Possessive Pronouns

English Grammar Rules


Possessive pronouns are used in English to avoid repeating information that is already clear. In general it makes the sentence less confusing because the same information is not being repeated.

This book is my book, not your book. (Sounds repetitive)
This book is mine, not yours. (Mine and yours are possessive pronouns)

In the sentence, mine is a possessive pronoun that replaces my book.
In the sentence, yours is a possessive pronoun that replaces your book.

The possessive pronouns in English are as follows:

Subject Possessive
Pronouns
I Mine
You Yours
He His
She Hers
It --- *
We Ours
You (pl) Yours
They Theirs

* We avoid using the possessive pronoun ITS.

Examples:

Remember that with possessive pronouns there are no apostrophes (').

Possessive Pronouns in English

Of yours

It is also very common to say a friend/some friends + of + possessive pronouns.

Both of these sentences are correct and both common in English.


Yours faithfully - Yours sincerely

Yours is also used in English with faithfully or sincerely at the end of a formal letter or e-mail. The two common expressions are:



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Play an interactive game to practice this topic: Possessive Pronouns Game

See our grammar notes about Possessive Adjectives.


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