own, my own and on my own: belonging, doing it yourself, being alone

My own, your own: belonging and doing it yourself

Use own after a possessive word: my, your, his, her, its, our, their, or a name with 's. It says that something belongs to a particular person or thing, or that the person did it themselves.

• The twins each wanted their own desk.
• He bakes all his own bread.
• Is that your own phone, or did you borrow it?

My own and your own can also show that you do or make something yourself, instead of buying it or asking another person. Context decides which idea is meant: possession (it is mine) or doing it yourself. The verb does not decide it.

• The bakery is closed, so I made my own bread. I did it myself
• I sold my own car, not my brother's. possession: the car was mine
• We want to grow our own tomatoes this summer.
• Have you ever painted your own room?
• The café is closed, so you will have to make your own lunch. This means: prepare it yourself.

Change my or your to his, her, its, our or their in the same way.

My very own and of my own

Put very before own for extra strength: my very own.

• At last I have my very own garden.

You can also say of my own after a noun. It means the same as my own before a noun.

• They have a car of their own.

On my own: alone, or without help

On my own, on your own and similar phrases do not have the same meaning as my own. They mean alone. In the phrase on my own, own goes after on and a possessive word.

• She walked home on her own.
• Do you like eating in restaurants on your own?

These phrases can also mean "without any help" (mainly UK).

• The instructions were clear, so I assembled the wardrobe on my own.

In these meanings you can also say by myself or by yourself, with the same meaning. See Reflexive pronouns and each other: myself, themselves, by yourself.

• He prefers working by himself.

Other phrases with own

In your own time means at the speed you want to work, with no rush (mainly UK).

• Nobody is waiting for the report, so write it in your own time. at your own speed, with no rush

Own can also stand alone, with no noun after it. This happens when the noun is clear from the situation.

• Do you want to borrow a bike? No, thanks. I have my own.

What comes next

For myself and by yourself, see Reflexive pronouns and each other: myself, themselves, by yourself. For my, your, mine and a friend of mine, see my, your, his and mine, yours, his: possessive adjectives and pronouns.