Possessive Adjective vs. Possessive Pronouns

Attribute	Possessive Adjective	Possessive Pronouns
Definition	Shows ownership or possession	Shows ownership or possession
Placement	Before a noun	Can stand alone or before a noun
Examples	My, your, his, her, its, our, their	Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs
Usage	Used to describe a noun	Used to replace a noun

Introduction

Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns are both used to show ownership or possession in a sentence. While they may seem similar, there are key differences between the two that are important to understand in order to use them correctly in writing and speech.

Definition and Function

Possessive adjectives are used before a noun to show ownership or possession. They modify the noun by indicating who owns or possesses it. For example, in the sentence "Her book is on the table," the possessive adjective "her" indicates that the book belongs to her. Possessive pronouns, on the other hand, replace a noun and show ownership without needing to repeat the noun. For example, in the sentence "The book is hers," the possessive pronoun "hers" replaces the noun "book" and shows ownership.

Form and Usage

Possessive adjectives in English include words like "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their." They agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. For example, "my" is used with singular nouns like "book," while "our" is used with plural nouns like "books." Possessive pronouns, on the other hand, include words like "mine," "yours," "his," "hers," "its," "ours," and "theirs." They do not require a noun to follow them and can stand alone in a sentence to show ownership.

Examples

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns:

• Possessive Adjective: This ismy car.
• Possessive Pronoun: This car ismine.
• Possessive Adjective: Is thatyour phone?
• Possessive Pronoun: No, it'smine.
• Possessive Adjective: Their house is beautiful.
• Possessive Pronoun: The house istheirs.

Placement in a Sentence

Possessive adjectives always come before the noun they modify, while possessive pronouns can stand alone in a sentence without a noun following them. For example, in the sentence "Is thisyour book?" the possessive adjective "your" comes before the noun "book." In contrast, in the sentence "The book ismine," the possessive pronoun "mine" stands alone without a noun following it.

Agreement with Nouns

Possessive adjectives must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. For example, "his" is used with singular masculine nouns, while "her" is used with singular feminine nouns. Possessive pronouns, however, do not change form based on the noun they replace. They remain the same regardless of the gender or number of the noun they are replacing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns serve similar functions in indicating ownership or possession, but they differ in form, usage, placement in a sentence, and agreement with nouns. Understanding the distinctions between the two can help writers and speakers use them correctly and effectively in their communication.