GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

20 POSSESSIVES AND DEMONSTRATIVES PAGE
b
We leave out the noun if it is clear from the context what we mean. When we do
this, we use a pronoun. We say mine instead of my diary.
I'll just look in my diary. ~ I haven't got mine with me.
NOT I haven't got my. and NOT I haven't got the mine.
That isn't Harriet's coat. Hers is blue.
Whose is this pen? ~ Yours, isn't it?
A possessive pronoun is often a complement.
Is this diary yours? NOT IS this diary to you?
NOTE
a We can use the possessive form of a noun on its own.
That isn't my diary - it's Luke's.
But we do not use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. NOT your's
b We can use yours at the end of a letter, e.g. Yours sincerely/faithfully.
3 Form
Determiners
Pronouns
Singular Plural Singular Plural
First person my pen our house mine ours
Second person your number your coats yours yours
Third person his father their attitude his theirs
her decision
hers
its colour
NOTE
a His is male; her is female; and their is plural.
Luke's father his father; Emma's father her father;
Luke and Emma's father their father
For the use of he/his, she/her and it/its for males, females and things, • 184 (3b).
b His can be either a determiner or a pronoun.
Has Rory got his ticket?
I've got my ticket. Has Rory got his?
c Its is a determiner but not a pronoun.
The lion sometimes eats its young. Does the tiger (eat its young), I wonder?
NOT Does the tiger eats its?
d Its is possessive, but it's is a short form of it is or it has.
4 Possessives with parts of the body
We normally use a possessive with people's heads, arms, legs etc, and their
clothes, even if it is clear whose we mean.
What's the matter? ~ I've hurt my back, NOT I've hurt the back.
Both climbers broke their legs.
Brian just stood there with his hands in his pockets.
NOTE
We can use the in this pattern where we have just mentioned the person.
Verb Person Prepositional phrase
The stone hit the policeman on the/his shoulder.
Someone pushed me in the back.
Nigel took Jemima by the arm.
Compare this sentence.
Nigel looked at Jemima and put his hand on her arm.