The possessive adjectives Flashcards
What are possessive adjectives used for?
Possessive adjectives are used to show ownership.
For example:
mi libro > my book
mis libros > my books
What are the possessive adjectives forms?
There are two groups.
Group 1: These possessive adjectives have SINGULAR and PLURAL forms only. They are both feminine and masculine.
mi > my
mis > my
tu > your
tus > your
su his / her / their
sus > his / her / their
Note: usted and ustedes also use su, sus. In this case, su, sus mean
your
Why is group two different?
This group agrees in gender and number. There are four forms. This applies only to nosotros, nosotras, vosotros, vosotras.
nosotros / nosotras = nuestro, nuestros > our
= nuestra, nuestras > our
( We won’t discuss vosotros, vosotras. I encourage you to explore these forms on your own.)
Do the possessive adjectives agree in number and gender with the owner of the object?
No, possessive adjectives agree in number and gender with the object the owner possess.
For example:
Marla tiene sus libros. Marla has her books.
Nosotros tenemos nuestras casas.
We have our homes.
If the owner is:
yo
use:
mi
mis
For example: mi libro > my book
mis libros > my books
If the owner is:
tú
use:
tu
tus
tu libro > your book
tus hermanas > your sisters
If the owner is:
usted, él, or ella
use:
su
sus
su amiga > his / her / their friend
sus amigas > his / her / their friends
(for ud. su, sus mean your)
If the owner is
nosotros or nosotras
use
nuestro, nuestra
nuestros, nuestras
nuestra prima > our female cousin
nuestro primo > our male cousin
nuestros abuelos > our grandparents, grandfathers
nuestras abuelas > our grandmothers
If the owner is either
ustedes,
ellos,
or
ellas
use:
su, sus
su hermano
su hermana
sus primos
sus primas
(for uds. su, sus mean your)
If the owner is:
Lupita,
María,
Pancho
Luis,
el chico
la estudiante
(any third person singular)
use:
su, sus
If the owner is:
Pancho y yo,
Tú y yo
Mi familia y yo
(any first person plural)
use
nuestro, nuestra
nuestros, nuestras
Nuestro libro > our book
Nuestra hermana > our sister
Nuestros primos > our cousins
Nuestras abuelas > our grandmothers
(depending on the gender and number of the object)
If the owner is:
Tú y Marla
(any second person plural = ustedes)
Use:
su or sus
su libro > your book
sus libros > your books
If the owner is:
Los estudiantes
Los hermanos
Las primas
Mara y Lucy
Luis y Pancho
(any third person plural)
use:
su, sus
su libro > their book
sus libros > their books
Tú or tu?
Tú = you
tu = your
Placement of the possessive adjective:
the possessive adjective goes before the object owned.
Mis libros.
Tu hermano.
Nuestra familia.
