Pronouns

4.17 'So', not 'it' with certain verbs [compare > 1.23.5]
After verbs such as believe, expect, fear, guess (especially AmE- /
guess so), hope, imagine, presume, say, suppose, tell someone 'think
(also after I'm afraid and It seems/appears), it is usual to follow with
so (never ,t) in affirmative responses, so that we do not repeat a whole
clause:

Is it true that Geoff has had a heart attack?

- / am afraid so/I believe so/ I think so It seems so

In negative responses, not can be used directly after be afraid believe, expect, fear guess (especially AmE: / guess not) hope imagine, presume, suppose, think (and It seems/appears)-Has Anne got into university?

- I am afraid not/I believe not/I think not It seems not

Alternative responses using not so are possible with believe expect

imagine, say, suppose and think _:

I don't believe so/ imagine so/ suppose so/ think so

So can also precede the subject in short responses­ - with verbs like believe, gather, hear, notice, see understand The stock market share-index has risen sharply

- So I beheve/gather/hear/notice/see/understand

- with verbs like say, tell, seem, appear So you said So he told me So it seems So it appears

- before or after (I) should/would + verbs like expect, hope say think (implying 'this is what ought to happen')- So I should (or would) hope I Or: / should (or would)hope so'

So' or 'it' after certain verbs

So and it are normally interchangeable after do, when do substitutes for another verb which has already been used and when it reflects an action that has been deliberately performed- Please lay the table - I ve just done so / l've just done it

After verbs like guess, know, remember, it can be used or omitted- Jack and Jill were secretly married - Yes, I know I had guessed (= I know it. I had guessed it.)

Possessive adjectives/possessive pronouns

4.19 Form of possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns
adjectives my your his her its one's our your their
pronouns mine yours his hers - - ours yours theirs

Notes on form (possessive adjectives/pronouns)

1 With the exception of one’s, the apostrophe s ('s) is unacceptable with possessive adjectives and pronouns. We should not confuse its (possessive) with it's = it is [> 10.6] or it has [> 10.29]

Possessive adjectives/pronouns

2 There are no familiar/non-familiar forms for the second person singular and plural [> 4.4n.2]: your and yours are used in all cases.

3 One's can be used as an impersonal possessive adjective, but not as a pronoun: One's first duty is to one's family [> 4. 9]