TKG English Learner's Dictionary

my

mydeterminer

American /maɪ/ British /maɪ/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. belonging to mebelonging to or connected with the speaker

    My goes directly before a noun and does not change for a plural noun: my book, my books. The same idea used alone, without a following noun, is a different word, mine (this book is mine), a separate entry.

    Compare our; your

Word family

Usage

My never changes for number: my book, my books. It stands alone as an exclamation of surprise (My, that's a big dog!); this interjection use is a separate entry. The independent possessive, used without a following noun, is a different word, mine (this is mine).

Common mistakes

This book is my. This book is mine.
Without a following noun, use mine; my always needs a noun after it.

See also our; mine (the independent possessive, used without a following noun: this is mine)

For translators

Grammar trap My stays the same before a singular or plural noun; it does not agree with the noun's own gender or number, unlike the possessive forms of many other languages.