Possessive case facts for kids

A possessive case is a special way we use words to show that something belongs to someone or something else. It's like saying "this is mine!" or "that's her dog!" For example, when you say "Ray's bike," it means the bike belongs to Ray.

Many languages, especially European ones, use possessive forms. These forms help us understand who owns or is connected to something.

How We Use Possessive Words

We use possessive words in two main ways in English:

Possessive Words with Nouns

Sometimes, we use possessive words right before a noun (a person, place, or thing) to show ownership. These are called possessive adjectives or possessive determiners.

• my car (the car belongs to me)
• your sisters (the sisters belong to you, or are related to you)
• his boss (the boss belongs to him, or is his boss)

Possessive Words Without Nouns

Other times, we use possessive words all by themselves, without a noun right after them. These are called possessive pronouns. They replace the noun and show ownership at the same time.

• Mine is red. (This means "My car is red" or "My book is red," but we don't need to say "car" or "book" again.)
• I prefer yours. (This means "I prefer your idea" or "I prefer your choice.")
• This book is his. (This means "This book belongs to him.")

Understanding "Its" vs. "It's"

This can be a bit tricky!

• Its is the possessive form for things or animals. It shows that something belongs to "it."
  • The cat chased its tail. (The tail belongs to the cat.)
  • The tree lost its leaves. (The leaves belong to the tree.)
• It's is not a possessive word. It is a short way of saying "it is" or "it has."
  • It's a sunny day. (It is a sunny day.)
  • It's been a long time. (It has been a long time.)

Remember: If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has," then you should use it's. If you are showing ownership, use its.

See Also

• In Spanish: Posesivo para niños