Uses of possessive pronouns

You will probably have noticed that the possessive pronouns have two forms - my, mine, your, yours etc.

The forms my, our, your, his, her and their are actually possessive adjectives, not pronouns. They are used before a noun.

My car has come.
This is my book.
It is their fault.
That is your coat.

The forms mine, ours, hers, theirs, yours are generally used after a noun.

That book is mine.
The fault is theirs.
That coat is yours.

Possessive pronouns mine, ours, hers, theirs and yours can be used as the subject of a sentence. Note that possessive adjectives cannot be used like this. To be used as part of the subject, a possessive adjective has to be followed by a noun. Possessive pronouns, on the other hand, can stand alone.

My house is small. Theirs is big.
Your hair is black. Mine has turned grey.
His cap is blue. Yours is red.

A possessive pronoun can be used as the object of a verb.

He lost his pen; so I lent him mine.

A possessive pronoun can be used as the object of a preposition.

I prefer your company to theirs.
We have received no application except yours.

Uses of possessive pronouns

See also