Possessive Adjective in Spanish

What is a possessive adjective in grammar?

In this lesson you are going to learn the possessive adjective in Spanish. Possessive adjectives are used to show ownership.

 

Masculine Forms:

Singular Masculine – Plural Masculine

Yo (I)-(My): Mi – Mis

Tú (You)(Informal)-(Your): Tu – Tus

Usted (You)(Formal)-(Your): Su – Sus

Él/Ella(He/She)-(His/Her): Su– Sus

Nosotros(as)We)-(Our): Nuestro – Nuestros    

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-(Your): Vuestro– Vuestros

Ustedes(You)(Formal)-(Your): Su – Sus

Ellos(as)(They)- (Their): Su– Sus

 

Feminine Forms:

Singular Feminine – Plural Feminine

Yo (I)-(My): Mi – Mis

Tú (You)(Informal)-(Your): Tu – Tus

Usted (You)(Formal)-(Your): Su – Sus

Él/Ella(He/She)-(His/Her): Su – Sus

Nosotros(as)(We)-(Our): Nuestra – Nuestras    

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-(Your ): Vuestra – Vuestras

Ustedes(You)(Formal)-(Your): Su – Sus

Ellos(as)(They)-(Their): Su –  Sus

 

e.g.

Mi hermana es alta – My sister is tall

Your time reach – Tu hora llegó

Mi madre está aquí – My mother is here

Esa es su gorra de béisbol – That is his baseball cap

 

What are some rules of possessive adjectives?

Note: Possessive adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. That is, they agree with the thing possessed, not the possessor.

e.g.

Mi primo está enfermo – My cousin is sick

Mis primos están enfermos – My cousins are sick

 

Note: “Mi, mis, tu, tus and su, sus”  do not have masculine and feminine forms. They stay the same, regardless of the gender of the nouns they modify.

e.g.

Mi gato  (My cat)(masculine)

Mi gata (My cat)(feminine)

 

Tus hermanos (Your brothers)(masculine)

Tus hermanas (Your sisters)(feminine)

 

Tip: The two words “tu” and “tú” are pronounced the same. “tú” (with the written accent) is the subject pronoun meaning “you” (informal), “tu” (without the written accent) is the possessive adjective meaning “your” (informal).

e.g.

Tú eres bonita – You are pretty

Tu mamá es bonita – Your mother is pretty

 

Note: “Su” has four meanings: his, her, their and your (formal).

e.g.

Mi mamá ama a su esposo – My mom loves her husband

Mi papá ama a su esposa – My dad loves his wife

Ellos aman a sus hijas – They love their daughters

Usted ama a su hija – You love your daughter

Note: If the meaning of “su” is not clear from the context of the sentence, a prepositional phrase is used in place of “su”

e.g.

Jorge busca a la hermana de él. – Jorge looks for his sister.

El hombre busca las llaves de ella. – The man looks for her keys.

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