skip navigation
 
Dog Beach
Carmel Beach, California "dog heaven"

Possessive Pronouns

Indicating Ownership

 

 

 

 

 

Dog Blog

 Carmel by the Sea  is a dog's dream.  On its beautiful, white, sandy, mile-long beach, dogs can run to their heart's content. Carmel Beach on the Central Coast of California is one of the few pet-friendly beaches that allows dogs to run free.

heart's content – complete inner satisfaction

 

 

No leash is required.  Dogs freely socialize with other dogs or play fetch with their buddies in the surf .  Pet owners from miles around come for long, dog-tiring walks on this beach.

leashleash (n.) – a long leather or fabric tie that attaches to a dog's collar.
play fetch – follow and bring back the ball

 

 


 

Pronouns
SUBJECT PRONOUN POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE SUBJECT PRONOUN

Use a subject pronoun with have in a simple statement of possession or ownership.

Use a possessive pronoun to express possession or ownership.

Use a posessive subject pronoun to shorten a pronoun phrase when the item of possession has already been mentioned.

We have a dog

Our dog is very clever.

Ours is very clever.   (our dog)

Lea has a chihuahua.

Her chihuahua is tiny.

Hers is tiny.  (her chihuahua)

Sammy has a golden retriever.

His golden retriever is hunting ducks.

His is hunting ducks.  (his golden retriever)

My sisters are raising a poodle.

Their poodle is doing calculus.

Theirs is doing calculus.  (their poodle)

I have a dachshund.

My dachshund is always eating.

Mine is always eating. (my dachshund)

The dog has a bed.

Its/her/his bed is over there.

Its/Hers/His is over there. (its bed)

More Info - Pronouns

 

 

Pronoun Summary
SUBJECT PRONOUN OBJECT PRONOUN POSSESSIVE PRONOUN POSSESSIVE NOUN

Singular

I
you
she, he, it

Plural

we
you
they

Singular

me
you
her, him, it

Plural

us
you
them

Singular

my
your
her, his, its
 

Plural

our
your
their
   

Singular

mine
yours
hers, his, its
   

Plural

ours
yours
theirs
 

 

 

 

 

Pronouns

Making Generalizations

 

 

One, You & They
SUBJECT PRONOUN POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE SUBJECT PRONOUN

ONE

 

 

One is often used in general statements when we are talking about anyone, at any time. One includes the speaker.  Its use is more formal than you.

One  should exercise one's dog.
In ancient times, one believed in dog-spirits.
(Use people. This is in a time before the speaker's.)
 

One's dog should get plenty of exercise.

One's should get plenty of exercise.   Not used

YOU

 

 

You is often used in general statements when we are talking about anyone, at any time. One includes the listener. Its use is informal.

You should exercise your dog.
In ancient times, you believed in dog-spirits.
(Use people.This is in a time before the speaker or listener.)
 

Your dog should get plenty of exercise.

Yours should get plenty of exercise.  This pronoun becomes specific and is not understood as a generalization.

THEY

 

 

They is used to make general statements about somewhere else. It refers to a vague group in another place, neighborhood (others), or to the authorities in charge.

They don't like dogs there.
They say it will rain tomorrow. (expression)
They are raising taxes.
In ancient times, they believed in dog-spirits.
 

Their dislike of dogs is unusual.
Their prediction is rain.
Their tax-hike is unacceptable.  (hike - rise)

Theirs is unusual.  (Requires context to understand.)
Theirs is a rain.  Mine is "clear skies".
Theirs is unacceptable.

 

 

 

 

 

Double Pronouns

Ali and I
Ali and Chris on "the Bachelor"
I, Me or My?

 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERROR ERROR - OBJECT PRONOUN IN SUBJECT POSITION

Use I in the subject position. Mention I last (as a courtesy to others mentioned.)  

Don't use me in the subject position. (This is a common native-English speaker error.)

Me and Ali's relationship is getting stronger. me used as a subject?

Me ==> My relationship is getting stronger.
Ali's and my relationship is getting stronger.

Ali and I's relationship is getting stronger.  I's used as a possessive pronoun?

I's ==> My relationship is getting stronger.
Ali's and my relationship is getting stronger.

Ali and my relationship is getting stronger.  Is she part of the relationship too?

Ali ==> Ali's relationship is getting stronger.
Ali's and my relationship is getting stronger.
My relationship with Ali is getting stronger.  

The relationship of Ali and I is getting stronger.  I used as the object of a prepositional phrase?

I ==> me The relationship of Ali and me is getting stronger.
Ali's and my relationship is getting stronger.
 

Related page: Pronouns    

 

 

 

 

 

Possessive Pronoun Agreement

Indefinite & Possessive
Naughty Dog
Dog owner scolding a barking dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possessive Pronoun Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
 
INDEFINTE PRONOUN SINGULAR PRONOUN QUANTITY EXPRESSION PLURAL PRONOUN

The singular indefinite pronoun agrees with the personal pronoun (when referring to itself.)

The closest noun in the quantifier phrase agrees with the personal pronoun (when referring to itself.) 

Every dog owner

has his dog leash.

All of   the owners

bring water for their (own) dogs.

Each dog

has his collar on.

Some of us

bring our lunches with us.

One dog

lost her collar.

Half of you

let your dogs bark.

Each dog

wore his identification tags.

Ten percent the owners

play ball with their dogs.

*None

comes without its/her/his owner.

None of the owners

leave their trash on the beach.

*Everyone

has his/her clean-up bag ready.

A number of owners

surf with their dogs.

mover over   left mover over     left

* Informal English uses a plural pronoun - their
   Related pages: Pronoun agreement with quantifier phrasesIndef pronoun referring to others

 

 

 

Tesla

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERROR FIX

The attraction of this car is it's sexy, sports-car design.    Pop-q 1/4/2009

The attraction of this car is its sexy, sports-car design.
(This is a possessive pronoun, not a contraction for it + is or it + has which would be it's).

With it's $110,000 price tag, the Tesla drives like a high-performance sport car.

With Tesla's $110,000 price tag, it drives like ...
The noun "Tesla" must be used first, then the pronoun can refer it.

See Pronoun Placement (antecedents) 

 

 

 

 

 

dogPractice 1

Indicating ownership or possession

 

Pet Owners
  1. Select your response from each menu.
  2. Then, check your answer.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK YOUR ANSWER
1. labrador retriever – a type of dog 
2.  
3.  
4.
5.
6.  
7.
8.
9. is the smartest cat I have ever seen.  
10.  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

keyboardPractice2

Pronoun Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Quantity Phrases

 

 

Computer Users
  1. Select the option that is more commonly used in standard / formal English.
  2. Then, check your answers

 

# SENTENCE YOUR RESPONSE
1 1.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.  
26.  
27.  
28.  
29.  
30.