Definition

1. Possessive determiner:

   • Belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified: "his" indicates that something belongs to or is related to a male subject.
   • Example: He took his hat. (The hat belongs to him.)

2. Possessive pronoun:

   • The one or ones belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned: "his" can replace a noun phrase to avoid repetition.
   • Example: That book is his. (The book belongs to him.)

Usage Examples

• Possessive determiner:

  • His car is parked outside. (The car belonging to him.)
  • She admired his dedication. (The dedication shown by him.)

• Possessive pronoun:

  • The red jacket is mine, and the blue one is his. (The blue jacket belongs to him.)
  • I don't have my keys; I think I took his by mistake. (The keys belonging to him.)

Advanced Usage

• "his own": used for emphasis to stress that something belongs exclusively to him.

  • He built the house with his own hands. (He built it personally, without help.)

• "his and hers": a phrase used to describe matching or paired items for a man and a woman.

  • They bought matching towels, his and hers. (Towels for him and for her.)

Variants and Related Words

• He (pronoun): the male person or animal previously mentioned.

  • He is a good student. (The male person is a good student.)

• Him (pronoun): objective case of "he".

  • I saw him yesterday. (I saw the male person yesterday.)

• Himself (reflexive pronoun): used to refer to the male subject of the verb.

  • He hurt himself while playing. (He caused injury to his own body.)

Synonyms

• Of him: a periphrastic equivalent for "his" as a possessive determiner.
  • That is the house of him. (Less common; "his house" is standard.)

Related Idioms

• His heart is in the right place: he has good intentions, even if the results are not perfect.

  • He made a mistake, but his heart is in the right place. (He meant well.)

• His days are numbered: he is expected to die or lose power soon.

  • After the scandal, his days in office are numbered. (He will soon be forced to leave.)