What is a possessive adjective?

Lets begin by learning what possessive adjectives are: Possessive adjectives are used as adjectives and modify a noun or noun phrase. They are words used to indicate ownership or possession.
Example: This is my portfolio. What is your e-mail?

Possessive Adjectives
I have You have He has She has It has We have You have They have my your his her its our your their notebook. notebook. notebook. notebook. notebook. notebooks. notebooks. notebooks.

There are singular and plural possessive adjectives.

Singular
Plural

my your his her its

our your their

Example:
This is my marker.
S I N G U L A R

That is your portfolio. The bike is his. The cat has its home.

P L U R A L

This is our home. Their singing is excellent.

The following table will help you understand possessive adjectives in all their forms.
Number Person Gender*
m/f m/f m f n
m/f m/f m/f/n

Possessive Adjectives
my your his her Its
our your their

1st 2nd

3rd
1st 2nd 3rd

* m = male

f = female

n = neuter

TEST
Part I. Read the sentences. Choose the best possessive adjective to complete each one.
1. She has hazel eyes. ____ eyes are hazel. a. His b. Our c. Her d. Its e. My

2. I have a tricycle. It is ____ tricycle. a. my b. her c. his d. its e. our

3. That is his collection. ____ collection is big. a. Our b. Your c. Her d. My e. His

4. This is Nancys 5. The lion has four pen. Its ____ pen. legs. It walks with ____ legs. a. our b. my c. your d. her e. its

a. my b. his c. its d. our e. your

Possessive adjectives are different from possessive pronouns. Notice the difference. Do not become confused.
Possessive Pronouns mine yours his hers its ours theirs Possessive Adjectives my your his her its our their

Activity 1
Fill in the blank with the correct possessive adjective.
my you his her its our their
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

6.
7.

Maria has a pen. She writes with ____ pen. The mall is dark. ____ lights are off. I bake cakes. ____ cakes are good. You sell insurance plans. ____ insurance plans are cheap. Juan and Pablo are classmates. ____ friendship is nice. Noel and I board together. ____ house is beautiful. The young boy likes ____ teacher.

Read each sentence carefully. Identify the adjective and write it.

possessive

_____ 1. I recite in my school. _____ 2. The teacher doesnt like her student. _____ 3. Is that your dog? _____ 4. The dog has its food. _____ 5. This is their bed. _____ 6. Maria is his cousin. _____ 7. Is that our table? _____ 8. Juan has lost his keys. _____ 9. Was your trip long? _____ 10. My wallet is missing.

Complete the following sentences using the possessive adjectives.

your our
1. 2. 3.

his

her

their its

my

I have a baby. ____ name is Tony. The kitten has broken ____ leg. Lisa has beautiful jewels. ____ jewels are very expensive. 4. The store has ____ cigarettes locked. 5. We gave the boys ____ e-mails. 6. Noel has a coat. ____ coat is black. 7. Leslie has a goddaughter. ____ name is Laurie Ann. 8. We have our girlfriends. They have ____ girlfriends. 9. You have a photo album. ____ photo album is important. 10. The Reverend has a bible in ____ hand.

Activity 2
Read each sentence carefully. Write the possessive adjective and decide if its used in singular or plural.
A. Singular B. Plural

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

1. Her name is Juana. 2. Their train is arriving late. 3. That is our house. 4. My mother is beautiful. 5. His brother is a plumber. 6. Is that your apartment? 7. The river has its beauty.

Activity 3 Read each sentence carefully. Write the possessive adjective in the blanks.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

The girl walks to ___ piano. The boy walks to ____ bike. I walk to ____ house. We study ____ new songs every day. I put ___ portfolio in my CD. Sue likes __ English boyfriend. We bring____ homework to the Open Lab. The boys bring ___ walkmans to school. The girls bring ___ dolls to class. Our teacher, Mrs. Vera comes to school in ___car. Josue studies English in ___ room.

Post test
Part I. Read the sentences. Choose

the best possessive adjective to complete them.

1. She is Italian. ____ name is Sofia. a. My d. Our b. Its e. Their c. Her

(Part I)
2. Pablo has a tag. ____ tag is blue and green. a. Its d. Our b. Your e. His c. My 3. We live in Jayuya, but ____ friends live in Ponce. a. his d. their b. our e. her c. my 4. Im Sara. ____ last name is Bush. a. Our d. My b. Your e. Their c. Her 5. The dog eats ____ food. a. its d. her b. their e. my c. his

Part II. Read each sentence carefully. Identify the possessive adjective and write it.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 1. I sing in my church. 2. The teacher loves her students. 3. Is that your purse? 4. The dog has its bone. 5. This is their house. 6. Christie is his cousin. 7. Is that our room? 8. Was your trip cheap? 9. Jacob lost his homework. 10. My shoe is broken.

Part III. Complete the following sentences using the possessive adjectives.
your my his our her its their
1. I have a brother. ____ name is Eddie. 2. The horse has broken ____ leg. 3. Mary sees ____ mother every week. 4. I always forget ____ keys. 5. The girls never dance at ____ parties. 6. You write a letter to ____ father every week. 7. We always drink coffee in ____ office. 8. Nancy eats ____ lunch at 11:30. 9. The hospital wants to improve ____ service. 10. Juan has a camera. The camera is ____.