Possessive Adjectives A review of how to express possession

In Spanish 1 you learned about the possessive adjectives. MyMi, Mis Nuestro, Nuestra, Nuestros, Nuestras Our YourTu, Tus Vuestro, Vuestra, Vuestros, Vuestras Your His Her Your (its) Su, Sus Their Your The owner indicated which box, the object indicated which form.

Possessive adjectives agree in NUMBER (and gender in the case of “nuestro” and “vuestro”) with the OBJECT they modify.

Only OUR agrees in NUMBER and GENDER. (“Vuestro” does as well, but we won’t be using it in class.)

Notice how “Su” and “Sus” can have multiple meanings: Su tío es gracioso. His/Her/Your/Their/You(plural) uncle is funny. Sus flores son bonitas. His/Her/Your/Their/You(plural) flowers are pretty.

You can avoid this confusion by using a “DE” phrase instead of a possessive adjective.

“DE” phrases are the equivalent to the apostrophe “S” in English. There is NO apostrophe “S” in Spanish!

Susana’s sister The sister of Susana LahermanadeSusana

Now we have the possessive adjectives in long form. Mine Mío, Mía Míos, Mías Nuestro, Nuestra, Nuestros, Nuestras Ours Yours Tuyo, Tuya Tuyos, Tuyas Vuestro, Vuestra, Vuestros, Vuestras Yours His Hers Yours Suyo, Suya Suyos, Suyas Suyo, Suya Suyos, Suyas Theirs Yours The owner indicated which box, the object indicated which form.

Possessive adjectives in long form ALL agree in NUMBER and GENDER with the OBJECT they modify.

In short form, the possessive adjective precedes the OBJECT it modifies. In long form, the DEFINITE ARTICLE is stated, then the object and finally the possessive.

¿Tienes el dinero tuyo? ¿Es la corbata suya? Tenemos el carro nuestro.

When you omit the use of the noun, the possessive adjective BECOMES the noun. We call this a possessive pronoun.

To form the possessive pronoun, use the definite article (el, la, los, las) and the long form of the possessive adjective. Mine El mío, La mía Los míos, Las mías El nuestro, La nuestra, Los nuestros, Las nuestras Ours Yours El tuyo, La tuya Los tuyos, Las tuyas El vuestro, La vuestra, Los vuestros, Las vuestras Yours His Hers Yours El suyo, La suya Los suyos, Las suyas El suyo, La suya Los suyos, Las suyas Theirs Yours Both the article and the possessive adjective must agree in number and gender with the noun they replace.

¿Tienes el (dinero) tuyo? ¿Es la (corbata) suya? Tenemos el (carro) nuestro.

We often omit the article between the verb SER and the possessive pronoun. Esas maletas son suyas. El pincel es mío. Mi corazón es tuyo. Those suitcases are his. The brush is mine. My heart is yours.

Decide which possessive adjective (both short and long forms) and possessive pronoun would be used with each of the following items: El calambre (his) Su calambreEl calambre suyoEl suyo La vitamina (their) Su vitaminaLa vitamina suyaLa suya La fiebre (my) Mi fiebreLa fiebre míaLa mía El conflict (your fam.) Tu conflictoEl conflicto tuyoEl tuyo Los secretos (your polite) Sus secretos Los secretos suyos Los suyos

Decide which possessive adjective (both short and long forms) and possessive pronoun would be used with each of the following items: Las diferencias (her) Sus diferencias Las diferencias suyas Las suyas El tema (our) Nuestro temaEl tema nuestroEl nuestro Las reseñas (your polite) Sus reseñas Las reseñas suyas Las suyas Los aretes (our) Nuestros aretes Los aretes nuestros Los nuestros Las camisetas (my) Mis camisetas Las camisetas mías Las mías