LoginPossessive Determiners
Possessive determiners are function words used before a noun to show ownership or possession. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
What Are Possessive Determiners?
We can use possessive determiners to talk about possessions and belonging. They are placed before a noun to show who or what owns or possesses the noun.
Possessive Determiners in English
Possessive Determiners: Placement
Possessive determiners are typically placed before nouns and noun phrases. Remember that when we have adjectives before nouns, the possessive determiner comes before the adjectives. Take a look at the following examples:
This can't be
Where is
As you can see, the possessive determiners comes before the adjectives.
Warning!
Do not confuse possessive determiners with possessive pronouns. While possessive determiners must always appear before a noun, possessive pronouns appear alone. Compare the following examples:
This book is
Here, a possessive pronoun is used.
Give me
Here, a possessive determiner is used.
Whose
When we want to ask about the owner of something, we use 'whose'. Although 'whose' is a pronoun, it can be used as a determiner, too. Take a look at the following examples:
As you can see, when it is followed by a noun, it functions as a determiner.
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