Skip to content
Zorg Space Open the app

English grammar

my, your, his, her, our, their

A0 · Starter Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

To say whose something is, English puts one small word in front of the noun and never changes it: my bag, my bags, my children. The word depends on the OWNER, not on the thing: his sister (a man's sister), her brother (a woman's brother). That is the opposite of Arabic, where the ending agrees with the thing owned.

Pattern

my · your · his · her · its | our · your · their

Examples

  1. This is my bag.

  2. His name is Karim.

  3. Her daughter is at school.

  4. Their children play here.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: my bags are heavy — mys bags

    Right: my bags are heavy

    These words never take -s, however many things there are.

  • Wrong: Ahmed and her sister

    Right: Ahmed and his sister

    The word follows the OWNER. Ahmed is a man, so his — even though sister is a woman.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    This is _____ husband. (a woman speaking about her own)

    1. our
    2. her
    3. his
    4. my
    Show answer

    Answer: D This is my husband. (a woman speaking about her own)

    Speaking about yourself → my.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    Omar is here. _____ wife is a nurse.

    1. Its
    2. His
    3. Her
    4. Their
    Show answer

    Answer: B Omar is here. His wife is a nurse.

    The owner is a man → his.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    Sara is here. _____ son is at school.

    1. Her
    2. Their
    3. His
    4. Your
    Show answer

    Answer: A Sara is here. Her son is at school.

    The owner is a woman → her.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    Is this _____ coat? (asking someone politely)

    1. your
    2. their
    3. my
    4. his
    Show answer

    Answer: A Is this your coat? (asking someone politely)

    Asking the person in front of you → your.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    _____ house is near the park. (my family and me)

    1. Our
    2. Your
    3. Their
    4. My
    Show answer

    Answer: A Our house is near the park. (my family and me)

    Me and others → our.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. My clothes are in the bedroom.
    2. Mine clothes are in the bedroom.
    3. Mys clothes are in the bedroom.
    4. My clothe are in the bedroom.
    Show answer

    Answer: A My clothes are in the bedroom.

    The word never takes -s.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. My brother and her daughter are here.
    2. My brother and their daughter is here.
    3. My brother and its daughter are here.
    4. My brother and his daughter are here.
    Show answer

    Answer: D My brother and his daughter are here.

    The owner decides the word: a man → his.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    Their children play in the park

    Show answer

    Answer: Their children play in the park.

    The word comes first, then the noun.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. My father and his car are outside.
    2. My father and her car are outside.
    3. My mother and her car are outside.
    4. Their car is outside.
    Show answer

    Answer: B My father and her car are outside.

    her is for a woman owner.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    What is _____ phone number? (asking a stranger)

    1. your
    2. yours
    3. you
    4. my
    Show answer

    Answer: A What is your phone number? (asking a stranger)

    your, for the person you are speaking to.

Practise this lesson in Zorg Space

In the app every rule becomes interactive practice: instant correction, reviews at the moment you are about to forget, and progress you can see from level to level — free.

Start for free

More in «Referring to people and things»