a classmate of my

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a classmate of my" is not correct in English.
It should be "a classmate of mine." You can use the corrected phrase when referring to someone who is in the same class as you, indicating a relationship or connection. Example: "I was talking to a classmate of mine about the upcoming exam."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Unsocial Network A classmate of my 11-year-old daughter told her that an invitation to her birthday party was on its way.

The New York Times

I nodded vigorously in agreement, remembering the time a classmate of my younger sister's came over after school, smelled rice cooking and asked if we had pet gerbils.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The best quote I ever heard on this topic was from a classmate of mine in my first year of law school; it was regarding obscenity.

Huffington Post

"My son was a classmate of Anne Hathaway's brother," he said.

The New York Times

My name is Patricia Law, and I am a classmate of your son, Mike.

Cornell University

Mr. Anichin was a classmate of Mr. Putin's.

The New York Times

Lessin was a classmate of Zuckerberg's at Harvard.

The New Yorker

He's a classmate of Dewey's at Columbia Law School.

The New Yorker

Paul, a classmate of Adolf Hitler, became an outstanding concert pianist.

The Guardian - Books

Caro was a classmate of mine at Princeton.

The New York Times - Magazine

Soon, Ketifa began dating a classmate of hers, a girl.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a classmate of mine" instead of "a classmate of my". The possessive pronoun "mine" correctly indicates ownership and avoids grammatical errors.

Common error

Avoid using "my" when "mine" is required. "My" needs a noun following it (e.g., "my classmate"), while "mine" stands alone as a possessive pronoun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a determiner followed by a noun phrase, specifying a relationship between the speaker and a classmate. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "a classmate of mine."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a classmate of my" is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "a classmate of mine". As Ludwig AI points out, the correct possessive pronoun to use is "mine". While the phrase aims to identify someone sharing the same class as the speaker, its incorrect grammar diminishes its effectiveness. The corrected phrase can be used in neutral to informal contexts and is found in both news and academic sources. Remember to use "mine" to properly indicate possession in this context. Using the right possessive pronouns will enhance clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a classmate of mine

Corrects the grammatical error by using the possessive pronoun "mine" instead of "my".

one of my classmates

Uses "one of" to indicate that the person is part of a larger group of classmates.

a fellow classmate of mine

Adds emphasis using "fellow" to describe the person as sharing a similar status.

a schoolmate of mine

Uses "schoolmate" as a synonym for "classmate", keeping the meaning intact.

someone I went to school with

Rephrases the relationship in terms of shared educational experience.

a student in my class

Emphasizes the shared class rather than the classmate relationship.

a colleague from school

Uses "colleague" to suggest a more professional or mature relationship within an academic setting.

an acquaintance from my class

Highlights a casual or superficial relationship with someone from class.

someone in my year at school

Specifies the relationship by indicating that the person is in the same year group.

a contemporary from my schooling

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe someone who attended school at the same time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a classmate of my"?

The correct way to phrase this is "a classmate of mine". The word "mine" is the correct possessive pronoun in this context.

How can I use "a classmate of mine" in a sentence?

You can use "a classmate of mine" to refer to someone who is in the same class as you. Example: "A classmate of mine is organizing a study group for the upcoming exam."

What's the difference between "a classmate of my" and "a classmate of mine"?

"A classmate of my" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "a classmate of mine", where "mine" is the possessive pronoun.

Are there other ways to say "a classmate of mine"?

Yes, you can also say "one of my classmates" or "a schoolmate of mine" to convey a similar meaning.