Possessive and Absolute Pronouns in English

Possessive and Absolute Pronouns in EnglishA teacher shows the difference between possessive and absolute pronouns.

Comparative Table

As seen from the table, most absolute pronouns add –s except for possessive pronouns already with this ending.

Personal Pronouns

Possessive Pronouns

Absolute Pronouns

I my mine
he his his
she her hers
it its  
we our ours
you your yours
they their theirs

Possessive Pronouns/Adjectives

Possessive pronouns come from corresponding personal pronouns and stand before nouns. Some grammarians call them possessive adjectives for their attributive function. Structurally they’re a group of adjectival pronouns.

my book

our company

your car

his house

her friend

its sense

their story

This is my pen.

Absolute/Predicative Pronouns

They’re used by themselves as predicative forms (after link verbs) of corresponding possessive pronouns. Structurally they’re a group of nominal pronouns. Absolute pronouns emphasize possessors and are used quite seldom. Its has no absolute form because absolute pronouns denote only animate possession.

This pen is mine.

This is mine.

This money is yours.

This car is hers.

This computer is his.

This house is theirs.

This classroom is ours.