Grammar · Free lesson
My or mine? Say who the bag belongs to
Two people have left bags by the door. You recognize yours. You can name the bag again or give a short ownership reply. The choice affects which form you need.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Say “my bag” when you include the noun. Say “The bag is mine” when mine stands for my bag. Mine already includes the ownership and the thing, so do not say “mine bag.” Mine stays the same for more than one thing: “The bags are mine.”
Keep the noun with my. Let mine replace the whole phrase.
My comes before a noun phrase: my bag, my blue bag. Mine replaces that phrase when the listener can identify the thing. In “The blue bag is mine,” mine means my bag. The same contrast works with your bag and yours. Mine and yours need no apostrophe, and neither changes for plural belongings.
Two ways to identify your bag.
That is my bag.
That bag is mine.
Those bags are mine.
Mine can refer to one bag or several. The sentence’s is or are changes with bag or bags; mine does not.
Choose the form from your sentence
Include the noun
This is my bag.
Replace my bag
This is mine.
Use the other person’s ownership
This is yours.
Try it now
Choose the right ownership form.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete the sentence: “That is ___ backpack.”
myThe noun backpack is present, so use my before it. Mine replaces the whole phrase; me does not show ownership here.
The backpack belongs to you. Finish: “That backpack is ___.”
mineMine replaces my backpack. It needs no apostrophe, and my cannot stand alone in this ordinary ownership reply.
Both bags belong to you. Choose the correct ownership sentence.
The bags are mine.Mine does not gain an -s for several belongings. Bags takes are; the possessive pronoun stays mine.
Put it into practice
Keep the bag and its owner.
You are pointing to your own bag. Keep the sentence beginning That bag is, and repair the ownership word.
That bag is my.
See a model answer
That bag is mine.
The repair changes the form without changing either the bag or its owner.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Does mine change for different things or owners?
Mine always refers to the speaker’s possession in this pattern. It does not change with the gender of the speaker, the type of thing or the number of belongings.
The coat is mine. The shoes are mine.
Does yours need an apostrophe?
No. Yours is already possessive. Write your coat with the noun, or the coat is yours without repeating it.
Is this your coat? Is this yours?
Take it into your day
Use my with the noun and mine instead of the whole phrase. Keep mine unchanged for one thing or several.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Make pronouns work in real sentences.
You’ve practiced one useful ownership contrast. The English Grammar and English Speaking course includes a dedicated possessive-pronouns section with explanation, review, use and practice, helping you connect small grammar choices to what you want to say.
Explore the course English Master Course: English Grammar and English Speaking