Possessive and Absolute Pronouns in English
A 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.