Mine vs My Own
What’s the difference between them?
Mine
Meaning:
indicates possession, often used independently.
Examples:
1. This gold is mine!
2. Mine is the red car in the parking lot.
3. I'm going to keep this book - it's mine!
My Own
Meaning:
emphasizes individual ownership or personal connection.
Examples:
1.'I decided to create my own business.'
2.'I wrote my own song for the talent show.'
3.'I'm going to make my own decisions from now on.'
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Mine
1. My own
2. Belonging to me
3. My possession
1. Yours
2. Someone Else's
3. Ours
4. Sharing
5. Divide
My Own
1. Personal
2. Self
3. My Own Accord
4. Autonomous
5. Independently
1. Not Mine
2. Alien
3. Not Belonging to Me
4. Unfamiliar
5. Freely Shared
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Mine", "My Own".
1. Remember that 'mine' is the possessive form of 'I', so it indicates ownership or possession.
2. 'My own' is more personal and emphasizes individual ownership or a close connection with something.
3. Memorize this mnemonic phrase – 'My Own is Mine' – to easily recall the distinction between the two words.
4. If you are unsure of which word to use, try substituting 'My Own' for 'Mine' to see if it makes sense in the sentence.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When should 'mine' be used?
'Mine' should be used when referring to ownership, typically by a single individual. For example, 'My car is mine', or 'That is mine'. It can also be used to refer to something that belongs to a group or to a couple when it is used in the first person plural.
When is the appropriate context for using 'my own'?
'My own' is used to emphasize individual ownership and personal connection. For example, 'This is my own car', or 'This is my own house'. It is typically used to refer to something that is particularly special or important to the speaker.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, mine is pronounced /main/, while my own is pronounced /mai oun/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One of the most common mistakes people make when using these words is using them interchangeably. Although they may have similar definitions, they are not completely interchangeable. For example, 'This is my own car' emphasizes the personal connection the speaker has with the car, whereas 'This is mine' simply states that the speaker owns it. Another mistake that is made is using 'my own' when referring to something that belongs to a group or couple, as this phrase only applies to individual ownership.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. That book is not yours; its _____.
2. I have a car, but I prefer to drive _____.
3. Those shoes are _____; they arent hers.
4. While everyone else rented equipment, I brought _____.
5. He has his reasons, and I have _____.
6. The ideas presented in the meeting were all _____; nobody else contributed to them.
1. Mine
Explanation: Here, the sentence is contrasting ownership (yours vs. the speakers). Mine is the correct possessive pronoun to show that the book belongs to the speaker.
2. My own
Explanation: The context here indicates a preference for something specific that belongs to the speaker. My own emphasizes personal possession and often a preference or special regard for that possession.
3. Mine
Explanation: Similar to the first sentence, this sentence contrasts ownership. Mine indicates that the shoes belong to the speaker.
4. My own
Explanation: The context here emphasizes personal possession, as the speaker is contrasting the action of renting versus bringing something personally owned. My own emphasizes this personal possession.
5. Mine
Explanation: This sentence contrasts reasons (his vs. the speakers). Mine is the possessive pronoun indicating that the reasons belong to the speaker.
6. Mine
Explanation: This is a declaration of sole contribution, indicating that all the ideas were from the speaker and nobody else. Mine is the correct term to indicate this ownership of ideas.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.