What is a Possessive Adjective?
A possessive adjective is an adjective that indicates possession and precedes a noun.
Examples of Possessive Adjectives
Some examples of possessive adjectives would be the following:
My bedroom has yellow walls.
Their school’s mascot is the dolphin.
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Why You Should Use Possessive Adjectives in Your Writing
The primary reason for using possessive adjectives in your writing is to prevent ambiguity and to define relationships.
Preventing Ambiguity: Possessive adjectives are clear indicators as to who or what you are referencing. There’s a difference between saying, “Hand me the report,” vs. “Hand me his report,” or “Hand me her report.”
Defining Relationships: With possessive adjectives, you can clearly establish the relationships between items or individuals. The difference between “Candice is an aunt,” and “Candice is their aunt,” shows specifically the relationship between the two individuals.
Finally, be sure you understand the difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns; they are similar but have slightly difference functions.
Download a Free Worksheet on Possessive Adjectives!
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