A compass can be my compass, or it can be mine. The owner stays the same; the sentence changes. Before choosing a form, find the owner and check whether the noun phrase is still written out. Try the eight short choices below, then reveal the answers when you are ready.
01 / BUILD THE FORM
Same owner, different sentence
My introduces a noun phrase: my compass or my new compass. Mine replaces that phrase when the object is already clear. The word immediately after the blank is not the whole test: an adjective can come before the noun.
This is my new compass.
The compass is mine.
The owner is the same. The first sentence states the noun phrase; the second replaces it.
First the owner, then the structure
Use the same distinction for your/yours, her/hers and their/theirs. Identify who owns the object first. Her has other uses elsewhere; this lesson uses it only as a possessive determiner.
Some resources call the before-noun forms “possessive adjectives”. Here we call them possessive determiners. They introduce the noun phrase.
| Owner | Before a noun phrase | Independent form |
|---|---|---|
| I | my | mine |
| you | your | yours |
| he | his | his |
| she | her | hers |
| it | its | — |
| we | our | ours |
| they | their | theirs |
His has the same spelling in both positions. Our pairs with ours. In this beginner table, its is used before a noun; the dash means we do not teach it as a routine standalone form.
He owns the lantern. This is his lantern.
The lantern is his.
We own the map: our map → the map is ours.
A possessive determiner already introduces the noun phrase: my compass, not the my compass. Article choice is a separate lesson.
02 / YOUR TURN
Try the first four
Choose only between the two forms shown. Say or write your answer, then open its explanation. Each opening sentence tells you the owner. Capitalisation, surrounding spaces and final punctuation do not change the form. This is a self-check; there is no automatic grading.
I bought the blue compass for myself. This is ___ new compass.
Choose my or mine.
Answer and explanation
my — My introduces the noun phrase new compass. An adjective can come between a possessive determiner and its noun.
The blue compass belongs to me. The compass is ___.
Choose my or mine.
Answer and explanation
mine — Mine replaces my compass. The owner is the speaker, and no noun phrase follows the blank.
You own the red helmet. Please take ___ helmet.
Choose your or yours.
Answer and explanation
your — Your introduces helmet. The opening sentence identifies you as its owner.
The red helmet belongs to you. This helmet is ___.
Choose your or yours.
Answer and explanation
yours — Yours replaces your helmet. There is no apostrophe in this possessive pronoun.
WHEN YOU’RE READY
Continue in
Hall of Mirrors.
Want to try possessive forms in a dungeon? Open GrammarRift, choose Try a guest descent, then Grammar dungeons → Enter Hall of Mirrors. A new school run starts at stage 1, which mixes possessive forms with other foundations. This link opens the game; choose the school yourself. Guest progress stays on this device.
Continue in Hall of MirrorsChoose Try a guest descent → Grammar dungeons → Enter Hall of Mirrors. Guest progress stays on this device.
KEEP PRACTISING
Four more to try
Lena owns the silver flute. She keeps ___ flute in a green case.
Choose her or hers.
Answer and explanation
her — Her introduces flute and refers to Lena, identified by she. Here her is possessive, not an object pronoun.
Lena bought the silver flute for herself. The flute is ___.
Choose her or hers.
Answer and explanation
hers — Hers replaces her flute. Herself identifies Lena as the owner; hers has no apostrophe.
The two guides jointly own the cart. They are loading ___ cart.
Choose their or theirs.
Answer and explanation
their — Their introduces cart. They refers to the two guides, whose joint ownership is explicit.
The cart belongs to the two guides. The cart is ___.
Choose their or theirs.
Answer and explanation
theirs — Theirs replaces their cart. It refers to the two guides and needs no apostrophe.
Possession without an apostrophe
Yours, hers, ours and theirs need no apostrophe. A name can take an apostrophe in a different construction: Nia’s notebook. That does not turn hers into her’s.
A quick its / it’s check
Its marks possession; it’s is a contraction of it is or it has. For example: The robot raised its hand. It’s ready. This is a short error check, not another lesson.
Check the forms
These references explain the forms and their use. The eight exercise contexts here are original.
British Council: possessive pronouns ↗British Council: possessive adjectives ↗
