English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Use dictionary entries to determine correct usage
Use dictionary entries to determine correct usage
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify possessive pronouns in various texts.
Explain the function of possessive pronouns in showing ownership or relationship.
Utilize dictionary entries to verify the part of speech and correct usage of possessive pronouns.
Distinguish between possessive pronouns and contractions that sound similar (e.g., its/it's, their/they're).
Apply correct possessive pronouns in original sentences and paragraphs.
Revise sentences to correct errors in possessive pronoun usage based on dictionary information.
Ever wonder if it's 'its' or 'it's' when talking about a dog's bone? 🤔 Getting these tricky words right makes your writing shine!
In this lesson, you'll learn all about possessive pronouns – words that show ow...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Possessive PronounA pronoun that shows ownership or possession. These words replace or modify nouns to indicate who or what something belongs to, and they never use an apostrophe.The book is **mine**. (Mine shows the book belongs to me.)
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun.Instead of 'Sarah went to Sarah's house,' we say 'Sarah went to **her** house.'
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to or replaces.When **Maria** finished **her** homework, she went outside. (Maria is the antecedent for 'her' and 'she'.)
Dictionary EntryA section in a dictionary that provides information about a single word, including its spelling, pronunciation, part of speech, definitions, and usage examples.Looking up 'it...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Possessive Pronouns Show Ownership Without Apostrophes
Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) already show ownership and never use an apostrophe. Apostrophes are used for contractions (it's = it is) or to show possession for nouns (the dog's bone).
This rule helps you avoid common mistakes like writing 'her's' or 'their's.' Always remember: if it's a possessive pronoun, no apostrophe!
Use Dictionary Entries to Confirm Part of Speech and Usage
When unsure about a word, especially those that sound alike, consult a dictionary. Look for the 'part of speech' label (e.g., pron. for pronoun) and any 'usage notes' that explain common confusions.
This strategy is your best tool for correctly usi...
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Challenging
A dictionary includes this 'Usage Note' for the word 'their': 'While traditionally plural, 'their' is now widely used as a singular pronoun to refer to a person of unspecified gender, as in 'Each student must hand in their paper.' This usage is accepted in all but the most formal writing.' Based on this note, how would you evaluate the sentence: 'Someone left their umbrella in the classroom.'?
A.The sentence is incorrect because 'someone' is singular and 'their' is plural.
B.The sentence is correct only if multiple people left one umbrella.
C.The sentence is grammatically acceptable in most contexts because 'their' can be used as a singular pronoun when the gender is unknown.
D.The sentence is incorrect because a dictionary usage note is just a suggestion, not a rule.
Challenging
You are writing an argumentative paragraph and produce this draft: 'A dog shows its loyalty every day. Its always happy to see you. Theirs a reason they are called 'man's best friend.'' How would using a dictionary help you revise this paragraph for correctness?
A.dictionary would show that 'its' and 'it's' are interchangeable, so no correction is needed.
B.dictionary would define 'theirs' as a possessive pronoun, confirming it is used correctly to mean 'there is'.
C.dictionary would show 'its' is possessive (correct in sentence 1) but 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' (needed in sentence 2), and 'theirs' is possessive (incorrect in sentence 3, which needs 'there's').
D.dictionary would only help with spelling and not with the grammatical errors in the paragraph.
Challenging
Imagine a dictionary for a new language. It has two entries: **za** (*pron.*) - belonging to it; **za's** (*contr.*) - 'za is'. You are given the sentence: 'The creature protects ___ young.' Based on these entries and your knowledge of English possessive pronouns, which word should you use and why?
A.Use 'za's' because the sentence can be rewritten as 'The creature protects it is young.'
B.Use 'za' because the sentence requires a possessive pronoun to show the young belong to the creature, similar to how 'its' works in English.
C.Either word is correct because they sound the same when spoken.
D.Use 'za's' because possessive words always need an apostrophe.
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