oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

174 Possessives
5 A friend of mine
a
My friend refers to a definite person, the person I am friends with. To talk about a
person I am friends with, we say one of my friends or a friend of mine.
Definite
Indefinite
Singular my friend one of my friends/a friend of mine
Plural my friends some of my friends/some friends of mine
Here are some examples of the indefinite pattern.
The twins are visiting an uncle of theirs.
NOT a their uncle and NOT an uncle of them
Don't listen to what Graham is saying. It's just a silly idea of his.
Didn't you borrow some cassettes of mine?
b
We can also use the possessive form of names and other nouns.
I'm reading a novel of Steinbeck's.
NOT a novel of Steinbeck and NOT a Steinbeck's novel
We met a cousin of Nicola's.
It's just a silly idea of my brother's.
6 Own
a
A possessive determiner + own means an exclusive relation.
I'd love to have my own flat.
Students are expected to contribute their own ideas.
My own means 'belonging to me and not to anyone else.'
We can use a phrase like my own without a noun.
The ideas should be your own. (= your own ideas)
NOTE
Own can mean that the action is exclusive to the subject.
You'll have to make your own bed. No one else is going to make it for you.
b
There is also a pattern with of.
I'd love a flat of my own. NOT an own flat
NOTE
Compare the two patterns.
a dog of our own (= a dog belonging only to us)
a dog of ours (= one of our dogs) • (5)
c On your own and by yourself mean 'alone'.
I don't want to walk home on my own/by myself.
7 Idioms
There are also some idiomatic expressions with Possessives.
I'll do my best. (= I'll do as well as I can.)
We took our leave. (= We said goodbye.)
It was your fault we got lost. (= You are to blame.)
I've changed my mind. (= I've changed the decision I made.)