Clear Spanish grammar
Spanish possessive adjectives and pronouns
Spanish has short possessives before a noun and stressed possessive forms used after a noun or in place of it. Their agreement follows the thing possessed.
How it works
Understand the pattern
Mi, tu and su have one form for gender but change in number: mi libro, mis libros. Nuestro and vuestro also show gender: nuestra casa, vuestros amigos. The short forms normally come before the noun.
Mío, tuyo, suyo, nuestro and vuestro behave like adjectives and agree with the possessed noun: el libro mío, la casa mía. With an article they can replace the noun: El mío está aquí.
The essentials
Three rules that clear up the confusion
- 1
Make the possessive agree with the possessed object, not with the owner.
- 2
Use short forms before a noun: mi, tu, su, nuestro and vuestro.
- 3
Use stressed forms after a noun or as pronouns, normally with an article when the noun is omitted.
Compare
Examples in complete sentences
Common mistakes
What to check before you answer
- 1
Su can mean his, her, your formal or their; clarify with de él, de ella or de ellos when context is ambiguous.
- 2
Do not choose mío or mía according to the owner's gender. La mochila mía is feminine because mochila is feminine.
Go beyond reading
Practise the rule through the guided course route
A short explanation, a task, answer checking and a direct return to the paragraph needed after a mistake.