Possessive pronouns are the pronouns that express ownership, belonging, or another possessive relationship without repeating a noun phrase. The six common independent possessive pronouns in English are mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs.
For example:
The review panel accepted her proposal, but mine still needs revisions.
Her is a possessive determiner used before proposal. Mine is a possessive pronoun meaning my proposal.
Possessive pronouns can refer to someone’s work, responsibility, decisions, or belongings. Their exact meaning depends on the context.
Possessive Pronouns List
Possessive pronouns are related to personal pronouns and possessive determiners, but their grammatical functions differ.
| Personal pronoun | Possessive determiner | Possessive pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| I | my | mine |
| you | your | yours |
| he | his | his |
| she | her | hers |
| it | its | No usual independent form |
| we | our | ours |
| they | their | theirs |
His has the same spelling when used as a possessive determiner or an independent possessive pronoun.
His application was accepted.
The accepted application was his.
Its normally functions as a possessive determiner. English does not ordinarily use bare its as an independent possessive pronoun.
Theirs can refer to something associated with several people or with one person who uses singular they.
Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Determiners
A possessive determiner comes before a noun within a noun phrase. An independent possessive pronoun can stand without repeating that noun phrase.
Compare:
Her proposal was accepted.
Hers was accepted.
The accepted proposal was hers.
The possessive relationship remains the same, but the grammatical structure changes.
In the first sentence, her is a possessive determiner used with proposal.
In the second, hers means her proposal and functions as the subject.
In the third, hers follows the linking verb was and identifies whose proposal was accepted.
Can You Use Mine or Yours Before a Noun?
Independent possessive pronouns do not normally introduce nouns.
Incorrect:
The committee approved mine suggestion.
Correct:
The committee approved my suggestion.
Correct:
The committee approved mine.
In the final example, mine refers to my suggestion, assuming the reader already knows what is being discussed.
Traditional school grammar often calls my, your, his, her, its, our, and their possessive adjectives. Modern grammar generally calls them possessive determiners.
The terminology differs, but the practical distinction remains: my suggestion uses a determiner, while mine stands independently.
How Possessive Pronouns Work in Sentences
A possessive pronoun can perform different grammatical functions without changing its form.
It can be the subject of a clause:
Your manuscript has reached the editor. Mine is still being revised.
Mine is the subject of is still being revised.
A possessive pronoun can also follow a linking verb:
The final decision was hers.
Hers identifies the person responsible for the decision.
It can also function as an object:
The reviewers compared the revised calculations with yours.
Yours is the object of the preposition with. It refers to the calculations associated with the person being addressed.
The pronoun’s grammatical function depends on its place in the sentence, while the possessive relationship depends on what the speaker means.
Singular and Plural Reference with Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns do not change form according to the number of things they refer to.
Compare:
My report is complete, but theirs is unfinished.
My reports are complete, but theirs are unfinished.
Theirs appears in both sentences.
In the first, it refers to one report, so the verb is is.
In the second, it refers to several reports, so the verb is are.
The possessive pronoun stays the same. The verb agrees with the singular or plural noun phrase understood from context.
It helps to distinguish the person or group associated with something from the thing being discussed.
For example:
Avery has submitted their manuscript. Mine is due tomorrow, but theirs is already being reviewed.
If Avery uses singular they, theirs refers to Avery’s manuscript.
The -s ending in theirs does not necessarily mean that several people or several manuscripts are involved.
Special Possessive Forms and Spelling
Some possessive forms need extra attention because their spelling or use differs from the common patterns.
Why Is There No Independent Possessive Pronoun for It?
Its normally appears before a noun.
The company revised its safety procedures.
Unlike mine, hers, or ours, bare its is not ordinarily used as an independent possessive pronoun.
English may instead use an expression such as:
The organization has a training program of its own.
The expression of its own is natural, but it does not mean that bare its is regularly used like mine or hers.
Its vs. It’s
Its is possessive.
The museum has extended its opening hours.
It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
It’s been closed for renovations since June.
Here, it’s means it has.
When expressing possession, use its without an apostrophe.
Whose vs. Who’s
Whose expresses a possessive relationship.
It can stand independently as an interrogative pronoun:
Whose are these sketches?
It can also function as a determiner:
Whose sketches were selected for the exhibition?
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has.
Who’s responsible for preparing the exhibition?
Here, who’s means who is.
Unlike the six common independent possessive pronouns, whose also has interrogative and relative uses. Some grammar references include it in broader possessive-pronoun lists.
Do Possessive Pronouns Take Apostrophes?
The common independent possessive pronouns do not take apostrophes.
Incorrect:
The final recommendation was her’s.
Correct:
The final recommendation was hers.
Incorrect:
Those research notes are our’s.
Correct:
Those research notes are ours.
Possessive nouns follow different spelling rules.
Compare:
The accountant’s report was approved.
His was returned for further review.
Accountant’s is a possessive noun form. His is an independent possessive pronoun.
A Friend of Mine and Similar Expressions
Possessive pronouns also appear in expressions such as a friend of mine, a colleague of hers, and a neighbor of ours.
A former colleague of mine recommended the accounting software.
This means the person is one of the speaker’s former colleagues.
A neighbor of ours reported the damaged streetlight.
The person is a neighbor associated with the speaker’s household or group.
We use a possessive pronoun rather than a personal object pronoun in this construction.
Incorrect:
A former colleague of me recommended the software.
Correct:
A former colleague of mine recommended the software.
A Photograph of Me vs. A Photograph of Mine
These expressions can have different meanings.
The magazine published a photograph of me.
This normally means the photograph shows the speaker.
The magazine published a photograph of mine.
This identifies a photograph belonging to or otherwise associated with the speaker, perhaps one the speaker took. It does not necessarily show the speaker.
The difference comes from the relationship expressed by of and the pronoun that follows it.
How to Identify Possessive Pronouns in Context
To understand a possessive pronoun, identify who it refers to and what noun phrase is understood but not repeated.
Consider:
Two architecture teams submitted proposals for a new library entrance. Our proposal includes a ramp, while theirs includes a lift. Their drawings are complete, but ours are still being revised.
The possessive forms refer to two different teams, but they do not always represent the same type or number of things.
| Expression | Function | What it refers to |
|---|---|---|
| Our proposal | Possessive determiner | The proposal from the speaker’s team |
| theirs includes a lift | Possessive pronoun | The other team’s proposal |
| Their drawings | Possessive determiner | The drawings from the other team |
| ours are still being revised | Possessive pronoun | The speaker’s team’s drawings |
Notice that theirs refers to one proposal, while ours refers to several drawings.
That explains the different verb forms:
Theirs includes a lift.
Ours are still being revised.
The pronouns themselves do not change. The surrounding context tells us which noun phrases they represent.
When the Reference Is Unclear
Now consider:
Nadia and Isha both submitted designs. Nadia told Isha that hers had been selected.
Hers could refer to Nadia’s design or Isha’s design. The sentence does not make the intended meaning clear.
If Isha’s design was selected, Nadia could say:
Your design was selected. Mine needs further changes.
This removes the ambiguity.
A possessive pronoun is useful when its reference is clear. When two possible people or things could be meant, repeating a name or noun may be the better choice.
Check Your Understanding
Choose the correct possessive forms or explain their meaning.
1. Choose the correct form.
The planning committee approved her proposal, but (my / mine) still needs revision.
2. Choose the correct possessive pronoun.
The final recommendation was (his / him).
3. Choose the correct form.
The sketches from our team are complete. Are (your / yours) ready?
4. Complete the expression.
A former colleague of (her / hers) reviewed the manuscript.
5. Choose the correct verb and explain why.
My summary is ready, but theirs (is / are) still being edited.
6. Identify what the possessive pronoun refers to.
Elena submitted three illustrations. Her manager approved two, but the third was replaced with one of hers.
What does hers mean in this sentence?
Answers
1. Mine
Mine stands independently and means my proposal. My would require a following noun.
2. His
His is the independent possessive pronoun. Him is a personal object pronoun and does not express possession in this construction.
3. Yours
Yours refers to the sketches associated with the person being addressed. Your would require a following noun.
4. Hers
The correct expression is a former colleague of hers. This construction uses an independent possessive pronoun.
5. Is
Theirs refers to one summary, so the singular verb is is appropriate. The possessive pronoun does not change form.
6. One of Elena’s illustrations
Hers refers to an illustration associated with Elena. The phrase one of hers identifies an illustration from the group associated with her. The sentence does not specify which illustration was used as the replacement.
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