Grammar

1.199 uses of possessives

You use possessive determiners in front of nouns which refer to objects and things which can be owned. For example, 'our house' refers to the house which belongs to us.

You can also use possessive determiners in front of many other types of noun. This is because, in spite of their name, possessive determiners do not always indicate that what follows them is actually possessed (or owned) by someone. They can just mean that it is connected or associated with them in some way.

They then turned their attention to other things.
...the vitality of our music and our culture.
In summer, hay fever interfered with all her activities.
It's his brother who has the workshop.

1.200

You can use a possessive determiner in front of a noun which refers to an action in order to indicate who or what is doing the action.

...not long after our arrival.
...his criticism of the Government.
...their fight for survival.
I'm waiting for your explanation.
Most of their claims were worthy.

In the last example, 'their claims' refers to the claims which they have made.

1.201

You can also use a possessive determiner to indicate who or what is affected by an action.

He congratulated me on my appointment as editor of the Dispatch.
...the redistribution of wealth, rather than its creation.
They expressed their horror at her dismissal.

In the last example, 'her dismissal' probably refers to the fact that she was dismissed by someone or by some company.

In the first of the following examples, 'his supporters' means the people who support him.

...Birch and his supporters.
She returned the ring to its owner.
...a campaign against his critics.