Define Possessive Pronouns.

Possessive pronouns are a specific type of pronoun used to indicate possession or ownership of something by someone. They replace nouns to show that something belongs to a person or thing. Possessive pronouns stand alone without the need for additional nouns, and they vary based on the possessor (the person or thing that owns something) and the context of the sentence.

Key characteristics of possessive pronouns include:

1. Ownership: Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession of an object, quality, or relationship by a specific person or thing.

2. Replacing Nouns: Possessive pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences more concise and fluent.

3. Agreement: Possessive pronouns agree with the possessor in terms of gender, number, and possession.

Common possessive pronouns in English include:

1. Singular Possessive Pronouns:

   • My: Used to indicate something belongs to the speaker.
     Example: "This is my book."
   • Your: Used to indicate something belongs to the person being spoken to.
     Example: "Is this your pen?"
   • His: Used to indicate something belongs to a male.
     Example: "That is his car."
   • Her: Used to indicate something belongs to a female.
     Example: "I borrowed her laptop."

2. Plural Possessive Pronouns:

   • Our: Used to indicate something belongs to the speaker and others.
     Example: "These are our seats."
   • Your: Used to indicate something belongs to more than one person being spoken to.
     Example: "Are these your keys?"
   • Their: Used to indicate something belongs to a group of people.
     Example: "The team lost their match."

3. Neuter Possessive Pronouns:

   • Its: Used to indicate something belongs to a non-human or animal.
     Example: "The cat licked its paws."
   • One's: Used in formal contexts to indicate possession by an unspecified person.
     Example: "One should take care of one's belongings."

4. Reflexive Possessive Pronouns:

   • Mine: Used to indicate possession without specifying the noun.
     Example: "The blue bike is mine."
   • Yours: Used to indicate possession by the person being spoken to.
     Example: "The decision is yours."
   • His, Hers, Ours, Theirs: Used similarly to indicate possession without specifying the noun.
     Example: "The red house is theirs."

Possessive pronouns are essential for clear and effective communication, allowing speakers and writers to express ownership succinctly and accurately. Mastery of possessive pronouns enhances language proficiency and enables individuals to construct grammatically correct sentences while conveying relationships and ownership effectively.