1. Understand the Basics:
* Possessive pronouns: These pronouns show ownership or possession. They include:
* My, your, his, her, its, our, their
* Adjectives: These words describe nouns. They tell us more about the noun they modify.
2. Look for the Noun Being Modified:
* A possessive pronoun used as an adjective will always be followed by a noun.
* The noun is the "thing" that is being possessed.
3. Consider the Function:
* Ask yourself: Does the possessive pronoun tell us who or what owns or possesses the noun?
* If the answer is "yes," then the pronoun is functioning as an adjective.
Examples:
* My car is red. (My modifies the noun "car" and tells us who owns it)
* Your dog is friendly. (Your modifies the noun "dog" and tells us who owns it)
* His book is on the table. (His modifies the noun "book" and tells us who owns it)
Important Note: Possessive pronouns are NOT adjectives if they stand alone (without a noun).
* Mine is red. (Mine is a pronoun, not an adjective because it doesn't describe a noun)
* Yours is friendly. (Yours is a pronoun, not an adjective because it doesn't describe a noun)
Let me know if you'd like to practice with more examples!