Expressing Possession

1. Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners are words that indicate ownership and are placed before nouns.

Key Features:

• Always modify a noun.
• Change according to the owner (singular/plural, gender).

Subject Pronouns and Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners match personal (subject) pronouns but are used before a noun to indicate possession. For example:

How to Use Possessive Determiners:

Step 1: Identify the owner (who possesses the item).
Step 2: Choose the correct determiner (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).
Step 3: Add the noun being possessed.

Examples:

1. My cat: This is my cat.
2. Your rabbit: That is your rabbit.
3. His wife: This is his wife.
4. Her sister: That is her sister.
5. Its ball: This is its ball.
6. Our horse: This is our horse.
7. Their son: That is their son.

2. Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns replace entire noun phrases to indicate ownership and stand alone (they are not followed by a noun).

Key Features:

• They replace a noun phrase already mentioned (e.g., “This book is mine, not yours.”).
• They never directly modify a noun (avoid phrases like “mine book”).

Subject Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns

How to Use Possessive Pronouns:

1. Replace a Noun: Use a possessive pronoun instead of repeating the noun.
   Example: “This degree is mine, not yours.”
2. Stand Alone: Possessive pronouns are never followed by a noun.
   Example: “That is hers,” not “That is her book.”
3. Avoid Redundancy: Do not use a possessive pronoun with a noun that is already possessed.
   Incorrect: “This is mine notebook.” Correct: “This notebook is mine.”
4. Avoid Repetition: Use possessive pronouns to prevent repeating a noun.
   Example: “This book is mine, and that one is yours.”

Examples:

1. This house is mine.
2. That phone is yours.
3. The hat is his.
4. The bag is hers.
5. This ball is its.
6. These books are ours.
7. The car is theirs.

3. Apostrophe with “S”

An apostrophe with “s” (‘s) is used to show possession for both singular and plural nouns.

Rules for Apostrophes

Singular Nouns: Add ‘s to show possession.

Examples:

1. The dog’s leash is on the table.
2. The teacher’s lesson was very informative.
3. The car’s engine needs repair.
4. The family’s photo album is on the shelf.
5. The artist’s brush is missing.
6. The book’s cover is torn.
7. The student’s grades are excellent.
8. The chef’s special is delicious.
9. The tree’s leaves are turning yellow.
10. The house’s roof was recently painted.

Plural Nouns:

For plural nouns that already end in s, add only an apostrophe (‘). For plural nouns that do not end in s, add ‘s.

Examples:

1. The dogs’ toys are in the basket.
2. The teachers’ lounge is closed.
3. The families’ gathering was enjoyable.
4. The books’ pages are worn out.
5. The trees’ roots are deep.
6. The beds’ sheets were changed.

4. The Verb “Have” and “Have Got”

The verb “have” is commonly used to indicate possession, relationships, and more.

Key Forms of “Have”

Examples with “Have”:

1. I have a computer.
2. You have a phone.
3. He has a car.
4. She has a book.
5. It has a new ball.
6. We have tickets for the concert.
7. They have backpacks.

“Have Got” (British English)

“Have got” is an alternative to “have” and is common in British English.

Examples with “Have Got”:

1. I have got a comfortable bed.
2. You have got a guitar.
3. He has got a hat.
4. She has got a pile of books.
5. It has got a soft blanket.
6. We have got tickets for the show.
7. They have got new backpacks.