Possessive Adjectives -short form -long form -possessive pronouns

Possessive adjectives (short form) are used to indicate who owns what and to show relationships. In English, my, your, his, her, our and their are possessive adjectives.

mi / mis our my tu / tus your (pl.) your su / sus nuestro,a,os,as vuestro,a,os,as your (pl.) su / sus his, her, your their, your (pl.)

Possessive adjectives will always agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. Possessive adjectives come before the noun.

my shirt  mi camisa my shoes  mis zapatos our house nuestra casa our books  nuestros libros your hat  tu gorra

Be careful with su/sus his shirt  su camisa her shirt  su camisa their shirt  su camisa your(formal or plural) shirt  su camisa his books  sus libros

“Su/Sus” can mean either his, her, your, its, or their. In order to avoid ambiguity, replace “su/sus” with de + noun or (de Felipe) de + pronoun (de ella) (él, ella, Ud. Uds., ellos, ellas) Ex: su libro – el libro de Felipe When there is no ambiguity, it is preferable to use “su/sus”

Possessive adjectives (long form) come after the noun. They agree in number and gender. The long forms are generally used: in exclamations (¡Dios mío!) As equivalents of the English “of mine”, “of yours” etc.

mío,a,os,as our / of ours my / of mine nuestro,a,os,as tuyo,a,os,as your/of yours vuestro,a,os,as your / of yours suyo,a,os,as your, his, her, its of yours… your, their of yours, theirs…

To avoid ambiguity, “suyo” is frequently replaced by the phrases de él, de ella etc. If there is no ambiguity, it is preferable to use suyo etc. He visto su programa. He visto el programa suyo. He visto el programa de él.

The possessive adjective is NOT used when referring to parts of the body or clothing. No me lavé las manos. Él se quitó el sombrero.

However, the possessive adjective IS used in the following instances: To clarify: Él llevaba mi suéter. If the part of the body is modified: -Me gusta su pelo largo. If the part of the body or article of clothing is the subject of the sentence. -Tu chaqueta está en el armario.

Remember that the English possessive ‘s is expressed in Spanish by de + possessor. La computadora es de Juan. The computer is Juan’s.

My book and yours are good. Mi libro y el tuyo son buenos. This construction makes it possible to avoid repeating the same noun twice in a sentence. My book and yours are good. Mi libro y el tuyo son buenos. Rather than: Mi libro y tu libro son buenos. Your plans and hers are beautiful. Tus plantas y las suyas son bonitas Tus plantas y las de ella son bonitas. Rather than: Tus plantas y sus plantas son bonitas.

The possessive pronoun is formed by using the definite article and the long form of the possessive adjective. Possessive pronouns function like possessive adjectives (that is, they indicate ownership or possession), but they REPLACE the noun. Possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with what is possessed. Ella tiene dos libros, el mío y el tuyo. She has two books, mine and yours.

el mío, la mía, los míos, las mías (mine) the definite article + long form el mío, la mía, los míos, las mías (mine) el tuyo, la tuya, los tuyos, las tuyas (yours) el suyo, la suya, los suyos, las suyas (yours, his, her, its) el nuestro, la nuestra, los nuestros, las nuestras (ours) el vuestro, la vuestra, etc. (yours) el suyo, la suya, los suyos, las suyas-(theirs)

To avoid ambiguity, “ el suyo” is frequently replaced by the phrases de él, de ella etc. Esta cocina es más grande que la suya (his, hers, yours, theirs). Esta cocina es más grande que la de Juan. (than Juan’s) Esta cocina es más grande que la de él. (than his)

When the noun to which a possessive pronoun refers is clear from the context, it can me left out. Él trajo un sandwich de pavo. El mío es de queso. (mine) El suyo (el de Paco) es de atún. (His / Paco’s)

The definite article of the noun owned or possessed is an integral part of the possessive pronoun and can only be omitted after the verb ser. Este libro es tuyo. This book is yours. Esta mochila es mía. This backpack is mine.