Possessive Adjective HIS — When and How to Use It
Quick Answer
Use his to show that something belongs to a man or boy — one male person. Say his car, his brother, his idea.
Example: Tom is here. His car is outside. (The car belongs to Tom.)
HIS in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how his works:
- Sam left his phone at home. (The phone belongs to Sam.)
- My father loves his garden. (The garden belongs to my father.)
- Adam is here with his wife. (The wife is Adam’s.)
When to Use HIS
Use his when the owner is one man or boy. “His” replaces “he” + ownership: “He has a car” → “His car.”
- A man’s things: “His watch is expensive.”
- A boy’s family: “His mother lives here.”
- A man’s body parts: “His hand is bleeding.”
- A man’s ideas or feelings: “His plan is brilliant.”
Easy way to remember: He → his. One man or boy. Both words start with H. Picture a man — anything that belongs to him is “his.”
The Rule in One Line: Use his for things that belong to one man or boy.
Real-Life Examples With HIS
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- Tom forgot his jacket. (The jacket belongs to Tom.)
- My grandfather sold his old car. (The car belonged to my grandfather.)
- His name is Daniel. (The name belongs to him.)
- The boy hurt his knee. (The knee belongs to the boy.)
- My uncle loves his dog. (The dog belongs to my uncle.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With HIS
Many learners use “he” or “him” when they mean “his.” These three words look similar but they have different jobs in a sentence. Once you see the pattern, it sticks.
Using he instead of his
✗ He car is red.
✓ His car is red.
Using him instead of his
✗ Him phone is broken.
✓ His phone is broken.
Using her for a man
✗ Tom forgot her keys.
✓ Tom forgot his keys.
How to remember: He has things → his things. The man is “he”; what he owns is “his.”
Common “his” sentences: his car, his name, his brother, his job, his dog, his idea.
Test Yourself: HIS
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. Sam left _______ phone at home.
2. My grandfather loves _______ garden.
3. The boy hurt _______ leg playing football.
4. _______ name is David.
5. Adam introduced me to _______ wife.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned his — the word for everything one man or boy owns. Combined with my and your, you can now describe ownership for the three most common people in any conversation.
But there is a partner to his — a word that does the same job for a woman or girl. Many learners mix the two up because they sound nothing alike. The next word is short, easy to spell, and tricky in one specific way.
Next lesson: Possessive Adjective HER — When and How to Use It
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
