Possessive Determiners - Meaning and How to Use with Examples

Possessive determiners – are they the same as possessive pronouns? Find out what they are and how they are used to perform the role of a determiner in a sentence in this article. Furthermore, go through the examples of possessive determiners given in the article and also work out the practice exercise to check how far you have understood the usage of possessive determiners.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Possessive Determiner?
• Examples of Possessive Determiners – Learn How They Are Used
• Check Your Understanding of Possessive Determiners
• Frequently Asked Questions on Possessive Determiners in English

What Is a Possessive Determiner?

A possessive determiner is a pronoun that is used to express possession or belongingness. It helps the reader know who or what owns the noun that it determines. Possessive determiners include pronouns such as ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘our’, ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘their’ and ‘its’.

Examples of Possessive Determiners – Learn How They Are Used

Now, go through the following examples to understand how they work when used in sentences.

• Firoz forgot his badge at home.
• Lea said that her parents would be home by six in the morning.
• My dog was acting strangely when I was leaving to work.
• We have all informed our parents about the school trip.
• Navya picked up her sister from school on the way home.
• The dog kept wagging its tail on seeing my brother.
• Our friends have reached the hotel.
• We had bought a car recently and its mileage is really good.
• Your dad is a doctor, right?
• Rahul and his friends are playing cricket.

Check Your Understanding of Possessive Determiners

Read through the following exercises and fill in the blanks with appropriate possessive determiners.

1. Shreya invited _______ friends over for a sleepover.

2. We got _______ results yesterday evening.

3. There is no way he is going to finish _______ project in time.

4. Shaun said that _______ mother was a science teacher.

5. I got _______ test results today.

6. The monkey grabbed _______ baby as soon as tourists gathered in the area.

7. Claire, Morgan and Lim have finished _______ homework.

8. You should help _______ parents.

9. Dr. Rohan takes good care of all _______ patients.

10. Noorin made _______ parents proud.

Here are the answers for the exercise. Check them to find out if you have used the right possessive determiners.

1. Shreya invited her friends over for a sleepover.

2. We got our results yesterday evening.

3. There is no way he is going to finish his project in time.

4. Shaun said that his mother was a science teacher.

5. I got my test results today.

6. The monkey grabbed its baby as soon as tourists gathered in the area.

7. Claire, Morgan and Lim have finished their homework.

8. You should help your parents.

9. Dr. Rohan takes good care of all his patients.

10. Noorin made her parents proud.