English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Identify possessive pronouns
Identify possessive pronouns
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define what a possessive pronoun is.
Identify the seven common possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs.
Locate possessive pronouns within a simple sentence.
Differentiate between a possessive pronoun (like 'its') and a contraction (like 'it's').
Choose the correct possessive pronoun to complete a sentence.
Use a possessive pronoun to answer a question about ownership.
Whose cookie is that? Is it yours or mine? 🍪 Possessive pronouns help us answer that question without repeating names!
In this lesson, we will learn about special words called possessive pronouns. These words show who owns something. Learning them will make your writing clearer and more fun to read.
Real-World Applications
Telling a f...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun (a person, place, or thing).Instead of 'Sam plays', we can say 'He plays'. 'He' is the pronoun.
Possessive PronounA special pronoun that shows who owns or has something. It replaces a noun that shows ownership.The red bike is mine. ('Mine' shows I own the bike).
MineThe possessive pronoun that means 'belongs to me'.The drawing on the fridge is mine.
YoursThe possessive pronoun that means 'belongs to you'.I think this lunchbox is yours.
His / HersPossessive pronouns that mean 'belongs to him' or 'belongs to her'.That pencil is his. The pink backpack is hers.
Ours / TheirsPossessive pronouns that mean 'belongs to us' or 'belongs to...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The 'No Apostrophe' Rule
Possessive pronouns never, ever use an apostrophe ('s).
Words like 'yours', 'hers', 'ours', 'theirs', and 'its' already show ownership. Adding an apostrophe is a common mistake. For example, 'it's' means 'it is', while 'its' shows something belongs to 'it'.
The 'Stands Alone' Rule
A possessive pronoun can be the subject or object of a sentence all by itself. It doesn't need a noun right after it.
Possessive pronouns replace the noun. Instead of saying 'That is my book', you can say 'That book is mine'. The word 'mine' stands on its own.
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Which sentence contains a MISTAKE in the use of a possessive pronoun?
A.The fluffy kitten is ours.
B.I think this is your jacket.
C.Her drawing won first prize.
D.The backpack is hises.
Challenging
Read the paragraph: 'My friends and I have a secret clubhouse. Its door is painted blue. The password is ours to keep. Their parents don't even know where it is!' Which statement is true?
A.There are four different possessive pronouns used.
B.The word 'it's' is used instead of 'its'.
C.The pronoun 'theirs' is used.
D.There are no possessive pronouns in the last sentence.
Challenging
How can you rewrite the phrase 'the dog's bone' using a possessive pronoun?
A.it bone
B.its bone
C.the bone of it
D.it's bone
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free