Possessive pronouns Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Question 1. What are possessive pronouns?
Answer: Possessive pronouns are pronouns that show ownership or possession. They tell us who owns or belongs to something.
In simple words: A possessive pronoun is a word that shows that something belongs to someone.

Exam Tip: Remember that possessive pronouns come in two types: those followed by nouns (determiner possessive) and those that stand alone (nominal possessive).

Question 2. List the determiner possessive pronouns.
Answer: The determiner possessive pronouns are: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. These pronouns function as determiners and are always followed by a noun, just like articles (a, an, the).
In simple words: These seven words (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) come before nouns to show who owns something.

Exam Tip: Always check if the possessive pronoun is followed by a noun - if it is, it's a determiner possessive pronoun.

Question 3. List the nominal possessive pronouns.
Answer: The nominal possessive pronouns are: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs. These pronouns replace a whole noun or noun phrase and can stand alone in a sentence without being followed by another noun. For example, instead of saying "That book is Sally's book," we can say "That book is hers."
In simple words: These seven words (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) stand by themselves in a sentence and do not need another word after them.

Exam Tip: Notice that "his" and "its" can work as both determiner and nominal possessive pronouns, depending on the sentence context.

Question 4. What is the difference between contracted pronouns and possessive pronouns?
Answer: Contracted pronouns are written with an apostrophe and combine two words into one. For example, "It's" means "it is," "You're" means "you are," and "They're" means "they are." Possessive pronouns show ownership and are written without an apostrophe. For example, "Its" (possessive), "Your" (possessive), and "Their" (possessive) all indicate belonging. The contracted pronoun always has an apostrophe, while the possessive pronoun never does.
In simple words: Contracted pronouns have an apostrophe and mean two words joined together. Possessive pronouns have no apostrophe and show who owns something.

Exam Tip: If you can replace the word with "is" or "are," it's a contracted pronoun with an apostrophe. If it shows ownership, it's a possessive pronoun without an apostrophe.

Test Yourself 24.1

Question 1. The woman hid her feelings well.
Answer: her (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Her" comes right before the noun "feelings," so it is a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: When a possessive pronoun comes directly before a noun, it is always a determiner possessive pronoun.

Question 2. He was younger than his wife.
Answer: his (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "His" comes before the noun "wife," making it a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Look for the possessive pronoun followed by a noun to identify determiner possessive pronouns quickly.

Question 3. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford adored their son.
Answer: their (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Their" comes before the noun "son," so it works as a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: All determiner possessive pronouns must be followed by nouns they modify.

Question 4. Thomas and Natalie were the best students in my class.
Answer: my (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "My" comes right before the noun "class," so it is a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Remember that determiner possessive pronouns always come before a noun they describe.

Question 5. Your eyes look very tired.
Answer: Your (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Your" comes before the noun "eyes," making it a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Check if the possessive pronoun is followed by a noun - if yes, it is a determiner possessive pronoun.

Test Yourself 24.2

Question 1. The rattlesnake is his.
Answer: his (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "His" stands alone at the end of the sentence without any noun after it, making it a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Nominal possessive pronouns stand by themselves and do not need a noun to follow them.

Question 2. The mother needs her nourishment and the baby needs hers also.
Answer: hers (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Hers" stands alone without a noun following it, so it is a nominal possessive pronoun that replaces "her nourishment."

Exam Tip: Look for possessive pronouns that stand alone in the sentence without being followed by a noun.

Question 3. Yours is the room on the left.
Answer: Yours (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Yours" stands at the start of the sentence without a noun after it, making it a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Nominal possessive pronouns can appear in different positions in a sentence but always stand alone without a noun.

Question 4. The computer on the table is mine.
Answer: mine (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Mine" stands alone at the end of the sentence without a noun, so it is a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: When a possessive pronoun stands alone and does not need a noun after it, it is always a nominal possessive pronoun.

Question 5. Ours is the next house on the block.
Answer: Ours (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Ours" stands alone at the start of the sentence without a noun following it, making it a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Nominal possessive pronouns replace the noun or noun phrase and function as the subject or object in a sentence.

Test Yourself 24.3

Question 1. Decide if "my" is a determiner or nominal possessive pronoun.
Answer: my is a determiner possessive pronoun
In simple words: "My" always comes before a noun and functions as a determiner.

Exam Tip: The determiner possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) always come before a noun.

Question 2. Decide if "theirs" is a determiner or nominal possessive pronoun.
Answer: theirs is a nominal possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Theirs" stands alone without a noun, so it is a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: The nominal possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) stand alone in the sentence.

Question 3. Decide if "mine" is a determiner or nominal possessive pronoun.
Answer: mine is a nominal possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Mine" stands by itself without a noun following it, making it a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: If a possessive pronoun can stand alone without a noun, it is a nominal possessive pronoun.

Question 4. Decide if "your" is a determiner or nominal possessive pronoun.
Answer: your is a determiner possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Your" comes before a noun and works as a determiner.

Exam Tip: Determiner possessive pronouns always appear before the nouns they describe.

Question 5. Decide if "her" is a determiner or nominal possessive pronoun.
Answer: her is a determiner possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Her" always comes before a noun and acts as a determiner.

Exam Tip: Remember that "her" as a determiner possessive pronoun is always followed by a noun.

Test Yourself 24.4

Question 1. Listening to music might interfere with your ability to concentrate.
Answer: your (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Your" comes before the noun "ability," so it is a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Look for possessive pronouns that precede nouns to identify them as determiner possessive pronouns.

Question 2. Some of the CDs are ours.
Answer: ours (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Ours" stands alone at the end without a noun, making it a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: When a possessive pronoun stands independently without a noun, it is a nominal possessive pronoun.

Question 3. The prisoner was ordered to hand over his things.
Answer: his (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "His" comes before the noun "things," so it functions as a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Determiner possessive pronouns always come right before the nouns they modify.

Question 4. In my opinion, you should apologize.
Answer: my (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "My" comes before the noun "opinion," making it a determiner possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Always check if the possessive pronoun is followed directly by a noun.

Question 5. Hers is the only dissenting voice in the room.
Answer: Hers (nominal possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Hers" stands alone without a noun following it, so it is a nominal possessive pronoun.

Exam Tip: Nominal possessive pronouns stand by themselves and replace a noun phrase in the sentence.

Test Yourself 24.5

Question 1. Decide what type of pronoun "their" is.
Answer: their is a determiner possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Their" comes before a noun and shows possession.

Exam Tip: Determiner possessive pronouns always appear before nouns.

Question 2. Decide what type of pronoun "them" is.
Answer: them is an object pronoun
In simple words: "Them" is the object form of the pronoun and receives the action in a sentence.

Exam Tip: Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) receive the action of the verb.

Question 3. Decide what type of pronoun "yourselves" is.
Answer: yourselves is a reflexive pronoun
In simple words: "Yourselves" is a reflexive pronoun that reflects the action back to the subject.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) show that the subject acts on themselves.

Question 4. Decide what type of pronoun "we" is.
Answer: we is a subject pronoun
In simple words: "We" is a subject pronoun that performs the action in a sentence.

Exam Tip: Subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) perform the action in a sentence.

Question 5. Decide what type of pronoun "hers" is.
Answer: hers is a nominal possessive pronoun
In simple words: "Hers" stands alone and shows ownership without needing a noun.

Exam Tip: Nominal possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) replace the entire noun phrase.

Test Yourself 24.6 - Grand Finale

Question 1. Their employees were working during lunch.
Answer: Their (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Their" comes before the noun "employees" and shows who owns the employees.

Exam Tip: When you find a possessive pronoun before a noun, it is always a determiner possessive pronoun.

Question 2. He asked us for the answer.
Answer: He (subject pronoun); us (object pronoun)
In simple words: "He" performs the action of asking. "Us" receives the action and is the object.

Exam Tip: Subject pronouns do the action, and object pronouns receive the action.

Question 3. It made a huge difference to her and to her friends.
Answer: It (subject pronoun); her (object pronoun); her (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "It" performs the action. The first "her" receives the action. The second "her" comes before the noun "friends."

Exam Tip: Notice that "her" can work as both an object pronoun and a determiner possessive pronoun depending on context.

Question 4. She looked at herself in the rearview mirror of my car.
Answer: She (subject pronoun); herself (reflexive pronoun); my (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "She" performs the action. "Herself" shows that the action goes back to the subject. "My" comes before the noun "car."

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns have a "self" in them and show the action reflects back to the subject.

Question 5. Some guy introduced himself and gave me his business card.
Answer: himself (reflexive pronoun); me (object pronoun); his (determiner possessive pronoun)
In simple words: "Himself" shows the action reflects back to "guy." "Me" receives the action of giving. "His" comes before the noun "card."

Exam Tip: In sentences with multiple pronouns, identify each one's role separately by checking if it performs, receives, or modifies the action.