Possessive Adjectives

En espaol when we use nouns youll notice that there is usually an article that goes in front of the noun

Lets review the articles

Definite Articles

El la los and las

Definite Articles
El, la, los and las

All mean

Indefinite Articles

Un Una

Or

Indefinite Articles

Unos unas

Indefinite Articles

Unos unas

SOME

But suppose you want others to know who the object belong to

 this is when possessive adjectives come into play

For a singular object it would be:

For a singular object it would be:

Mi Tu Su

For example
My pencil

For example
My pencil

Mi Lpiz

For example
Your pencil

For example
Your pencil

Tu Lpiz

For example
Your pencil (f)

For example
Your pencil (f)

Su Lpiz

For example
His pencil

For example
His pencil

Su Lpiz

For example
Her pencil

For example
Her pencil

Su Lpiz

If those objects were more than one it would be:

If those objects were more than one it would be:

Mis Tus Sus

For example

My Rulers

My Rulers

Mis gobernantes

Your Rulers

Your Rulers

Tus gobernantes

Your Rulers (F)

Your Rulers (F)

Sus gobernantes

His Rulers

His Rulers

Sus gobernantes

Her Rulers

Her Rulers

Sus gobernantes

Its important to keep in mind:

When the object is one the possessive adjectives Mi, Tu or Su is also one

Por ejemplo

Mi perro
My Dog

T perro
Your Dog

Su perro
Your dog (f) His dog Her dog

When the object is more than one, use the following possessive adjectives

Mis perros
My Dogs

Tus perros
Your Dogs

Sus perros
Your dogs (f) His dogs Her dogs

So dont think of them as my dogs Rather:

So dont think of them as my dogs Rather: mys dogs, youres dogs, heres dogs, hises dogs

So dont think of them as my dogs Rather: mys dogs, youres dogs, heres dogs, hises dogs its a little strange when you translate it into English though

Also notice that we have two different types of

and

tu

Also notice that we have two different types of

and

tu

Both are pronounced the same way

Also notice that we have two different types of

and

tu

Has an accent over it indicating that its a personal pronoun

Also notice that we have two different types of

and

tu

YOU

YOUR

As a general Rule
If t comes before verb or if its by itself its

referring to

you

If tu comes right before a noun its referring to

your

Youll also notice that the very last one:

Su

Youll also notice that the very last one:

Su
Could be used to describe: His Her Your Formal

But they all have different meanings

So if I wanted to say:

But they all have different meanings

So if I wanted to say:

Su telfono

It could mean:

Su telfono:
*Pablos phone *Cecilias phone *Your phone if Im being formal with you *His phone *Her phone

For that reason, in time of confusion well clarify with the following formula:

Object + de + persons name

Object + de + persons name

El telfono de Pablo
Pablos telephone

Object + de + persons name

El telfono de Cecilia
Cecilias telephone

Object + de + persons name

El telfono de Usted
Your telephone (f)

Once we know who we are talking about that when we can say

su

OUR

our cat our = nuestro

our cat our = nuestro

nuestro gato

our cats our = nuestro

our cats our = nuestro

nuestros gatos

our cat (female) our = nuestro

our cat (female) our = nuestro

nuestra gata

NUESTRO (our) nuestro gato nuestra gata nuestros gatos nuestras gatas

CUIDADO
nuestro = our
vs.

nosotros = we

my = mi your = tu our = nuestro

his her your (frml) their you guys

= su

mi padre = my dad tu padre = your dad su padre = his/her/your (Formal) dad nuestro padre = our dad

su padre = their/you guys dad

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = sus gato

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = sus gato his cats = su gatos

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = sus gato his cats = su gatos

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = su gato

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = su gato his cats = sus gatos

Make sure youre modifying the adjective based on WHAT youre talking about, NOT WHOSE!

their cat = su gato his cats = sus gatos

PRCTICA
Try translating these

1. his bicycle 2. your pencil sharpener 3. our pants 4. my hook/hanger 5. their unicorn 6. you guys cats

1. su bicicleta (his bicycle)

2. tu sacapuntas

(your pencil sharpener)

3.nuestros
pantalones
(

our pants)

4. mi gancho

(my hook/hanger)

5. su unicornio

(their unicorn)

6. sus gatos

(you guys cats)

Now lets use possessive adjectives in sentences

Quin es?
(Who is he/she?)

l es su to.
(He is his uncle.)

Ella es mi hermana.
(She is my sister.)

Quines son?
(Who are they?)

Ellos son sus tos.

(They are his uncles.)

Ellas son mis hermanas.

(They are my sisters.)

MS PRCTICA !
Translate the following sentences as though you were trying to specify who youre talking about.

1. He is their cousin.
(hint: the cousin of them)

2. She is our sister.

(hint: the sister of us)

3. It is you guys house.

(hint: the house of you guys)

1. Es el primo de ellos.

2. Es la hermana de nosotros.

3. Es la casa de ustedes.

PREGUNTAS?

Possessive Adjectives also have a

long form
It is more expressive. For example it is used when talking of a special friend.

A friend of mine

Un amigo mo

A friend of mine

Un amigo mo
Unlike the regular (or the short) form, the long form follows the noun

We are eating some some friends of ours

Comemos con unos amigos nuestros

Unlike the regular (or the short) form, the long form follows the noun

The following table indicates the Possessive in

Long Form-Singular Please write them down

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a) Tuyo (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a) Tuyo (a) Suyo (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a) Tuyo (a) Suyo (a)

Nuestro (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a) Tuyo (a) Suyo (a)

Nuestro (a) Vuestro (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Mi (a) Tuyo (a) Suyo (a)

Nuestro (a) Vuestro (a) Suyo (a)

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Ese cuaderno es mo
That notebook is mine

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Ese cuaderno es tuyo

That notebook is yours

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Ese cuaderno es suyo

That notebook is his/hers/you formal

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Ese cuaderno es nuestro

That notebook is ours

The Possessive Long Form-Singular

Ese cuaderno es suyo

That notebook is theirs

The following table indicates the Possessive in

Long Form-Plural Please write them down

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as) Tuyos (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as) Tuyos (as) Suyos (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as) Tuyos (as) Suyos (as)

Nuestros (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as) Tuyos (as) Suyos (as)

Nuestros (as) Vuestros (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Mos (as) Tuyos (as) Suyos (as)

Nuestros (as) Vuestros (as) Suyos (as)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Esos cuadernos son mos

Those notebooks are mine

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Esos cuadernos son tuyos

Those notebooks are yours

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Esos cuadernos son suyos

Those notebooks are yours (his/hers/ you formal)

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Esos cuadernos son nuestros Those notebooks are ours

The Possessive Long Form-Plural

Esos cuadernos son suyos Those notebooks are yours (you-guy's)

Possessive Pronouns also:

Show personal relationships

To form a Possessive Pronouns : 1. Use the long form of the possessive adjective

To form a Possessive Pronouns : 1. Use the long form of the possessive adjective 2. Add el, la, los, las according to the gender an the number of the noun it replaces.

-- Sus cuadernos estn aqu

Your notebooks are here

-- Y los mos, en donde estn?

And mine? Where are they?

-- Sus cuadernos estn aqu

You notebooks are here

-- Y los mos, en donde estn?

And mine? Where are they?

Use the long form of the possessive adjective

-- Sus cuadernos estn aqu

You notebooks are here

-- Y los mos, en donde estn?

And mine? Where are they?

Add (el, la, los, las) according to the gender an the number of the noun it replaces

Use the long form of the possessive adjective