What is a Possessive Pronoun?
The possessive pronouns are: mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr and their conjugated versions. They replace a previously mentioned noun and show ownership or belonging to that noun.
Possessive pronouns must be declined.
Examples:
- „Ist das dein Koffer?“ – „Ja, das ist meiner!“
- „Wem gehört die Katze?“ – „Das ist meine!“
Construction
- The person (ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie) is detremined by the „owner“.
- The ending is determined by the gender of the corresponding noun.
- The case is determined by its function in the sentence.
„Wem gehört der Ball?“ (Gender = masculine)
| Person | Base Forme | Pronoun | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mein | ⇒ „Das ist meiner!“ | ⇒ Nominative (masculine) ⇒ der ⇒ Ending "er" |
| du | dein | ⇒ „Das ist deiner!“ | |
| er | sein | ⇒ „Das ist seiner!“ | |
| sie | ihr | ⇒ „Das ist ihrer!“ | |
| es | sein | ⇒ „Das ist seiner!“ | |
| wir | unser | ⇒ „Das ist unserer!“ | |
| ihr | euer | ⇒ „Das ist eurer!“ | |
| sie/Sie | ihr/Ihr | ⇒ „Das ist ihrer/Ihrer!“ |
Declension
The declension is related to the possessive article´s declension
But, pronouns always take the ending of the definite article, including in nominative (m/n) and accusative (m).
| Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | meiner | meinen | meinem | meines |
| Feminine | meine | meine | meiner | meiner |
| Neuter | mein(e)s | mein(e)s | meinem | meines |
| Plural | meine | meine | meinen | meiner |
You can see that the ending corresponds 100% to the endings of the definite articles.
Usage
As a placeholder for a previously mentioned noun to show ownership or belonging to that noun.
- „Wem gehört das Auto?“ – „Das ist meines!“
Possessive pronouns are most often used after the question to whom something belongs. If we repeat the noun it´s not a pronoun anymore, it is a possessive article.
Difference between the Possessive Article and the Possessive Pronoun
- „Wem gehört der Ball?“ – „Das ist mein Ball.“
⇒ Possessive article, because there is a noun after it.
- „Wem gehört der Ball?“ – „Das ist meiner.“
⇒ Possessive pronoun, because there is no noun after it.
Pronouns replace nouns. If there is a noun after it, it is an article, because it is accompanying the noun. Without the noun it is REPLACING the noun. That is what a pronoun is does. The difference is important because the declension in nominative and accusative case is different.
Further Information
- Personal pronouns have to be declined. That means you have to know when to use: Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive Case.
- You should be aware of the differences between possessive pronouns and Possessive Articles.
- There are other types of pronouns: Possessive Pronouns, Reflexive Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns and Indefinite Pronouns.
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