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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #109024: Possessive idioms
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Speaking | Idioms | Genitive [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Vocabulary: greeting people - Genitive case - Vocabulary: on the phone - On the phone - Interacting with someone - Dialogue : What time...? - Conditional clauses - Differences between Like and As
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Possessive idioms


    IDIOMS EXPRESSING POSSESSION 





    In order to understand and use 'possession' totally, please, study or revise the bases:  test, test




    You must master possessive  adjectives thoroughly: my, your, his/her/its, our, their + Noun


    as well as the possessive pronouns  : mine, yours, his/hers/its, ours, theirs. 




    You must know how to build and use the genitive, or possessive case: the kid's toys ; the kids' toys; the children's toys.
     


    Then, and  only then, will you be ready to use some  idioms concerning the possessive! 






                                                                




    A) 1) It must be remembered that the second term of the genitive cannot be preceded by an  indefinite article.




    Consequently, to express a sentence which would 'need one', you have to resort to an idiom:


     
    - one of Peter's colleagues => a colleague of Peter's. =>  determiner + Noun + OF + possessor in the genitive case.


    - one of her father's friends => a friend of her father's. 




    Let me insist on the importance of  this possessive case, which is often 'forgotten' by learners.






    2) The construction is the same with possessive pronoun: 




    ex : Jim is one of her friends => Jim is a friend of hers. => determiner + Noun + OF + possessive pronoun 


    ex : She' s one of their cousins => She's a cousin of theirs.




    3) A construction with 'no' :


    ex :This is none of his business => This is no business of his.




    B) OWN replaces and mostly reinforces a pronoun, when it is with a possessive adjective.


    It may also reinforce a noun when it is before it.




    ex: Why do you use my computer? You have your own computer! (=> You have yours)


    ex: Don't take my dress! Wear one of your own...(=> wear one of yours)




     ! On my own, on your own, on his or her own = alone!


     


                                                                            


    It was easy, wasn't it?  Ready for the test?  






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    1)A neighbour of told me the poor lady was taken to hospital this morning.
    2) Paul wants you to return that you borrowed months ago...
    3) Don't use my toothbrush! It's disgusting! Use toothbrush, and if you have none, go and buy !
    4) Don't worry! I won't use your computer... I've brought computer but I'll need a plug because my battery is almost dead!

    5) Let's gather some and have a huge party to celebrate our success...

    6) Please! Stop wearing my dresses... You have which would be ideal for the circumstance.

    7) Don't touch these stamps! They're part of a collection and are !

    8) It's not his or hers... It's not even mine... It's . Leave it alone!

    9) You said you would introduce me to who could help me find a job...

    10) No, it's not hearsay! I saw it with ! I can swear it !










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