This document examines the differences between possessive pronouns and possessive determiners. Possessive pronouns replace nouns that indicate ownership and function as subjects or objects in sentences, such as "mine", "yours", and "theirs". Possessive determiners specify the object being owned as modifiers and cannot be mistaken for something else, such as "my", "your", and "their". Examples are provided to illustrate how possessive pronouns replace nouns while possessive determiners modify nouns. The document concludes by explaining the differences and providing a link to an explanatory video.
2. Foreword
This piece will do a concise breakdown of the differences
that exist between Possessive pronouns and possessive
determiners. There is, also, an explanatory video on the
differences at the end of this presentation.
3. Background
Possessive determiners and Possessive pronouns are two
grammatical concepts that often get sketchy to distinguish.
Either because they are both possessives, or speakers tend
to experience difficulties in distinguishing between both
concepts. Unlike demonstrative determiners and
demonstrative pronouns, possessive determiners and
possessive pronouns do not share the same structural
composition, hence the misrepresentation of both concepts
are at a minimal rate compared to that of demonstrative
determiners and demonstrative pronouns.
4. Possessives, Possessive Pronouns
Possessives are words that are used to indicate possession.
They signify ownership of objects in a sentence or structure.
They are divided into two classes namely; Possessive
Pronouns and Possessive Determiners.
Possessive Pronouns are pronouns that indicate possession,
standing as subjects or objects within a sentence. They
replace nouns which form the antecedents as every other
pronouns do. Examples of Possessive Pronouns include;
Mine, Yours, Ours, Theirs, His, Hers, etc.,.
5. Possessive Pronouns
Functional examples in sentences
1. Mine is a gold eagle.
2. Yours is a deflated balloon.
3. The book is its.
4. That dog is tougher than theirs.
5. The decision is not ours.
So, possessive pronouns are pronouns that indicate
possession acting as nouns either in the subject or object
position of a sentence.
6. Possessive Determiners
Possessive Determiners are determiners that indicate
possession by way of specifying the object of ownership. As
opposed to pronouns which refer to objects of ownership
already known, hence their replacement, Possessive
Determiners specify the object of ownership. Examples
include; My, Your, Their, Our, His, Her, etc.,.
Functional examples in sentences;
1. My book is coloured.
2. Her lips are sparkling.
3. Their house appeals to me.
4. Our goal is to be successful.
5. His attitude inspires me.
7. Conclusion
The above examples illustrate that possessive determiners,
as modifiers, specify the nominal (noun) objects of
ownership such that they can not be mistaken for
something else. What possessive pronouns do is to replace
the objects of ownership which becomes the antecedent,
and functions as nouns in subject and object positions of
sentences respectively.
Explanatory video in the next slid 👉
8. Explanatory Video
Here is the link to the explanatory video as promised.
Video link: https://bit.ly/3OG72Iz
Thank you for reading!
