Possessives in Spanish Grammar
Possessives in Spanish Grammar
Possessives in Spanish Grammar
Introduction
Possessives adjectives and pronouns (los posesivos) indicate possession or belonging. They
always agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to i.e the thing that is possessed.
Possessive adjectives (adjetivos posesivos) have two forms, a long form and a short form. As
in English grammar, they always accompany a noun. Possessive pronouns (pronombres
posesivos), however, replace a noun.
Learn how to use Spanish possessive adjectives and pronouns with Lingolia’s simple grammar
lesson. In the exercises, you can practise what you have learnt.
Example
Me llamo Julia y estoy buscando mi sombrero. Mi papá dice que está en el armario, pero ese no
es el mío, es el suyo. Mis sombreros no están allí. ¡Mira! Nuestro perro lleva el suyo.
Example:
Es una conocida mía.
Amigos nuestros nos recomendaron ese hotel.
Me gusta mucho esa autora. He leído varios libros suyos.
singular plural
feminin
person masculine masculine feminine
e
1st person singular mío mía míos mías
2nd person singular tuyo tuya tuyos tuyas
3rd person singular suyo suya suyos suyas
1st person plural nuestro nuestra nuestros nuestras
2nd person plural vuestro vuestra vuestros vuestras
3rd person plural suyo suya suyos suyas
Long from possessive adjective are used with the verb ser, when the noun forms part of the
subject of a sentence. Here again, they must agree in number and person with the noun and
person with the subject.
Example:
Este reloj es mío.
possessor: yo (1st person singular); object possessed: el reloj (masculine, singular)
Los cuadros de la pared son nuestros.
possessor: nosotros (1st person plural); object possessed: Los cuadros (masculine, plural)
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns (pronombres posesivos) replace a previously-mentioned noun. The
possessive pronoun must agree in gender and number with this noun. Possessive pronouns are
preceded by the definite article.
Example:
No es mi sombrero, es el suyo.
No encuentro mi falda. ¿Puedo ponerme la tuya?
singular plural
person
masculine feminine masculine feminine
1st person singular el mío la mía los míos las mías
2nd person singular el tuyo la tuya los tuyos las tuyas
3rd person singular el suyo la suya los suyos las suyas
la
1st person plural el nuestro los nuestros las nuestras
nuestra
la
2nd person plural el vuestro los vuestros las vuestras
vuestra
3rd person plural el suyo la suya los suyos las suyas