Possessive Adjective MY — When and How to Use It

MY in Action — See the Pattern

Read these three sentences. Look at how my works:

• My phone is on the table. (The phone belongs to me.)
• This is my sister. (She is part of my family.)
• I love my job. (The job is mine.)

When to Use MY

Use my before a noun to show that the thing belongs to you — the speaker. “My” always comes before the thing it owns.

• Things you own: “My bag is heavy.”
• Family and friends: “My mother is a doctor.”
• Body parts: “My hand hurts.”
• Time and feelings: “My birthday is in May.”

Easy way to remember: I → my. If the speaker is “I,” the possessive is “my.” Always before the noun: my book, never book my.

Real-Life Examples With MY

Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:

• My name is Adam. (The name belongs to me.)
• My car is small but fast. (The car is mine.)
• I forgot my keys at home. (The keys belong to me.)
• My brother lives in London. (He is in my family.)
• Where did I put my phone? (The phone is mine.)

You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With MY

The most common mistake is using “I” or “me” instead of “my.” Even people who speak English every day sometimes mix this up — don’t worry, the fix is small.

How to remember: I (subject) → my (possessive). Always before the thing: my + thing.

Common “my” sentences: my name, my phone, my family, my job, my friend, my birthday.

Test Yourself: MY

Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.

Keep Going — You Are Building Something

You just learned my — the most personal possessive in English. Anything that belongs to you, big or small, gets my in front of it.

Now think about the person across from you — your friend, your teacher, the cashier. When you talk about something they own, “my” stops working. There is one short word that flips the meaning the moment you point at someone else.

Next lesson: Possessive Adjective YOUR — When and How to Use It