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Absolute Possessive
Phonetics:
æb səˌlut
pəˈzɛs ɪv
Pronunciation:
Absolute Possessive Pronouns
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & Rules
What is an absolute possessive pronoun?
An absolute possessive pronoun is a type of pronoun that replaces the noun and indicates the ownership or possession of a noun. It is used to indicate something that belongs to a specific person or thing. Examples of absolute pronouns are – mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs. We use these pronouns to replace a noun and show who the noun belongs to.
So, what is an absolute possessive pronoun? Because they are independent and do not modify (or supplant) nouns, absolute possessive pronouns are given this name. The majority of pronouns need to be preceded by a noun (antecedent). Absolute possessive pronouns, however, do not need an antecedent.
An absolute possessive pronoun ( mine, yours, his, hers, ours, and theirs) is used to differentiate with possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, its, our, and their). Absolute possessive pronouns are used without apostrophes. The pronoun also shows the singular or plural form and first person, second person, or third person.
Do you know why absolute possessive pronouns are important? Absolute possessive pronouns are important because they help us to indicate ownership, avoid confusion, and avoid repetition in sentences.
Explain why it is important for effective communication/ why absolute pronouns are used.
Absolute possessive pronouns are very important for effective communication. The reasons are –
- Without absolute possessive pronouns, communication would be more cumbersome as well as time-consuming. Absolute possessive pronouns serve as substitutes for nouns, reducing redundancy in speech and writing. In fact, we use these pronouns more frequently than their noun antecedents.
- Antecedents are necessary before we can use absolute possessive pronouns. This is because the antecedent provides context and clarity for the absolute possessive pronoun. However, in certain situations, the antecedents may be understood. Therefore they do not need to be explicitly stated. Because the audience already knows what the speaker is referring to. It is important to use antecedents and absolute possessive pronouns correctly in speech and writing to ensure clear communication.
- Absolute possessive pronouns can be used in both spoken and written communication,which makes it a versatile and useful tool for effective communication.
- Absolute possessive pronouns can show relationships between people and things, such as “their company”, “our office” which makes the communication unambiguous.
Types of absolute possessive pronouns
Some common absolute pronouns are – myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. These pronouns are often used for emphasis or to avoid using repetitive subjects of a sentence.
There are seven types of absolute possessive pronouns in English grammar. They are –
- Mine – It is used to indicate possession by the speaker. Example – This book is mine, not yours.
- Yours – It is used to indicate possession by the person being spoken to. Example – Is this pen yours or mine?
- His – It is used to indicate possession by a male person. Example – His book is on the table.
- Hers – It is used to indicate possession by a female person. Example – Is this car yours or hers?
- It – It is used to indicate possession by a non-human entity. Example – The tree has lost its leaves.
- Ours – It is used to indicate possession by a group of people that also includes the speaker. Example – Our team won the match.
- Theirs – It is used to indicate possession by a group of people that does not include the speaker. Example – The car that is parked in the driveway is theirs.
These pronouns are called absolute because they do not require any other words to indicate possession, unlike possessive pronouns like “my,” “your,” or “their”, which need to be followed by a noun to tell what is being possessed.
Rules of using absolute pronouns
Now, let us look at the rules of using absolute pronouns in a sentence. When using absolute pronouns, you have to keep these rules in mind. Here are the do’s and don’ts of using absolute pronouns –
Do’s
- Absolute pronouns can stand alone. They do not refer to a noun. Some examples of absolute pronouns are – myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
- When using absolute pronouns in a sentence, we must remember that they should only be used when referring to the subject of the sentence.
- Use absolute pronouns correctly to get rid of confusion and misunderstandings. Absolute pronouns need to be used in an appropriate context.
- Use absolute possessive pronouns to indicate ownership or possession without needing another word.
- Use the correct absolute possessive pronoun depending on who or what possesses the noun.
- Uses absolute possessive pronouns consistently throughout a piece of writing or conversation.
- Use absolute possessive pronouns to avoid repetition of the noun being possessed.
- Use absolute possessive pronouns in both spoken and written communication.
Don’ts
- Don’t use absolute pronouns when you must be more specific about what is being possessed.
- Refrain from mixing up absolute pronouns and dependent possessive pronouns.
- Don’t misuse absolute pronouns, such as using “mine” when referring to something that belongs to someone else.
- Only use absolute pronouns when it’s clear who or what possesses the noun.
- Use absolute pronouns sparingly to the point of being repetitive or confusing.
- Only switch between absolute and dependent possessive pronouns with an apparent reason or purpose.
By following these easy guidelines, you can ensure that your use of absolute pronouns is clear, effective, and respectful. Here are some examples of possessive pronoun sentences that will help you understand the correct and incorrect usage of absolute pronouns.
Correct and Incorrect Use of Absolute Possessive Pronoun
- My pen is lost. Pass me your.
Here, the pronoun “your” is used in an incorrect way. It should be – My pen is lost. Pass me yours. - The house at the end of the road is their.
Here, the sentence doesn’t mean anything sensible. The correct answer should be – The house at the end of the road is theirs. - Did you know that Project copy is my?
Here, the correct use of pronouns will be – Did you know that Project copy is mine.
Possessive pronouns vs possessive nouns
Possessive nouns and possessive pronouns have distinct functions. Possessive nouns indicate ownership, while possessive pronouns replace nouns and indicate ownership or possession. It’s important to understand the difference between the two in order to use them correctly in writing.
Example 1
The books on the bed belong to Ron.
In this sentence, there is no possessive noun or possessive pronoun.
Example 2
The books on the bed are Ron’s.
In this example, there is a possessive noun. It is “Ron’s”. It is turned into a possessive noun by adding an apostrophe + ‘s’.
Example 2
The clothes on the bed are his.
This example has the possessive pronoun “his”. It is used to replace the word “Ron’s”.
Possessive pronouns vs possessive adjectives
Possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives are used to show ownership or possession of a noun, but they are used differently.
Possessive adjectives are used to modify or describe a noun, while possessive pronouns are used instead of a noun. Possessive adjectives come before nouns and modify them unlike possessive pronouns which replace nouns.
Example 1
Possessive Pronoun – That car is mine.
Possessive Adjective – That is my car.
Example 2
Possessive Pronoun – This is your book.
Possessive Adjective – This book is yours.
Example 3
Possessive Pronoun – Her husband is from Italy.
Possessive Adjective – That cat over there is hers.
List the absolute possessive pronouns in English
Here is a list of absolute pronouns in English. Check it out!
- mine
- yours (singular/plural)
- his
- hers
- its
- ours
- Theirs
Examples of absolute possessive pronouns in sentences
It is time to know the correct use of possessive pronouns in sentences. Let us see some possessive pronoun examples sentences –
- This bag is mine.
- Is this pencil yours?
- The donation was ours.
- That dog was mine.
- The house is theirs.
- The children were yours and mine.
- What is mine is yours, my dear!
- The diamond ring is hers.
- We have finally got what was ours.
- The cat eats its food.
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Key Takeaways
- Absolute possessive pronouns are pronouns that show ownership or possession of a noun.
- Possessive pronouns and possessive nouns are different.
- There are 8 absolute possessive pronouns in the English language.
- Absolute possessive pronouns always stand alone.
- We always have to use absolute possessive pronouns in the correct way.
Quiz
Question comes here
Frequently Asked Questions
- Possessive pronouns and possessive nouns are similar.
- There are differences between possessive pronouns and possessive nouns.
Here, option b is correct. Possessive pronouns are different from possessive nouns.
The main difference between subjective possessive and absolute possessive pronouns is that subjective possessive pronouns show possession and act as the subject of the sentence. In contrast, absolute possessive pronouns indicate ownership without referring to a specific noun.
Subjective possessive pronouns show possession and act as the subject of a sentence. They are used to describe who owns something or to whom something belongs. Examples of subjective possessive pronouns include “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.”
For example, in the statement “This is my car,” “my” is a subjective possessive pronoun since it indicates that the car belongs to me.
Conversely, absolute possessive pronouns imply possession or ownership without referring specifically to a noun. They are used when it is clear from the sentence’s context which noun is being possessed. Absolute possessive pronouns include “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “it,” “ours,” and “theirs”.
In the statement “This car is mine,” for example, the word “mine” refers to the ownership of the vehicle without mentioning the noun “car” once more.
The possessive pronoun rules do not include any exceptions.
Yes, both singular and plural nouns can use absolute possessive pronouns. The possessive pronoun used depends on whether the noun is solo or plural.
“This is my book,” for instance. That’s mine.
“Mine” is an absolute possessive pronoun in this statement. It is a phrase that is used to refer to the word “book.”
The same goes for “These are our keys. They are ours.” Additionally an absolute possessive pronoun in this sentence, “ours” refers to the plural noun “keys.”
A possessive pronoun such as “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “its,” “theirs,” or “ours” can be used to denote ownership or possession regardless of whether the noun is singular or plural.
Yes, absolute possessive pronouns can be used with proper nouns. Absolute possessive pronouns show possession or ownership. They refer to a noun that has already been mentioned or understood in the context of the sentence.
For example, you could say: “That book belongs to John. It is his.”
In this sentence, “his” is an absolute possessive pronoun that is used to refer to John’s ownership of the book.
Similarly, you could say: “This is Mary’s car. It is hers.”
In this sentence, “hers” is also an absolute possessive pronoun that is used to refer to Mary’s car ownership.
So, if a proper noun is the subject of the sentence and you want to show possession or ownership, you can use an absolute possessive pronoun like “his,” “hers,” “theirs,” or “yours.”
