English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Identify pronouns
Identify pronouns
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define what a possessive pronoun is.
Distinguish between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives.
Correctly identify possessive pronouns in various sentences.
Use possessive pronouns accurately to show ownership in their own writing.
Explain why possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes.
Revise sentences to replace possessive nouns with possessive pronouns for improved conciseness.
Ever wonder how to show something belongs to someone without repeating their name over and over? 🤔 Let's unlock the secret of possessive pronouns!
In this lesson, you'll discover what possessive pronouns are, how they work, and why they're super useful for making your writing clear and concise. Mastering them will help you express ownership smoothly and...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun or another pronoun.Instead of 'Sarah went to the store,' we can say 'She went to the store.'
PossessiveShowing ownership, belonging, or a close relationship.The dog's bone (the bone belongs to the dog).
Possessive PronounA pronoun that shows ownership and stands alone, replacing a possessive noun or noun phrase.That book is mine. (Mine replaces 'my book' and shows ownership.)
Possessive AdjectiveA word that shows ownership but modifies (describes) a noun, always appearing before it.That is my book. (My describes 'book' and shows ownership.)
AntecedentThe noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to or replaces.When John finished his homework, he put it in his backpack. ('Jo...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Possessive Pronouns Stand Alone
Possessive pronouns replace a possessive noun or noun phrase and do not modify another noun.
Use possessive pronouns when the item being owned is already clear from the context, allowing the pronoun to stand by itself.
No Apostrophes for Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) never use apostrophes.
Apostrophes are used for contractions (like 'it's' for 'it is') or possessive nouns (like 'the dog's toy'), but not for possessive pronouns, which inherently show possession.
Agreement with Antecedent
A possessive pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun it replaces (its antecedent).
If the antecedent is singular and feminine, use 'hers...
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Challenging
Which option correctly revises the following sentence, fixing both the pronoun choice and the apostrophe error? 'That evidence is not your, and the conclusion is not her's either.'
A.That evidence is not yours, and the conclusion is not her either.
B.That evidence is not your's, and the conclusion is not hers either.
C.That evidence is not yours, and the conclusion is not hers either.
D.That evidence is not you're, and the conclusion is not her's either.
Challenging
An author writes: 'The opposition presented their data. We then presented ours.' What is the most likely author's purpose for using 'ours' instead of 'our data'?
A.To create a strong, concise contrast between the two sets of data, making the author's side seem more direct and confident.
B.To hide the fact that the author's data was weaker than the opposition's data.
C.To make the sentence more complex and academic for a higher-grade audience.
D.To follow a rule that the word 'data' cannot be used twice in two consecutive sentences.
Challenging
A student claims, 'Possessive pronouns don't use apostrophes because apostrophes are only for contractions like it's.' Why is this explanation flawed or incomplete?
A.The explanation is not flawed; it is perfectly correct.
B.Because possessive pronouns can use apostrophes if they end in 's', like in 'theirs's'.
C.Because some possessive pronouns, like 'mine', don't end in 's' and couldn't have an apostrophe anyway.
D.Because it ignores that apostrophes are also used to show possession in nouns (e.g., 'the student's book').
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