possessive adjective: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “possessive adjective” mean?
A grammatical term for a word (such as 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our', 'their') that modifies a noun to show ownership or a close relationship.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A grammatical term for a word (such as 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our', 'their') that modifies a noun to show ownership or a close relationship.
A determiner belonging to the closed class of words that indicate possession or association. In some linguistic frameworks, these are classified as possessive determiners rather than adjectives.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in the use of the possessive adjectives themselves. The term is used identically in UK and US grammar teaching.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in educational contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “possessive adjective” in a Sentence
[Possessive Adjective] + [Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “possessive adjective” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lesson aims to **possessivise** the noun phrase.
- Teachers often **drill** possessive adjectives.
American English
- The exercise has students **modify** the noun with a possessive adjective.
- The textbook **covers** possessive adjectives in chapter three.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in language training materials for business English.
Academic
A core term in descriptive grammar and language teaching methodology.
Everyday
Used by learners and teachers when discussing language.
Technical
Standard terminology in linguistics, specifically morphosyntax.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “possessive adjective”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “possessive adjective”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “possessive adjective”
- Confusing 'its' (possessive adjective) with 'it's' (contraction for 'it is' or 'it has').
- Using a possessive pronoun ('mine') where a possessive adjective ('my') is required before a noun.
- Incorrect agreement: 'Every student must bring their book' (now widely accepted) vs. hypercorrection to 'his or her book'.
- Overusing possessive structures where a simple article would suffice in English.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In traditional school grammar, they are called possessive adjectives. Modern linguistics often classifies them as possessive determiners because they function as determiners, not as descriptive adjectives. They specify rather than describe.
'Your' is a possessive adjective and must be followed by a noun (your car). 'Yours' is a possessive pronoun and stands alone (That car is yours).
Because other possessives use an apostrophe (John's book), but the possessive adjective 'its' does not have an apostrophe. 'It's' is only ever a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'.
Yes, using 'their' as a singular gender-neutral possessive adjective (e.g., 'Someone left their phone here') is widely accepted in modern usage, both spoken and written, to avoid the clunky 'his or her'.
A grammatical term for a word (such as 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our', 'their') that modifies a noun to show ownership or a close relationship.
Possessive adjective is usually academic, educational in register.
Possessive adjective: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈzesɪv ˈædʒɪktɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈzesɪv ˈædʒɪktɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
POSSESSive adjectives show what you POSSESS: my book, your idea, their house.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMAR IS A MAP (it charts the territory of language).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a possessive adjective?