Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns compared

Possessive adjectives and pronouns show possession, i.e. that

someone or something belongs to somebody. They answer the

question Whose? The possessive adjectives my, your, etc. are

determiners [> 3.1, 4.2.2] and must always be used in front of a noun.

Their form is regulated by the possessor, not by the thing possessed.

His refers to possession by a male: John's daughter (= his daughter).

Her refers to possession by a female: Jane's son (= her son).

Its refers to possession by an animal or thing: the cat's milk (= its

milky the jacket of this book (= its jacket).

My, your and their refer to possession by males or females:

My house is there,' Sally said /John said

Here is your tea, Sally/John, ' mother said

The boys' coats are here and their caps are there

The girls' coats are here and their berets are there

Their can also refer to possession by animals or things, as in:

Dogs should have their own kennels outside the house

Cars with their engines at the back are very noisy

The possessive pronouns mine, yours, etc. are never used in front of nouns and are stressed in speech. They refer equally to persons and things, singular or plural. Its is never used as a pronoun.

These are my children These children are mine

These are my things These things are mine

I can't find my pen Can you lend me yours?

Possessive pronouns can come at the beginning of a sentence: This is my cup Yours is the one that's chipped My father/My mother is a lawyer - Mine is a doctor

For 's/s' possession without a noun [> 2.44, 2.51].

Noun + of it can sometimes be used in place of its + noun [compare > 2.50]:

How much is that book? I've forgotten the price of it/its price For the use of of + possessive pronoun [> 2.52].

4.22 The use of 'my own'

Extra emphasis can be given to the idea of possession by the addition of own to all possessive adjectives (not pronouns). The resulting combinations can function as possessive adjectives (my own room) or possessive pronouns (it is my own). Instead of (my) own + noun we often use a/an + noun of (my) own-. I'd love to have my own room/a room of my own Our cat has its own corner/a corner of its own in this room Further emphasis can be given with very-I'd love to have my very own room/a room of my very own

4 Pronouns

We can say one's own room or a room of one's own, but we do not

use one as a prop word [> 4.10] after (my) own:

Don't use my comb Use your own (Not *your own one*)