Possessive Determiners For Intermediate learners
In this lesson, discover possessive determiners, which indicate ownership and come before nouns. Improve with simple explanations and easy examples.
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: 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 my bag.
Where is her big fat cat?
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 mine, Sarah.
Here, a possessive pronoun is used.
Give me his glasses.
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:
Whose money are you taking?
As you can see, when it is followed by a noun, it functions as a determiner.
Whose car was stolen?
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