Grammar / Possessive Adjectives
Possessive Adjectives: Explanation, Examples & Exercises
Possessive adjectives — my, your, his, her, its, our, their — come before a noun and show who something belongs to or who it is connected to: my phone, her job, their apartment. They never change form, and his or her matches the owner, not the thing that is owned.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 6 Aug 2026
Form
The seven possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. They always come before a noun: my phone, our street, their plans.
They never change form. The noun can be singular or plural, but the possessive adjective stays the same: our book, our books.
Its (belonging to it) has no apostrophe. It's always means it is or it has.
Their (belonging to them) sounds like they're (they are) and there (a place) — three different words.
How it is used
Use a possessive adjective to say who something belongs to or who it is connected to: family, belongings, workplaces, ideas — My sister lives in Rome. Their office moved last year.
His and her match the owner, not the thing owned: Maria loves her job. Carlos calls his mother every day.
English usually uses a possessive adjective with body parts and clothes, where many languages use 'the': She broke her arm. He took off his shoes.
Common errors
✗Maria talked to his brother about the plan.
✓Maria talked to her brother about the plan.
His/her matches the owner (Maria), not the person who is owned or mentioned.
✗It's color is red.
✓Its color is red.
Its (no apostrophe) shows possession; it's means it is.
✗Theirs car is new.
✓Their car is new.
Before a noun use their. Theirs stands alone: The car is theirs.
✗I washed the hands before dinner.
✓I washed my hands before dinner.
English uses a possessive adjective with body parts, not 'the'.
Example sentences
People and family
- My brother works in a hotel.
- Her parents live in Osaka.
- Our teacher speaks three languages.
Things and places
- The company changed its logo last year.
- Their apartment is near the station.
- Your coffee is getting cold.
Body and clothes
- He put on his jacket and left.
- She hurt her knee at the gym.
- I forgot my glasses at home.
Exercise 1 — Fill the gaps
Complete each sentence, then tap to check your answer.
1.Anna visits · grandmother every Sunday.(Anna = she)
2.We sold · old car last month.(we)
3.The dog is sleeping in · bed.(the dog's own bed)
4.Tom and Lisa painted · kitchen.(Tom and Lisa = they)
5.I can't find · phone anywhere.(I)
6.Mr Silva, is this · umbrella?(you)
7.David rides · bike to work.(David = he)
Exercise 2 — Choose the correct form
Tap an option to check it immediately.
1.Marta called ____ father last night.
2.The cat drank ____ milk.
3.We love ____ new neighborhood.
4.The students opened ____ books.
5.He broke ____ leg playing football.
Printable worksheet
Possessive Adjectives worksheet (PDF)
The exercises above as a print-ready page with an answer key — preview, then print or save as PDF.