Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997

71 Possessive adjectives and pronouns: My, mine, etc. Whose? My own

Quick reference

• Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, etc.) have the same form before a singular or a plural noun. I’vе lost my passport/ту keys.

• We use the possessive adjective its when the possessor is an animal or a thing. Don’t confuse this with it's (= it is or it has).

That horse can't run very fast. There’s something wrong with its back legs.

Someone has stolen my car, but I can’t remember its registration number.

• Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, etc.) are used on their own, without a noun.

This steak is good. What’s yours like? (= your steak)

Her eyes are blue. Mine are brown. (= my eyes)

• We use the question word Whose to ask who something belongs to.

Whose is this jacket? or Whose jacket is this? Whose shoes are these?

We use a possessive adjective + own:

• when we say that something belongs completely to someone.

She’s got her own car. It’s your own fault.

• when we say we did something ourselves, without any help.

It’s all my own work. He made his own breakfast.

• Note the expression on my own, on her own, on their own, etc.

He lives on his own. (= by himself, alone) They wanted to be on their own.

1 Choose the correct alternative.

’What were (1) your/yours ... exam results like?’

’Not bad. What were (2) your/yours ... like?’

’(3) My/mine ... were terrible, I’ve got to take two of them again. Do you know if Rachel passed all (4) her/hers ...?’

’Yes, I think so. And Richard and Jamie passed (5) their/theirs ... as well.’

’Oh well, think of me. I’ve got to spend (6) my/mine ... summer holidays revising while you all spend (7) your/yours ... on the beach!’

2 Complete these sentences with possessive adjectives (my, your, etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, etc.).

At the end of the summer course there was a big party at the language school. We gave (1) ... teachers presents. I gave Juan (2) ... telephone number and he gave me (3) ... The Italian boy, Marco, gave Steffi (4) ... fax number and she gave him (5) ... The two Swedish sisters, Ellen and Anna, gave everybody (6) ... address and we all gave them (7) ...

3 Complete these sentences with it’s or its.

(1) ... a very old car. (2) ... got a lot of things wrong with it. One of (3) ... wheels is missing and (4) ... windscreen is broken. (5) ... got something seriously wrong with (6) ... engine - (7) ... not working and the owner admits (8) ... not been working properly for a long time. (9) ... seats are worn out and (10) ... tyres need replacing. In fact the only reason I’m interested in buying it is (11) ... price - (12) ... only S150.

4 Some people are clearing up after a party. Rewrite these sentences, using the question word Whose and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, hers, etc.).

Example: Who do these tapes belong to? Whose are these tapes ? or Whose tapes are these? Do they belong to you, Lucy? Are they yours, Lucy?

’Who does this jacket belong to? (1) ...

Does it belong to you, Justin?’ (2) ...

’No, it doesn’t belong to me.’ (3) ...

’Who do these CDs belong to? (4) ...

Do they belong to Jessica?’

’No, they don’t belong to her. (5) ...

But I think Nick likes that band so they probably belong to him.’ (6) ...

5 Complete this paragraph, using my own, his own, etc.

My cousins live on a very isolated farm in Wales. The house is very big so when I visit them I’ve got (1) ... room. It’s miles from anywhere so they have to produce (2) ... electricity with a generator. The house has also got (3) ... well. They grow a lot of (4) ... food and my cousin Matthew has got (5) ... shotgun so he shoots a lot of rabbits and pigeons, which they also eat. My cousin Lauren makes all (6) ... clothes. In fact they could be completely self-sufficient if they could produce (7) ... diesel oil.

6 Compare yourself with different members of your family or friends. Use the following as much as possible: my - mine, your-yours, his - his, her - hers, our - ours, their - theirs, my own, his own, on my own, on his own, etc.

Examples: My eyes are blue but my sister's aren't. Hers are brown.

Check your answers with a teacher.