What is a Possessive Determiner? (Definition and Examples)

What is a possessive determiner? How does a possessive determiner work? To genuinely enter the realm of fluency in English, it is essential to have a solid understanding of how possessive determiners in the language function.

What are possessive determiners?

Words that signify ownership or possession in the English language are referred to as possessive determiners.

It is possible to come across publications that refer to them as possessive adjectives.

However, given that they are not adjectives, this definition is technically incorrect.

In addition, while the idea of ownership is the primary concept communicated by determiners, it is not the only one. When talking about your husband, your parents, or even your coworker, none of these individuals are actually yours.

Words that describe someone or something that have a relationship with you are examples of possessive determiners. This is a more accurate description of what possessive determiners are.

How to correctly utilize possessive determiners in sentences

Determiners of possession are a useful tool for referring to items.

When referring to a specific person or thing, such as “my pet,” “his automobile,” or “our room,” they are useful.

Before the noun that they use to establish ownership, possessive determiners are inserted in the sentence.

Here are a few instances:

• James closed on the purchase of his new house yesterday.
• It was important to Charlie and Selena that their dog receive proper training.

It is customary to place the determining factor ahead of the goods that are possessed; in this instance, that would be the house and the dog.

What is the key distinction between pronouns and possessive determiners?

Pronouns are used on their own, whereas determiners are used in conjunction with nouns.

The distinction is not big, but it is essential to understand since it is quite improper to employ a determiner without a noun.

When do you use pronouns instead of determiners, and when do you use determiners?

A determiner is a word used when it is important to identify the subject of a sentence.

Take for instance the situation when Charlie discovered a phone that he had misplaced one month ago. The correct form of the sentence is:

• Charlie was able to track down his phone that he had misplaced one month ago.

You are using the determiner to specify what Charlie has lost in the context of this statement. Charlie’s phone was the one he had lost; consequently, it was not a random phone.

When making a claim to ownership, which is the main focus of the phrase, employ a pronoun.

Suppose a person wants to identify the person who owns the bicycle that is parked in front of the shopping center.

It is this the precise piece of information that the person is seeking if they question who the owner of the bicycle is.

So you’d answer:

• She owns the bicycle that is parked in the front yard.

We already know which bike is being discussed, namely the one that is parked outside. So, the purpose of this line is to tell us who the owner of the bike that is parked outside is.

It is not possible to substitute the pronoun in this phrase with a determiner in its stead.

• The bike parked outside is her.

Because determiners cannot stand on their own, the sentence not only sounds strange but is also grammatically incorrect.

Sources:

1. Possessive Determiners
2. Possessive determiner
3. Possessive Determiner in English Grammar
4. Possessive determiners in English