Grammar 3: Possessive Pronouns

1. There are several ways to talk about possession. You already

know that we can use possessive adjectives such as my and
your.
Example: Talia: This is my story.
We can also use possessive pronouns, such as mine and yours.
Example: Talia: The story is mine.
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE
my
your
This is her story.
its
our
their

POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
mine
yours
The story is hers.
ours
theirs

Notice that there is no possessive pronoun for it.

2. We use a possessive pronoun instead of a possessive adjective

plus a noun.
Example:

The story is your story.

The story is yours.
In this example yours means your story.
Possessive pronouns are never followed by nouns.
We do NOT say: The story is yours story.

3. We often use possessive pronouns with of after a noun in

expressions like a friend of mine.
Example:

Talia is a friend of mine.

Nick was a classmate of hers.

4. We use the same possessive pronoun for singular and for plural
nouns. The form of the pronoun doesnt change.
Example:

That report is mine.

Those reports are mine.

We do NOT say: Those reports are mines.

5. Possessive pronouns can go at the beginning or end of a

sentence.
Example:

This isnt Amys hat. Its my hat.

Hers is new. Mine is old.
Those arent Amys gloves.
Hers are red. The blue ones are mine.

6. We often use possessive pronouns to answer questions starting

with Whose.
Example:

Amy: Whose job is this?

Talia: Its hers.

Note that whose is not the same as whos (who is).

We do NOT say: Whos job is this?

Class Activity #10

Complete each dialog. Click on the answer.

1.
Talia: ________ pen is this?
Amy: I don't know. It's not mine.
Who
Who's
Whose
2.
Amy: Hey, have you seen my calculator?
John: Maybe. Is this ________?
your
yours
of yours
3.
John: Tony, I'd like you to meet a friend of ________. This is Luisa.
Tony: Hi. Nice to meet you!
me

my
mine
4.
Amy: Can I borrow your cell phone? Mine isn't working.
Talia: Sorry, but I'm using it now. Ask John. I'm sure you can use ________.
his
him
of his
5.
John: That's a nice photo, Tony. Is that ________ daughter?
Tony: No, that's my niece.
your
yours
of yours
6.
Julio: I missed the last class. Could I borrow your notes?
Amy: Why don't you borrow Talia's? ________ are usually better.
She
Her
Hers
7.
Amy: Should we use my tape recorder?
Talia: No, let's use mine. Mine ________ better.
am
is
are
8.
Amy: You know, Talia, Tony said that this could be your big break. Come up with something and the story is
________!
Talia: I know!
his
mine
yours

Possessive pronouns show that something belongs to someone or

something.
If the shoes belong to me, they are __________shoes. They are _________mine.
If the car belongs to you, it is ________car. It is ________.
If the books belong to her, they are ________books. They are _________.
If the pencil belongs to him, it is ________pencil. It is _________.
If the leaf belongs to the plant, it is _________leaf.
If the food belongs to us, it is _________food. It is ________.
If the house belongs to them, it is _________house. It is _________.
Choose the possessive pronouns that best complete each sentence.
1. ____(My/Mine) brother planted a beautiful apricot tree in_____(our/ours) front yard.
2. Annalisa finished _____________ (her/hers) homework early, but Julissa did
not do _______________(her/hers) until later.
3. The little boy who lives next door played with _____________(him/his) toys.
4. The furniture belongs to my mother. It is _________________(her/hers).
5. _________________(Our/Ours) family enjoys spending time together.
6. Jennys dad trimmed the branches off the tree. It looked bare without all of
__________________ (it/its) branches.
7. You must remember to clean _______________(your/yours) room before
you go to the party.
8. Mr. and Mrs. Rochester bought a plant for ________________ (their/theirs)
house.
9. The bicycle over there is ____________(him/his), but this one right here is
_______________________ (my/mine).
10. Angela likes to wear _________________ (her/hers) hair long, while Peggy

prefers to wear ________________(her/hers) short.

Vocabulary

Read parts of an interview with Nick Crawfords parents. Choose the correct vocabulary word
from the box. You wont use all of the words. Be careful to choose the correct form (noun or
adjective).
NOUN

ADJECTIVE

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

business

businesslike

competition

competitive

emotion

emotional

injury

injured

professional

professional

confident

confidence

innocence

innocent

nation

national

pleasure

pleasant

shame

truth

truthful

Interviewer:

How do you feel about all the attention Nick has received?

Mary Crawford:

This is just such an (1) emotional experience for us. Its hard to believe
Nick is playing against the players in the (2) nation!

Interviewer:

You sound (3) surprised. Didnt you think Nick would someday be a star
soccer player!

Harold Crawford:

To be honest, I knew he was good, but I never thought he would make it to

the (4) n______________ team. It was truly a (5) p________________ surprise
the day we found out he made the team.

Interviewer:

What was Nick like as a child? Was he a good soccer player back then?

Mary:

Nick was always (6) c_________________ as a child. He liked to win. We put

him on junior soccer teams, and he even entered several soccer (7)
c___________________ as a teenager.

Interviewer:

When Nick went to college, what did he study?

Harold:

Well, he always knew he wanted to be a (8) p____________________ soccer

player, but he majored in (9) b____________________ so he would have
another option.

Interviewer:

Tell me, how do you feel about Nicks recent (10) i___________________?

surprise

shameful
surprised/surprising

Harold:
Well, its really a (11) s____________________ that Nick was (12)
______________________ and had to sit out the last game, but Im (13) c__________________ hell
be back out there on that field in no time.

amazing adj. making someone feel very surprised

The dancers were really amazing!
career n. a job or profession that you have been trained for and intend to do for a long time
My career as an actor began with a small part in a school play.
competition n. [1] a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other
First prize in the competition was won by Ms. Philippines.

Review Quiz
Vocabulary

Read the sentences below. Type the correct form of the verb in parentheses
into each blank. Use the present perfect or the simple past.

Read the paragraph. Then complete the sentences.

Talia is a researcher. She (1)

find information
-1

(select)

on any topic. She tells Tony that she will (2)

-1

(select)

convince Nick to tell her the truth. Tony tells Talia that if she
(3)

to get the information within a day, they will

-1

(select)

have to run the story anyway. Talia is confident that she (4)
to do the job
-1

(select)

Review Quiz
A.3

Reading

Read the article. Then complete the summary. Drag and drop the information into the
correct order based on the reading. You will not use all the sentences.

Making Music From A Young Age: The Carla Olivia Story

Carla Olivia is one of the most famous singers and songwriters of this new millennium. She was born in
Albany, New York in 1984. At an early age, Carla's parents saw that she had a gift for singing and playing
piano. At the age of eight, she was writing her own songs, and she could play the guitar almost perfectly.
Carla appeared on the television program Becoming Famous at the age of 15. Here she had the opportunity
to perform one of her own songs. Michael Castaneda, a famous music producer, contacted Carla after he saw
her on Becoming Famous. Castaneda offered Carla a contract. Carla got her big break.
Carla recorded her first hit song, "Exposure," at the age of 16. This song was a worldwide success and over
one million copies were sold. After her first hit, Castaneda wanted Carla to record an album. Carla worked
hard on the album and finished it when she turned 17. The album is called "Choose Your Identity." The
album sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Carla earned three Grammy awards with this album.
Currently, Carla Olivia is working on her new album, named "Revelation." Besides this new album, Carla is
making her debut in the movie "Dream." She plays one of the main characters in this movie.

A4
Vocabulary
take a hike idiom SPOKEN an impolite expression, said when you want someone to leave
Look, I said you weren't invited, so take a hike!
take a look collocation to read something quickly or consider it, especially in order to decide what to do
Here's their proposal. Take a look at it tonight, and we'll discuss it in the morning.
take care collocation SPOKEN to think about what you are doing so that something bad doesn't happen
The roads are very icy, so take care driving.
take it easy idiom SPOKEN used to tell someone to stop being angry or worried and calm down
Take it easy! It wasn't your fault.

take it from me idiom SPOKEN used to emphasize that someone can believe what you are saying because you know the subject
you are talking about
Italy is a beautiful country. Take it from me -- I lived in Rome for seven years.
take it or leave it idiom SPOKEN used to say that someone can accept an offer or refuse it, but that there can be no discussion
about it
$2,000 is the most I'm willing to pay -- take it or leave it.
take place collocation to occur, especially after being planned or arranged
The next match will take place in Monte Carlo.
take sides collocation to choose to support a particular person or opinion
My brothers argue with each other a lot, but I try not to take sides.
take your pick idiom SPOKEN to select one of several things
There's chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry -- take your pick.
take your time collocation to do something slowly or carefully without rushing
You can take your time packing -- the flight doesn't leave until this evening.

Class activity # 11

Class activity # 14
Complete each dialog. Click on the drop-down box. Then click on the answer.

1.
Josh: Hi, Amy. How's your job?
Amy: The job is
-1

. What about yours?

(select)

Good
Well
2.
Josh: OK. But I'm working really

.
-1

(select)

Hard
hardly
3.
Josh: My boss is tough, but at least he's

.
-1

(select)

Fair
Fairly
4.
Amy: I'm sure you'll do

. You always do.

-1

(select)

Good
Well
5.
Josh: Do you want to go to a movie tonight?
Amy: I can't. I have to work
-1

.
(select)

Late
Lately
6.
Amy: Hey, Josh, do you speak Spanish?
Josh: Yes, but I don't speak it
-1

. Why?
(select)

Fluen
Fluently
7.
Amy: Well, there's a Spanish movie at the Quad. You might like to see it. People say it's very
-1

.
(select)

Good
Well

8.
Josh: That sounds good. It's always a

experience to listen to Spanish, even

-1

when I can't understand everything.

Nice
Nicely

(select)

Class activity # 15

Review Quiz
Vocabulary
Josh's friend George is showing him a trick with playing cards.
Complete the dialog. Click on each drop-down box. Then click on the answer.

George: I have ten cards here. If you choose a queen, you'll lose. Which do you want? (1)
-1

.
(select)

Josh: Oh, which one should I choose?

George: Hey, don't be nervous, Josh. (2)

.
-1

(select)

Josh: But I don't want to make a mistake.

George: OK. I'll wait. Just (3)

.
-1

(select)

Josh: Oh, I win!

George: Really?
Josh: Yes, (4)
-1

(select)

Grammar 1

Complete each dialog. Click on the drop-down box. Then click on the answer.

A.
Nick: You don't believe me, (1)

?
-1

(select)

Talia: Of course I believe you.

B.
Amy: We can do it, (2)

?
-1

Tony: I don't think we can

(select)

Grammar 2
Complete each dialog. Click on the drop-down box. Then click on the answer.

A.
Josh: Jason is a (1)

swimmer.
-1

(select)

Amy: Yes, he swims very (2)

.
-1

(select)

B.
Dean: Have you finished reading, Mary? Oh, that was (3)

!
-1

Mary: Yes, but I didn't understand the (4)

(select)

paragraph
-1

(select)

Grammar 3

Rebecca Grimaldi is Tony's niece. She wants to be a teacher.

Read the email below. Type the correct article (a, an, or the) into each blank.

Dear Ms. Mayo,

How have you been doing? I'm doing great. I'm learning so much in my teacher training program. Last
week, we visited (1)
high school located on the east side of town.
-1

We met with (2)

principal and several teachers. Then I observed a

-1

fourth grade class. All of (3)

children were excited about learning.

-1

Thanks for helping me decide to become (4)

teacher. I can't wait

-1

to have a class of my own. I promise to keep in touch!

Take care!
Rebecca Grimaldi