor said his back hurts from leaning over to look at her broken foot.

4. “You’re going to be late if you don’t finish your breakfast.”

5. I think it’s going to rain, and today my team are playing football.

FURTHER PRACTICE:

It’s (or its?!) very important that you spend some time reading to find more examples of these possessive pronouns and adjectives, and then practice using them in writing.

They’re (or their or there?!) can be quite difficult to get correct without practice, so go read and write!

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).

Tuoitrenews

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