What Are Possessive Determiners?
When we want to talk about possessions and belongings, we mainly use possessive determiners. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
Possessive Determiners in English
Where Do We Put Possessive Determiners?
Generally speaking, Possessive determiners come 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 has come before the two adjectives in.
Warning!
Please note that you do not confuse possessive determiners with possessive pronouns. 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.