Possessive Adjectives

English Grammar Rules


Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership of something. While we use them when we refer to people, it is more in the sense of relationship than ownership.

The possessive adjectives in English are as follows:

Possessive Adjectives in English with examples

The possessive adjective needs to agree with the possessor and not with the thing that is possessed.

Examples

Like all adjectives in English, they are always located directly in front of the noun they refer to. (Possessive Adjective + Noun)

We do not include an S to the adjective when the noun is plural like in many other languages.

Examples:

However, the verb that is used needs to be in agreement with the noun - if the noun is singular then the verb is singular; if the noun is plural then the verb is plural.

Examples:


Its vs. It's

Be careful not to confuse its and it's.

Its = The possessive adjective for It.
It's = a contraction of it is.

More detailed information about Its vs. It's here.

See the difference between Your and You're and Their, They're, and There

Possessive Adjectives Exercises

Set 1 - Have / Has + Possessive Adjectives Exercises

Set 2 - Have / Has + Possessive Adjectives Exercises - Slightly more difficult vocabulary



Next activities

Try our interactive games to practice Possessive Adjective (simple), Possessive Adjectives (a little more difficult).

See our grammar notes about Possessive Pronouns.

Woodward English course lesson: Possessive Adjectives


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