My vs. Mine: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Published on November 18, 2023
"My" is a possessive adjective indicating belonging to the speaker, while "Mine" is a possessive pronoun standing alone without a noun.
Key Differences
"My" is a possessive adjective, always used to qualify a noun. It precedes a noun in a sentence and expresses that the following noun belongs to the speaker. "Mine," however, is a possessive pronoun and takes the place of that noun in the sentence, eliminating the need for the noun itself.
"My" and "Mine" both denote ownership or a form of association to the speaker but are used differently in a sentence structure. "My" needs a noun after it to complete the meaning, while "Mine" stands alone and the noun it refers to is understood from the context.
In English grammar, "My" always comes before a noun, not after. It helps describe whose noun it is. "Mine" replaces the noun entirely and can come after or stand alone in a sentence, making it clear that the object, idea, or person being discussed belongs to the speaker.
While "My" and "Mine" are both first-person possessives, they cannot be used interchangeably due to their structural placement in a sentence. "My" introduces the owned object or person, and "Mine" reaffirms or responds with the assertion of ownership.
"My" and "Mine" serve to express personal connection, relationship, or ownership of a noun. Though both relate to the same concept of possession, "My" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, and "Mine" functions as a pronoun replacing the noun.
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Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Possessive adjective
Possessive pronoun
Usage
Comes before a noun
Stands alone without a noun
Position in Sentence
Always before the noun it modifies
Can be used in responses or end of sentences
Indicates
Ownership, association to the speaker
Ownership, association to the speaker
Interchangeability
Cannot replace "Mine" and vice versa
Cannot replace "My" and vice versa
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My and Mine Definitions
My
A possessive adjective showing ownership.
My book is on the table.
Mine
Possessive pronoun indicating ownership.
That book is mine.
My
Shows origin from the speaker.
My ideas were well-received.
Mine
Used to refer to something belonging to the speaker.
The choice is mine.
My
Indicates a personal relationship.
My mother called me.
Mine
Emphasizes the speaker's ownership.
This seat is mine.
My
Used as a modifier before a noun
My boots.
My accomplishments.
Mine
Used for emphasis or to contrast with what belongs to others.
Mine is the one with stripes.
My
Used preceding various forms of polite, affectionate, or familiar address
My friend, you are so right.
Mine
A hole or tunnel dug into the earth from which ore or minerals are extracted.
My
Used in various interjectional phrases
My word! My goodness!.
Mine
A surface excavation where the topmost or exposed layer of earth is removed for extracting its ore or minerals.
My
Used as an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, or dismay
Oh, my! What a tiring day!.
Mine
The site of such a hole, tunnel, or excavation, including its surface buildings and equipment.
My
First-person singular possessive determiner. See Appendix:Possessive#English.
Mine
A deposit of ore or minerals in the earth or on its surface.
My
Belonging to me.
I can't find my book.
Mine
An abundant supply or source of something valuable
This guidebook is a mine of information.
My
Associated with me.
My seat at the restaurant was uncomfortable.
Don't you know my name?
I recognised him because he had attended my school.
Mine
A tunnel dug under an enemy emplacement to destroy it by explosives, cause it to collapse, or gain access to it for an attack.
My
Related to me.
My parents won't let me go out tonight.
Mine
An explosive device used to destroy enemy personnel, shipping, fortifications, or equipment, often placed in a concealed position and designed to be detonated by contact, proximity, or a time fuse.
My
In the possession of me.
I have to take my books back to the library soon.
Mine
A burrow or tunnel made by an insect, especially one made in a leaf by a leaf miner.
My
Used to express surprise, shock or amazement.
My, what big teeth you have!
Mine
To extract (ore or minerals) from the earth.
My
Of or belonging to me; - used always attributively; as, my body; my book; - mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See Mine.
Mine
To dig a mine in (the earth) to obtain ore or minerals.
My
Denotes control or authority over something.
My team won the game.
Mine
To tunnel under (the earth or a surface feature).
My
Signifies personal characteristics or identity.
My hair is wet.
Mine
To make (a tunnel) by digging.
Mine
To lay explosive mines in or under.
Mine
To attack, damage, or destroy by underhand means; subvert.
Mine
To delve into and make use of; exploit
Mine the archives for detailed information.
Mine
To excavate the earth for the purpose of extracting ore or minerals.
Mine
To work in a mine.
Mine
To dig a tunnel under the earth, especially under an enemy emplacement or fortification.
Mine
To lay explosive mines.
Mine
Used instead of my before an initial vowel or the letter h.
Mine
That which belongs to me.
Mine
Used predicatively.
The house itself is mine, but the land is not.
Mine
Used substantively, with an implied noun.
Mine has been a long journey.
Mine
Used absolutely, set off from the sentence.
Mine for only a week so far, it already feels like an old friend.
Mine
Used otherwise not directly before the possessed noun. en
Mine
My; belonging to me.
Mine
(archaic) Used attributively after the noun it modifies.
Mine
(archaic) Used attributively before a vowel.
Mine
An excavation from which ore or solid minerals are taken, especially one consisting of underground tunnels.
This diamond comes from a mine in South Africa.
He came out of the coal mine with a face covered in black.
Most coal and ore comes from open-pit mines nowadays.
Mine
(figurative) Any source of wealth or resources.
She's a mine of information.
Mine
(military) A passage dug toward or underneath enemy lines, which is then packed with explosives.
Mine
(military) A device intended to explode when stepped upon or touched, or when approached by a ship, vehicle, or person.
His left leg was blown off after he stepped on a mine.
The warship was destroyed by floating mines.
Mine
(pyrotechnics) A type of firework that explodes on the ground, shooting sparks upward.
Mine
(entomology) The cavity made by a caterpillar while feeding inside a leaf.
Mine
(computing) A machine or network of machines used to extract units of a cryptocurrency.
Mine
Alternative form of mien
Mine
(ambitransitive) To remove (rock or ore) from the ground.
Mine
To dig into, for ore or metal.
Mine
(transitive) To sow mines (the explosive devices) in (an area).
We had to slow our advance after the enemy mined the road ahead of us.
Mine
(transitive) To damage (a vehicle or ship) with a mine (an explosive device).
Mine
(intransitive) To dig a tunnel or hole; to burrow in the earth.
The mining cony
Mine
To dig away, or otherwise remove, the substratum or foundation of; to lay a mine under; to sap; to undermine.
Mine
To ruin or destroy by slow degrees or secret means.
Mine
(slang) To pick one's nose.
Mine
(cryptocurrencies) To earn new units of cryptocurrency by doing certain calculations.
Mine
See Mien.
Mine
A subterranean cavity or passage
Mine
Any place where ore, metals, or precious stones are got by digging or washing the soil; as, a placer mine.
Mine
A rich source of wealth or other good.
Mine
An explosive device placed concealed in a location, on land or at sea, where an enemy vehicle or enemy personnel may pass through, having a triggering mechanism which detects people or vehicles, and which will explode and kill or maim personnel or destroy or damage vehicles. A mine placed at sea (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo{2} (a)) is also called an marine mine and underwater mine and sometimes called a floating mine, even though it may be anchored to the floor of the sea and not actually float freely. A mine placed on land (formerly called a torpedo, see torpedo{3}), usually buried, is called a land mine.
Mine
Belonging to me; my. Used as a pronominal to me; my. Used as a pronominal adjective in the predicate; as, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." Rom. xii. 19. Also, in the old style, used attributively, instead of my, before a noun beginning with a vowel.
I kept myself from mine iniquity.
When a man deceives me once, says the Italian proverb, it is his fault; when twice, it is mine.
This title honors me and mine.
She shall have me and mine.
Mine
To dig a mine or pit in the earth; to get ore, metals, coal, or precious stones, out of the earth; to dig in the earth for minerals; to dig a passage or cavity under anything in order to overthrow it by explosives or otherwise.
Mine
To form subterraneous tunnel or hole; to form a burrow or lodge in the earth; as, the mining cony.
Mine
To dig away, or otherwise remove, the substratum or foundation of; to lay a mine under; to sap; to undermine; hence, to ruin or destroy by slow degrees or secret means.
They mined the walls.
Too lazy to cut down these immense trees, the spoilers . . . had mined them, and placed a quantity of gunpowder in the cavity.
Mine
To dig into, for ore or metal.
Lead veins have been traced . . . but they have not been mined.
Mine
To get, as metals, out of the earth by digging.
The principal ore mined there is the bituminous cinnabar.
Mine
Excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
Mine
Explosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel
Mine
Get from the earth by excavation;
Mine ores and metals
Mine
Lay mines;
The Vietnamese mined Cambodia
Mine
Indicates a personal relationship, connection, or possession without repeating the noun.
Yours is red; mine is blue.
FAQs
Is "My" used for singular or plural nouns?
"My" can be used for both singular and plural nouns.
Can "My" stand alone in a sentence?
No, "My" requires a noun after it.
Can "Mine" refer to more than one object?
Yes, as long as the context makes it clear.
Can "Mine" be used before a noun?
No, "Mine" replaces the noun and stands alone.
Can "My" indicate a close relationship?
Yes, it denotes a personal connection or ownership.
Is "My" used in all types of sentences?
Yes, it's used in statements, questions, exclamations, etc.
Are "My" and "Mine" interchangeable?
No, "My" is a possessive adjective and comes before a noun, while "Mine" is a possessive pronoun and stands alone.
Does "My" have any synonyms?
No, it's a unique possessive adjective.
Can "Mine" be used to indicate something that's not physically owned?
Yes, it can indicate anything associated with the speaker.
Does "My" change form based on gender or number?
No, "My" remains the same regardless of gender or number.
Can "Mine" start a sentence?
Yes, if it's answering a question or emphasizing possession.
Is "My" only used for tangible objects?
No, it can refer to intangible things like emotions.
Can "My" be used with animals or objects?
Yes, it shows possession or relation.
Can "Mine" end a sentence?
Yes, especially in responses asserting ownership.
Is "Mine" used in formal contexts?
Yes, it's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
Is "Mine" appropriate in academic writing?
Yes, when indicating personal possession or relation.
Can "My" refer to more than possession?
Yes, also relationships, characteristics, or origin.
Is "Mine" reflexive?
No, it indicates possession but isn't reflexive.
Are "My" and "Mine" first-person possessives?
Yes, both indicate the speaker's ownership or association.
Does "Mine" need to be used with "is" or "was"?
Often, but context determines usage.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
