English Language Arts
Grade 10
15 min
Use possessive pronouns
Use possessive pronouns
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between possessive adjectives (my, your) and absolute possessive pronouns (mine, yours).
Correctly use possessive pronouns with gerunds in formal academic writing.
Identify and correct common errors, including the misuse of apostrophes (e.g., its/it's, theirs/their's).
Analyze sentences from literature to determine the function and antecedent of possessive pronouns.
Revise their own writing to ensure possessive pronouns are used with clarity, precision, and correct agreement.
Use possessive pronouns to improve sentence fluency and avoid repetitive phrasing in analytical essays.
Whose ambition was more destructive, Macbeth's or his wife's? The answer depends on your interpretation, and expressing it clearly depends on your...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Possessive PronounA pronoun that indicates ownership or relationship. It replaces a noun phrase to avoid repetition.The book is hers. ('Hers' replaces 'her book').
Possessive Adjective (or Possessive Determiner)A word that modifies a noun by showing possession. It always comes before the noun it describes.That is her book. ('Her' modifies 'book').
Absolute Possessive PronounA type of possessive pronoun that can stand alone in a sentence, not modifying a noun.The responsibility is mine. The fault is yours. The victory is theirs.
AntecedentThe noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and gender.Lady Macbeth questioned her husband's resolve; her ambition was potent. (�...
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Key Rules & Conventions
No Apostrophes in Possessive Pronouns
Absolute possessive pronouns (yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) never use an apostrophe.
This is a frequent source of error. An apostrophe in a pronoun almost always indicates a contraction (e.g., it's = it is; who's = who is). To show possession, use the pronoun without an apostrophe.
Use Possessives Before Gerunds
In formal writing, use a possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or a possessive noun (the author's) before a gerund.
This clarifies who is performing the action of the gerund. For example, 'We celebrated his winning the award' is more precise than 'We celebrated him winning the award,' as the focus is on the act of winning.
Ensure Clear Antecedent Agreement
A pos...
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Challenging
A student wrote the following paragraph for an essay on Shakespeare: 'In Hamlet, the prince's madness is a central question. Its ambiguity fuels the play's tension. The audience questions him questioning his own sanity, but their judgment is clouded by his grief.' Which choice offers the best revision for clarity and correctness?
A.In Hamlet, the prince's madness is a central question. It's ambiguity fuels the play's tension. The audience questions his questioning of his own sanity, but its judgment is clouded by his grief.
B.In Hamlet, the prince's madness is a central question. Its ambiguity fuels the play's tension. The audience questions his questioning of his own sanity, but it's judgment is clouded by his grief.
C.In Hamlet, the prince's madness is a central question. Its ambiguity fuels the play's tension. The audience questions his questioning of his own sanity, but their judgment is clouded by his grief.
D.In Hamlet, the prince's madness is a central question. It's ambiguity fuels the play's tension. The audience questions him questioning his own sanity, but their judgment is clouded by his grief.
Challenging
Combine the following ideas into the most precise and fluent sentence for a research paper, using a possessive pronoun and a gerund: 'The historian argued a new theory. The theory was controversial. The academic journal refused to publish it.'
A.The academic journal refused to publish the historian's controversial arguing of a new theory.
B.The academic journal refused to publish his theory, due to him arguing it was controversial.
C.Due to its controversy, the academic journal refused the historian's theory and his arguing for it.
D.The academic journal, because the historian's theory was controversial, refused its publication.
Challenging
Analyze the sentence: 'After the researcher presented her findings to the board member, she expressed her concerns about its methodology.' Which statement best identifies the critical flaw in this sentence?
A.The possessive pronoun 'its' lacks a clear antecedent, as it could refer to the findings or the presentation.
B.The pronoun 'she' creates an ambiguous antecedent, as it is unclear whether the researcher or the board member expressed concerns.
C.The possessive pronoun 'her' is used incorrectly; it should be the absolute possessive 'hers'.
D.The sentence incorrectly uses a possessive pronoun before the noun 'methodology'.
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