Adjetivos y pronombres posesivos - Possessive adjectives and pronouns in Spanish

In this article we will learn about the possessive adjectives and pronouns in Spanish. This topic can be a bit difficult, so we will explain it step by step.

Adjetivos posesivos en español - Possessive adjectives in Spanish

Look at the following image. The girl explains that the dog belongs to her.

- Este es mi perro. (This is my dog)

or

- Este perro es mío. (This dog is mine.)

The highlighted words are 'adjetivos posesivos'

The 'adjetivos posesivos' (also called 'determinantes posesivos') are used to explain relationships between people who talk to things, and also with other people.

They can be located:

• before the noun (determinantes posesivos átonos). - Este es mi perro.
• after the noun (determinantes posesivos tónicos). - Este perro es mío

They are different depending on the position.

Concordance between the person speaking and the possessive.

The person or people who speak establish the relationships between the "possession" and the "owner". Each personal pronoun has its corresponding possessive adjective.

First person singular

Este es mi perro - Este perro es mío.

Second person singular

Este es tu perro - Este perro es tuyo.

Third person singular

Este es su perro. Este perro es suyo

In turn, each possessive adjective can change if the relationship is with one or more people or things.

Leo mi libro - I read my book>

Leo mis libros - I read my books

Él es su hermano - He is his (or her) brother

Ellos son sus hermanos - They are their brothers

They can also change with the gender.

- ¿Este auto es tuyo? - Is this your car?

- No, este auto no es mío. - No, this car is not mine

- ¿Esta camisa es tuya? - Is this your shirt?

- Si, esta camisa es mía. - Yes, this shirt is mine.

Note that the article does not appear next to the possessive.

In summary

Singular forms

If the possessive adjective is placed before the noun

If the possessive adjective is placed after the noun

FORMAL second person

If the conversation is formal, USTED is used instead of TÚ. In that case the possessive su / sus is used. In some Spanish-speaking countries the use of "USTED" can be formal or informal.

If the possessive adjective is placed before the noun

If the possessive adjective is placed after the noun

- Señor, aquí está su chaqueta. - Sir, here's your jacket.

Señora, estas cartas son suyas. - Ma'am, these letters are yours.

Plural forms

As we saw above, the possessive pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun. Below, you'll find the possessive pronouns for the plural forms. In these cases, they follow the same rules.

In summary

If the possessive adjective is placed before the noun

If the possessive adjective is placed after the noun

The possessive pronouns

Pay attention to this short dialogue

- No encuentro mi libro. - I can't find my book.

- ¿Puedo usar el tuyo? - Can I use yours?

The word highlighted in bold is a possessive pronoun. The possessive pronoun replaces the possessive adjective and a previously mentioned noun. It must agree in gender and number with the latter.

With the possessive pronoun the definite article (el - la - los - las) should always be used.

In the following table you will find a summary of the different possessive pronouns. The accompanying definite article is detailed in parentheses.

How to differentiate a possessive adjective from a possessive pronoun?

The possessive adjective accompanies the noun.

- Este es tu libro. - This is your book.

- Este libro es tuyo. - This book is yours.

The possessive pronoun replaces the noun:

- Este no es mi libro. Es el tuyo. - This is not my book. It is yours.

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Créditos

Muchas gracias por las fotos a Jairo Gonzalez on Unsplash