Grade 1 English Language Structures And Functions – Use Of Possessives Notes
Use of Possessives
Subject: English — Topic: Language Structures & Functions
Age: 6 (Kenya)
What is a possessive?
A possessive shows that something belongs to someone or something. It tells us who owns a thing.
Possessive words (adjectives)
- my — (my book) 📚
- your — (your hat) 🎩
- his — (his ball) ⚽
- her — (her cat) 🐱
- its — (its tail) 🐾
- our — (our school) 🏫
- their — (their house) 🏠
Possessive 's
We add 's to a name or a noun to show who owns something.
Examples:
- John's pencil ✏️ — the pencil belongs to John.
- the girl's bag — the bag belongs to the girl.
Remember:
"its" shows belonging (the cat licks its paw). "It's" means "it is" — this is different. For now, use "its" to show possession.
Simple practice (try with a teacher or at home)
- Fill the blanks with a possessive word:
- _____ book is red. (I) — Answer: my
- _____ hat is blue. (you) — Answer: your
- _____ ball is big. (he) — Answer: his
- _____ bag is new. (they) — Answer: their
- Write with 's:
- Mama + jiko = Mama's jiko. (the jiko belongs to Mama)
- Papa + car = Papa's car.
- Look at things at home. Say who they belong to using "my", "your", or "'s". Example: "This is my cup." ☕
Teacher / Parent tips
- Use real objects (book, hat, ball) and ask the child "Whose is this?"
- Praise correct answers and repeat sentences with the right possessive form.
- Keep practice short: 5–10 minutes a day with games or songs.
Have fun learning possessives! 😊