Can you give me 5 examples using possessive pronouns?

The cat is yours.

Possessive Pronouns: Used in Sentences

Possessive pronouns include my, mine, our, ours, its, his, her, hers, their, theirs, your and yours. These are all words that demonstrate ownership. If the book belongs to me, then it is mine. If the book belongs to her, then it is hers.

A great way to understand this part of speech is to see them in action. Here are some basic examples of possessive pronouns used in sentences:

• The kids are yours and mine.
• The house is theirs and its paint is flaking.
• The money was really theirs for the taking.
• We shall finally have what is rightfully ours.
• Their mother gets along well with yours.
• What's mine is yours, my friend.
• The dog is mine.
• The cat is yours.
• The ring is hers.
• The bag is theirs.

Possessive Adjectives With Gerunds

The basic sentences above demonstrate how possessive pronouns can be used in sentences. However, one thing that can be confusing is the use of possessive adjectives with gerunds. A gerund is a word that started out as a verb, but with the addition of -ing at the end, they can function as a noun.

Take a look at this sentence:

I couldn’t take him griping anymore.

What couldn’t I take anymore: “him” or the “griping”? The sentence is ambiguous. The correct way is to use a possessive pronoun. Here is the correct sentence:

I couldn’t take his griping anymore.

Example Sentences

Here are a few more examples where the possessive pronoun is combined with a gerund.

• Your taking the prize was a nice surprise.
• The children make their beds without my asking them to.
• Their singing inspired us.
• I so appreciated his helping out.
• Her coming to us was the right thing to do.
• I appreciate your understanding of the matter.
• I feel bad at his missing this opportunity.
• Their mocking of him was inappropriate.
• I loved listening to his singing.

These examples help to illustrate not only what possessive pronouns are, but also how they can be used to make a sentence clearer. Avoiding ambiguity is important in effective writing.

Clearer Communication

Possessive pronouns are essential for writing and communication, so the reader or listener knows to whom an item belongs. To learn more about possessive pronouns see What Is a Possessive Pronoun?