Possessives
Understanding How to Express Ownership in Spanish
Tabla de Contenidos
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the difference between short unstressed and long stressed possessive adjectives in Spanish, identify when to use each type based on the context, practice using possessive pronouns to replace noun phrases correctly, and apply regional variations in possessives. Additionally, you will be able to demonstrate agreement in gender and number between possessive adjectives and the nouns they modify in Spanish sentences.
What Are Possessives?
Possessives indicate who owns or possesses something. They can be expressed as:
Adjectives:
- They modify a noun and answer the question “Whose?”
Pronouns:
- They replace a noun phrase to avoid repetition, standing alone as the possessor.
In Spanish, there are two main sets of possessive adjectives: short (unstressed) forms and long (stressed) forms.
1. Short (Unstressed) Possessive Adjectives
Short possessive adjectives typically come before the noun, and they agree in number with the item being owned, not with the person who owns it.
| Possessor | Short Possessive Adjective | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
yo (I) | mi(s) | my | mi libro (my book), mis libros (my books) |
tú (you, informal) | tu(s) | your | tu casa (your house), tus casas (your houses) |
él/ella/usted (he/she/you) | su(s) | his/her/your | su perro (his/her/your dog), sus perros (dogs) |
nosotros/as (we) | nuestro/a(s) | our | nuestro coche (our car), nuestras casas (our houses) |
vosotros/as (you all, Spain) | vuestro/a(s) | your (plural) | vuestro jardín (your garden), vuestras flores (flowers) |
ellos/ellas/ustedes (they/you all) | su(s) | their/your (plural) | su país (their/your country), sus países (countries) |
Important Notes
- Su(s) can be ambiguous because it can mean “his,” “her,” “their,” or “your.” Context usually clarifies the meaning. However, when needed, Spanish often uses de + pronoun (e.g., el libro de él) to specify exactly whose item it is.
- Nuestro(a)(s) and vuestro(a)(s) must also agree in gender: nuestro coche (masculine), nuestra casa (feminine).
2. Long (Stressed) Possessive Adjectives
Long possessive adjectives, also known as stressed possessive adjectives, often follow the noun and are used for emphasis or contrast. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify:
-
mío(s), mía(s) (mine)
-
tuyo(s), tuya(s) (yours)
-
suyo(s), suya(s) (his/hers/theirs/yours)
-
nuestro(s), nuestra(s) (ours)
-
vuestro(s), vuestra(s) (yours, plural)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| El libro mío es azul. | My book is blue. | more emphatic than mi libro | |
| Voy a llevar el coche tuyo al mecánico. | I'm taking your car to the mechanic. |
Important Note
These forms (mío, tuyo, suyo, etc.) can also act as possessive pronouns when used without a noun (e.g., _El libro es mío_).
Regional Variations
In Spain, vosotros and vuestro are used for informal plural "you." And in Latin America, ustedes generally replaces vosotros for both formal and informal plural "you." This means forms like vuestro, vuestra, vuestros, and vuestras might be less common outside Spain.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace a noun phrase to avoid redundancy. They agree in gender and number with the noun they replace and are typically used with the definite article (el, la, los, las).
| Possessor | Possessive Pronoun | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
yo (I) | el mío / la mía / los míos / las mías | mine | _El mío_ (mine — masculine singular) |
tú (you, informal) | el tuyo / la tuya / los tuyos / las tuyas | yours | _La tuya_ (yours — feminine singular) |
él/ella/usted (he/she/you) | el suyo / la suya / los suyos / las suyas | his/hers/yours | _Los suyos_ (his/hers/yours — masc. plural) |
nosotros/as (we) | el nuestro / la nuestra / los nuestros / las nuestras | ours | _La nuestra_ (ours — feminine singular) |
vosotros/as (Spain) | el vuestro / la vuestra / los vuestros / las vuestras | yours (plural) | _El vuestro_ (yours — masculine singular) |
ellos/ellas/ustedes (they/you all) | el suyo / la suya / los suyos / las suyas | theirs/yours | _Las suyas_ (theirs/yours — fem. plural) |
Important Notes:
- These pronouns stand alone in the sentence and do not modify a noun.
- Because suyo(s)/suya(s) can mean "his," "hers," "yours," or "theirs," context is crucial, or de + pronoun can clarify: Los suyos vs. Los de él/ella/ustedes.
Examples in Contrast
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi casa es grande. | My house is big. | Using a short possessive adjective | |
| La casa mía es más pequeña que la tuya. | My house is smaller than yours. | Using a long possessive adjective (emphatic) | |
| Esta casa es la mía. | This house is mine. | Using a possessive pronoun |
Conclusion
Remember to pay attention to context—especially with su(s)—and keep practicing with real-life examples. ¡Buena suerte!