Grammar: A2 - ✨ Grammar Essentials: 🧩 Parts of Speech - Expanding - Lesson 7: Possessive Pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs) vs. Possessive Adjectives

Grammar: Possessives

B1 Lesson 18: Pronouns vs. Adjectives

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will understand the difference between possessive adjectives (my, your) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours) and learn how to use them correctly to avoid repetition.

The Two Types of Possessives

To show ownership in English, we have two related types of words: possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns. Understanding the difference will make your speaking and writing sound much more natural.

1. Possessive Adjectives

These words come before a noun. They describe the noun.

Rule: adjective + noun

Example: That is my book.

2. Possessive Pronouns

These words replace the noun. They stand alone.

Rule: pronoun (no noun after)

Example: That book is mine.

The Grammar Rule 📖

Comparison Table

Possessive Adjective (+ Noun)	Possessive Pronoun (Stands Alone)
This is my book.	This book is mine.
Is that your moto?	Is that moto yours?
That is his farm.	That farm is his.
I like her dress.	That dress is hers.
This is our house.	This house is ours.
That is their boat.	That boat is theirs.

Note: 'His' is the same in both columns. 'It' does not have a possessive pronoun form (we would say "its color," but not "the color is its").

Answering "Whose...?"

Possessive pronouns are the perfect way to answer questions about ownership that start with "Whose...?"

Srey: Whose keys are these on the table?

Piseth: They're mine. Thank you!

Srey: And is this black hat yours too?

Piseth: No, it isn't mine. I think it's his. (pointing to another man)

Practice Your Grammar 🎯

Exercise: Choose the Correct Possessive

Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

1. Is this (your / yours) phone? No, (my / mine) is in my pocket.
2. That isn't our car. (Our / Ours) is the white one.
3. He forgot (his / hers) wallet, so I let him borrow (my / mine).
4. (My / Mine) house is old, but (her / hers) is new.
5. The blue bags are (their / theirs).

Your Grammar Mission ⭐

Rewrite to Sound More Natural

Rewrite the sentences below to avoid repetition. Use a possessive pronoun.

Example: That is my moto, not your moto. → That is my moto, not yours.

1. This is her bag. Where is my bag?
   → This is her bag. Where is mine?
2. Our coffee is hot, but their coffee is cold.
   → Our coffee is hot, but theirs is cold.
3. His ideas are good, and her ideas are also good.
   → His ideas are good, and hers are also good.

Key Vocabulary

• Possessive Adjective (Noun) | គុណនាមកម្មសិទ្ធិ
  A word before a noun that shows ownership (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).
• Possessive Pronoun (Noun) | កម្មសិទ្ធិសព្វនាម
  A word that replaces a noun to show ownership (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs).
• Avoid Repetition (Verb Phrase) | ជៀសវាងការនិយាយដដែលៗ
  To not say the same word or phrase again and again.