My vs. Mine: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
"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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
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.
Sara Rehman
Nov 18, 2023
"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.
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Position in Sentence
Always before the noun it modifies
Can be used in responses or end of sentences
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Indicates
Ownership, association to the speaker
Ownership, association to the speaker
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Interchangeability
Cannot replace "Mine" and vice versa
Cannot replace "My" and vice versa
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
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My and Mine Definitions
Mine
Used to refer to something belonging to the speaker.
The choice is mine.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 21, 2023
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Mine
Used for emphasis or to contrast with what belongs to others.
Mine is the one with stripes.
Sara Rehman
Oct 21, 2023
My
Used preceding various forms of polite, affectionate, or familiar address
My friend, you are so right.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
A hole or tunnel dug into the earth from which ore or minerals are extracted.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
A surface excavation where the topmost or exposed layer of earth is removed for extracting its ore or minerals.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
My
Used as an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, or dismay
Oh, my! What a tiring day!.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
The site of such a hole, tunnel, or excavation, including its surface buildings and equipment.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
My
First-person singular possessive determiner. See Appendix:Possessive#English.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
An abundant supply or source of something valuable
This guidebook is a mine of information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
A burrow or tunnel made by an insect, especially one made in a leaf by a leaf miner.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To delve into and make use of; exploit
Mine the archives for detailed information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To dig a tunnel under the earth, especially under an enemy emplacement or fortification.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
Used absolutely, set off from the sentence.
Mine for only a week so far, it already feels like an old friend.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(figurative) Any source of wealth or resources.
She's a mine of information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(military) A passage dug toward or underneath enemy lines, which is then packed with explosives.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(pyrotechnics) A type of firework that explodes on the ground, shooting sparks upward.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(entomology) The cavity made by a caterpillar while feeding inside a leaf.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(computing) A machine or network of machines used to extract units of a cryptocurrency.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(transitive) To damage (a vehicle or ship) with a mine (an explosive device).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(intransitive) To dig a tunnel or hole; to burrow in the earth.
The mining cony
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To dig away, or otherwise remove, the substratum or foundation of; to lay a mine under; to sap; to undermine.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
(cryptocurrencies) To earn new units of cryptocurrency by doing certain calculations.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
Any place where ore, metals, or precious stones are got by digging or washing the soil; as, a placer mine.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To form subterraneous tunnel or hole; to form a burrow or lodge in the earth; as, the mining cony.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To dig into, for ore or metal.
Lead veins have been traced . . . but they have not been mined.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
To get, as metals, out of the earth by digging.
The principal ore mined there is the bituminous cinnabar.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
Explosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Mine
Indicates a personal relationship, connection, or possession without repeating the noun.
Yours is red; mine is blue.
Janet White
Oct 21, 2023
FAQs
Is "My" used for singular or plural nouns?
"My" can be used for both singular and plural nouns.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "Mine" refer to more than one object?
Yes, as long as the context makes it clear.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "Mine" be used before a noun?
No, "Mine" replaces the noun and stands alone.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "My" indicate a close relationship?
Yes, it denotes a personal connection or ownership.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 18, 2023
Is "My" used in all types of sentences?
Yes, it's used in statements, questions, exclamations, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "Mine" be used to indicate something that's not physically owned?
Yes, it can indicate anything associated with the speaker.
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
Does "My" change form based on gender or number?
No, "My" remains the same regardless of gender or number.
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
Can "Mine" start a sentence?
Yes, if it's answering a question or emphasizing possession.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Is "My" only used for tangible objects?
No, it can refer to intangible things like emotions.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "My" be used with animals or objects?
Yes, it shows possession or relation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Is "Mine" used in formal contexts?
Yes, it's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
Is "Mine" appropriate in academic writing?
Yes, when indicating personal possession or relation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Can "My" refer to more than possession?
Yes, also relationships, characteristics, or origin.
Janet White
Nov 18, 2023
Are "My" and "Mine" first-person possessives?
Yes, both indicate the speaker's ownership or association.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 18, 2023
Does "Mine" need to be used with "is" or "was"?
Often, but context determines usage.
Sara Rehman
Nov 18, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
