My and your - Possessive Adjectives
Use "my" when a thing belongs to you and "your" when a thing belongs to the person you are speaking to. These words show ownership and they are called possessive adjectives. For example, if I have a hat, it is "my" hat. If you have a hat, it is "your" hat. You cannot use "I" or "you" to talk about a thing you own; you must change the word to show who the owner is.
By 
Christopher Huntley. Updated
Your vs You're: The Simple Trick to Never Mix Them Up
Whose is it?
Imagine you find a phone on a desk. You need words to say that a thing belongs to a person. This is when you use "my" and "your."
How do I say it belongs to me?
When you are the owner, use "my". For example, "It is my book." and "My book is red".
My house is white.
That is my bag.
My brother is tall.
How do I say it belongs to you?
When something belongs to the person you are talking to, "you" becomes "your." You might say "You have a cat" and then "Your cat is small."
What does this look like in a conversation?
You can use these words to ask questions or give information, such as "Is this your key?" or "My sister is six."
Anna: Is this your key?
Ben: No, it is not my key.
Anna: Oh, it is my key!
Why do I say "my" instead of "I"?
Do not use "I" before a thing. Use "my". English changes the word to show ownership: "I" is the person, but "my" shows ownership; "you" is the person, but "your" shows the owner.
| Person | Owner |
|---|---|
| I | my |
| you | your |
Not: I dog is brown. Use: My dog is brown. Use the word for the owner.
Not: I phone is here. Use: My phone is here. Use the word for the owner.
Not: You car is fast. Use: Your car is fast. Use the word for the owner.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use "your"?
Use "your" before a thing to show it belongs to the person you are speaking with. For example, you can say "your house" or "your name".
What is the difference between "I" and "my"?
"I" is the person who speaks, but "my" is used to talk about things that person owns. You say "I am a teacher" but "my book is here".
Can I say "I pen"?
No, you cannot say "I pen" because "I" is a person. You must say "my pen" to show the pen belongs to you.
How do I say it is mine?
To show something belongs to you (the speaker), put "my" before the object. For example, you say "my phone" to show the phone is yours.
Is "your" only for one person?
No, you use "your" when talking to one person or to a group of people. It always shows the thing belongs to the listener.