Questions tagged [possessive-pronouns]
this tag is for questions about possessive pronouns such as "mine", "ours", "yours", "his", "hers", "its", "theirs".
57
questions
1
vote
1
answer
22
views
Can "whose" be replaced with "with the/a" in this sentence? Which sentence is better?
I wrote a simple Email whose goal was to inform friends and family about the party.
Can the "whose" in the sentence be replaced with "with a/the" to make the sentence like:
I ...
3
votes
1
answer
43
views
“Which pencil of mine”
Is this sentence correct?
Which pencil of mine did you take?
or is it grammatically wrong and I should say, “Which of my pencils did you take” which I am sure is grammatically correct? “Which pencil ...
- 1,095
0
votes
2
answers
46
views
When is "company" plural and singular?
1, The company are hoping to expand their operations abroad. (from a Longman dictionary)
2, The company is hoping to expand their operations abroad. (a native-speaker's preference)
3, The company is ...
- 283
-1
votes
2
answers
39
views
“My each/every attempt”
After the possessive pronouns, can we use “each” or “every”? For example, are all four of the sentences below grammatically correct?
My each attempt was useless.
My every attempt was useless.
Take ...
- 1,095
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
"The friend of John who I hate" vs "John's friend who I hate" [duplicate]
On another language forum, I was told that sentences like,
This is John's friend who I hate.
This is my car which I've had for two years.
etc. are wrong and we should say these instead:
This is ...
- 1,095
0
votes
1
answer
36
views
“Your” as a third person possessive pronoun. Is that a thing?
Your book suggests that animals have thought processes, emotions, and social connections that are as important to them as they are to us
This is a snippet of this article I found on internet and the “...
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
Possessive pronoun vs definite article in this sentence
In some languages, such as French and Spanish, it's ungrammatical or at least uncommon to use possessive pronouns to refer to parts of the body in some contexts: People say "the head," "...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
29
views
Pronoun reference - before / after
Yesterday, Jim and his mum went to a bookshop. ..... wanted to buy a book for his father.
What's the best pronoun to use there? Do we refer to 'Jim and his mum' in the 1st sentence, or do we refer to ...
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Is this grammatically acceptable? "Defined by its being identical to"
I just wrote this sentence,
As the strategy is defined by its being identical to the existing strategy, with a few
notable exceptions, I have to use a particular technique to implement it.
This is ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
25
views
Difference between possessive pronoun and possessive case of pronoun
What is the difference between possessive pronoun and possessive case of pronoun?
Pronoun possessive case
I mine
That ?
Everyone ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
38
views
What is "his" in "his was a rags-to-riches tale"?
Is "his" in "his was a rags-to-riches tale" used instead of "his tale" to avoid repeating words? Or is it something else?
- 75
2
votes
2
answers
27
views
Possessive pronoun vs "the" when followed by a restrictive relative pronoun
A: Her sister is a good friend of mine
B: Which one?
A: The/her sister who worked here years ago.
Are both, the/possessive pronouns correct here?
- 695
-1
votes
2
answers
69
views
Can I use the phrase "some of mine" this way?
and when I needed some of mine, by chance everyone turned out to be busy.
I mean to say I helped my acquaintances before and when I needed some of them, they pretended to be busy in my bad situation. ...
- 381
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
using a possessive pronoun in a cleft sentence
I'd like to know if "their" in the cleft sentence below can refer to "every businessman" in the last part of the sentence.
Can possessive pronouns only refer to certain nouns in ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
17
views
Can 'its' appear before a thing mentioned?
Can 'its' appear before a thing mentioned?
Example ('its'='the software'):
We think that after its upgrade, the software will be popular in places that need privacy.
(I know that this sentence can ...
- 419
1
vote
0
answers
17
views
...anxieties about us/our having any more downtime
In some cases that a pronoun is a subject which is followed by a verb follows a preposition.
Then the subject is changed into possessive determiners.
But I read a sentence A.
A. On the other there's ...
- 533
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which pronoun (its or their) should be used for a single animal?
An otter can close its ears and nose.
An otter can close their ears and nose.
What is the difference? I think they are same and what is the correct answer?
- 53
3
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Is ‘I want to meet your enemy’ ambiguous?
‘I want to meet your enemy’ can mean?:
You are not an enemy
You are an enemy (like ‘your majesty’ means you are a majesty)
- 93
0
votes
3
answers
41
views
How do I choose my possessive pronoun?
A multiple-choice question:
Every teacher and pupil at Eton Girl's college is pround of ____ school.
I am aware that we should treat "every....” as a singular subject, so the blank should be ...
0
votes
2
answers
38
views
Why do these sentences use "them" and not "their"?
I wonder all the time why one of the Alice in Chains songs is named "Them Bones"? Shouldn't it be "their"? The whole verse goes like this "I believe them bones are me," ...
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Which one is correct : ' this house is their ' or ' this house is theirs ' [closed]
I had got this question and it was very difficult for me to choose one. Please could you give me the right answer and also the reason that's correct.
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
585
views
As she/her/hers or Like her/hers?
I have some confusion about the grammar of the following sentence:
"He was performing the same steps like her/hers/as she/her/hers.
What should be the actual correct sentence structure here?
He ...
- 167
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Numbers after pronouns
Is saying "my three cats" wrong? Should it be "three cats of mine"?
My English books says that the latter one is correct, but to my ear, the first one sounds correct too.
1
vote
1
answer
487
views
Collective Nouns and their possessive pronouns
The crowd is clapping their hands.
The crowd are clapping their hands.
The crowd is clapping its hands.
Which one of the above is a correct sentence?
The word 'crowd', being a collective noun, can ...
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What’s their name?
I found in my book below sentence. Is it correct?
What’s their name?
If it's correct, I can answer "Their name is Alex and Ann.", isn't it?
Is it spoken version of "What are their ...
- 1,937
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
The correct way to refer using "their" in a sentence
I need to choose a title for a paper and I'm unsure of the usage of "their":
Development of an orange juice for monkeys to enhance their jumping-capabilities in trees
Is "their" in this context ...
- 111
2
votes
3
answers
147
views
Possessive gerund usage
It’s hard to imagine me doing that crime
It’s hard to imagine I doing that crime
It’s hard to imagine my doing that crime
Which of the above three sentences is correct? My grammar book said we ...
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Why we write "Ferguson Case" instead of "Ferguson's case"
Since Ferguson is a city in Missouri, why don't we use saxon genitive to indicate that the riots that took place there "belong" to the city? We could refer to the city with a possesive pronoun:
"...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
60
views
possessive apostrophe and THE for academic phrases
I am applying for PhD. In university's site I have seen several possessive phrases which have completely confused me. Which of these are correct?
1- UCI EECS Department / UCI Department of EECS / UCI'...
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
42
views
Use of Possessive or objective case of pronoun
The car of (them/their) is just amazing!
What should I use, possessive pronoun or objective case
I like a thing of them/someone is sounding good to me.yet I'm perplexed!
0
votes
3
answers
378
views
Using "her" to refer to the word "child"
I have confusions about a single sentence
The pedagogical view is that the pre-school phase is crucial to stimulate a child’s curiosity and help her prepare for schooling at age six.
Can her be ...
user93387
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Is this possessive its clear to the sentence?
The sentence in question is:
An X microphone can sense a Y speaker vibrating with a high frequency up to a limit determined by its elastic sensitivity.
Does possessive pronoun its here clearly ...
- 127
0
votes
2
answers
389
views
"As you say," or "As you write," in a comment section
As you yourself write, women who run for a public office are equally likely to get elected as men.
Is write or say more fitting in this example? Is it OK to use speach-related vocabulary in a written ...
- 1,527
0
votes
2
answers
36
views
My surprise/the surprise
A: I have a surprise for you, Do you want to know what my surprise is?
B: Yes
A: Your favorite team won the game
Is the usage of my correct? or we must say:
Do you want to know what the ...
- 45
0
votes
2
answers
411
views
Can "it belongs to the house" be equivalent to "its belonging"?
A: I don't think this room belongs to the house I had a meeting with X in (it).
B: Well, if you want to make sure of its belonging, then take a
tour around the house.
Note: A and B are having ...
- 2,452
0
votes
2
answers
812
views
She's someone's sister vs. She's someones' sister
I recently found on a website a picture from a gathering. An individual had a sign saying She's someone's sister. As a non-native English speaker, I'm wondering why isn't She's someones' sister the ...
- 145
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
Pronoun Problem
1)Unless two or more members object to him joining the club , we shall have to accept the application for membership.
My book said him must be replaced by her/his because gerund is followed by ...
- 19
1
vote
2
answers
262
views
Possessive Nouns as antecedents
While going through this website I came across the following sentence under 'Indirect Object':
It was the cat’s birthday, so the dog bought her a present.
How is her referring to cat ? Isn't ...
- 95
8
votes
2
answers
4k
views
MY old friend VS an old friend OF MINE
"This is Lord Henry, a good friend of mine"
What differences are there? It is just stylistic differences? Isn't?
Can I freely use such construction instead of "my/our etc"?
For example:
This is a ...
- 323
2
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Which is the correct version "who's side" or "whose's side"?
Which one is correct in this case?
I need to hear both sides of the story to know who's side I'm on.
I need to hear both sides of the story to know whose side I'm on.
I have seen both ...
- 341
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The differences between They and You/One/We?
What is the difference between those 2 groups mentioned in the title?
Examples:
1
One says you are immortal.
They say you are immortal
You say you are immortal.
2
They say you've ...
- 265
0
votes
1
answer
154
views
Is THESE is who I am or THIS is who I am
I talked about my personality and likes and dislikes and story. At the end should I write it as THIS or THESE is who I am??
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
57
views
Ve and vis pronouns and possessives in a book
I'm reading "On the steel breeze" by Alistar Reynolds. For a character named Travertine, he uses "ve" instead of "he" and "vis" instead of "his".
This is a passage using "ve":
Travertine's a ...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
29
views
Possessive adjective / pronoun
Why do we write yours sincerely instead of your sincerely. Here I think before sincerely we need a possessive adjective and 'your' is doing this job well.
- 101
1
vote
2
answers
168
views
Do possessive pronouns always replace?
Possessive Pronouns replace Possessive adjectives and nouns
For eg - That is my(possessive adjective) ball(noun)
That is mine(possessive pronoun) or
That ball is mine(possessive pronoun)
That ball is ...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
3k
views
use of his or him
Look at the examples below:
A friend of him had given him the bad news.
A friend of his has given him the bad news.
I think the first one is incorrect but I am not sure why. Can someone ...
2
votes
1
answer
124
views
Why isn't a possessive pronoun used in some phrases before the word 'mind'?
Is there a reason why we don't normally put a possessive pronoun before the word 'mind' in some phrases?
For example, it is not used in the phrases
come to mind
keep in mind
but it is used in some ...
- 245
0
votes
1
answer
32
views
The possessive pronoun in this sentence?
One sees something like that and the picture forms in one's / their / his / her mind?
Which of the above possessive pronouns are preferable/correct?
- 1,910
2
votes
1
answer
113
views
What is the difference between using in possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns structures?
What is the difference between using in possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns structures?
For example:
You car is faster than my car. (possessive adjective)
Versus
Your car is ...
- 26k
9
votes
5
answers
41k
views
Which vs. Whose
Which of the following sentences is correct?
"These kind of branding strategies are adopted by those firms and organisations whose sales are decreasing day by day.
Or
"These kind of branding ...
- 351