POSSESSIVE

I. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

Definition: Possesive adjectives are used to show ownership or possession. The possessive adjectives are:

Subject pronoun Possessive adjective
I my
you your
he his
she her
it its
we our
they their

For example:
That’s my folder.
* ” My” is an adjective which shows that I am the owner of the folder.

Notes:
A possessive adjective is similar or identical to a possessive pronoun; however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or a noun phrase.

For example:
I can’t complete my assignment because I don’t have the textbook.
* In this sentence, the possessive adjective “my” modifies the noun “assignment”.
What is your phone number?
* Here the possessive adjective “your” is used to modify the noun phrase “phone number”
The cat chased its ball down the stairs and into the backyard.
* In this sentence, the possessive adjective “its” modifies “ball”.

II. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

Definition: We use the Possessive Pronouns when we want to substitute a group of words that are indicating a possession relation.

Subject pronouns Possessive pronouns
I Mine
You Yours (singular)
He His
She Hers
It Its
We Ours
You Yours (plural)
They Theirs

For example:
This is my book.
* In this example, we can substitute “my book” for the possessive pronoun “mine”. => This is mine.

This is your disk and that’s mine.
* Mine substitutes the word disk and shows that it belongs to me.

A possessive pronoun indicates it is acting as a subject complement or a subject of the sentence.

For example:
The smallest gift is mine.
This is yours.
* Here the possessive pronouns acts as a subject complement.

His is on the kitchen counter.
Theirs will be delivered tomorrow.
Ours is the green one on the corner.
* Here the possessive pronoun acts as the subject of the sentence.

Note : Possessive pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives.

For example:
You can borrow my book as long as you remember that it’s not yours.
=> The possessive “my” depends on the noun “book.”
=> The possessive “yours” is a pronoun which stands in the place of “your book”.

When you drive to Manitoba, will you take your car or theirs?
=> The possessive “your” depends on the noun “car.”
=> The possessive pronoun, “theirs,” stands in the place of the noun phrase, “their car.”

III. Possessive Nouns

Rule #1: Making singular nouns possessive. Add an apostrophe ( ‘ ) + s to most singular nouns and to plural nouns that do not end in s.

Examples:
Singular nouns: kitten’s toy, Joe’s car, MLB’s ruling
Plurals not ending in s: women’s dresses, sheep’s pasture, children’s toys


Rule #2: Making plural nouns possessive Add an apostrophe ( ‘ ) only to plural nouns that already end in s.

Examples:
Companies’ workers
Horses’ stalls
Countries’ armies


Rule #3: Making hyphenated nouns and compound nouns plural. Compound and hyphenated words can be tricky. Add the apostrophe + s to the end of the compound words or the last word in a hyphenated noun.
Examples:
My mother-in-law’s recipe for meatloaf is my husband’s favorite.
The United States Post Office’s stamps are available in roll or in packets.
Rule #4: Indicating possession when two nouns are joined together. You may be writing about two people or two places or things that share possession of an object. If two nouns share ownership, indicate possession only once, and on the second noun. Add the apostrophe + s to the second noun only.
Examples:
Jack and Jill’s pail of water features prominently in the nursery rhyme.
Abbot and Costello’s comedy skit “Who’s On First” is a classic act.

Rule #5: Indicating possession when two nouns are joined, and ownership is separate.This is the trickiest of all, but thankfully you’ll probably need this rule infrequently. When two nouns indicate ownership, but the ownership is separate, each noun gets the apostrophe + s. The examples below may help you understand exactly what this means.
Example:
Lucy’s and Ricky’s dressing rooms were painted pink and blue. (Each owns his or her own dressing room, and they are different rooms).
Senator Obama’s and Senator Clinton’s educations are outstanding. (Each senator owns his or her education, but they attained separate educations).

Adapted from: http://www.englishlanguageguide.com/

http://www.yourdictionary.com/

Here is the exercise that can be done