Possessive Adjective YOUR — When and How to Use It
Quick Answer
Use your to show that something belongs to the person you are talking to. Say your bag, your name, your idea.
Example: What is your name? (The name belongs to you.)
YOUR in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how your works:
- Your bag is on the chair. (The bag belongs to the person I am talking to.)
- Is this your phone? (Asking if the phone belongs to you.)
- I like your idea. (The idea is yours.)
When to Use YOUR
Use your before a noun to show that the thing belongs to the person (or people) you are talking to. The same word works for one person or many.
- Things the listener owns: “Is this your umbrella?”
- Their family and friends: “How is your mother?”
- Their body parts: “Wash your hands.”
- Their feelings or time: “What is your favourite colour?”
Easy way to remember: You → your. The person you are speaking to is “you,” so anything that belongs to them is “your.”
The Rule in One Line: Use your for things that belong to the person you are talking to.
Real-Life Examples With YOUR
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- What is your name? (The name belongs to you (the listener).)
- Don’t forget your umbrella — it is raining. (The umbrella belongs to you.)
- How is your family? (Talking about the listener’s family.)
- Your coffee is getting cold. (The coffee belongs to the person across from me.)
- Can I borrow your pen? (The pen belongs to you.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With YOUR
The most common mistake here is mixing up “your” (belonging to you) with “you’re” (you are). They sound exactly the same but mean different things — even native speakers slip up.
Using you’re instead of your
✗ You’re bag is heavy. (“You are bag”? No.)
✓ Your bag is heavy.
Using you instead of your
✗ You phone is ringing.
✓ Your phone is ringing.
Using yours before the noun
✗ Is this yours book?
✓ Is this your book?
How to remember: Your = belongs to you. You’re = you are. If you can replace it with “you are,” use “you’re” — otherwise, use “your.”
Common “your” sentences: your name, your bag, your family, your idea, your turn, your friend.
Test Yourself: YOUR
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. What is _______ name?
2. Don’t forget _______ keys.
3. How is _______ family?
4. _______ phone is on the desk.
5. I like _______ new haircut.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned your — the word for everything that belongs to the person across the table from you.
But what if you are talking about someone else, not to them? “He has a car. ___ car is blue.” The blank is not “my” or “your.” There are two more options coming, one for him, one for her.
Next lesson: Possessive Adjective HIS — 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.
