Possessive Pronouns in Spanish
This section explains Possessive Pronouns in Spanish. Possessive pronouns (pronombres posesivos) are used to indicate ownership or possession and replace a previously mentioned noun to avoid repetition. They must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they replace.
These pronouns are different from possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, etc.), which come before a noun.
Possessive Pronouns in Spanish
| Singular (S) | Plural (P) | Masculine | Feminine | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El mío (S) | Los míos (P) | Mío / Míos | Mía / Mías | Mine |
| El tuyo (S) | Los tuyos (P) | Tuyo / Tuyos | Tuya / Tuyas | Yours (informal) |
| El suyo (S) | Los suyos (P) | Suyo / Suyos | Suya / Suyas | His / Hers / Yours (formal) |
| El nuestro (S) | Los nuestros (P) | Nuestro / Nuestros | Nuestra / Nuestras | Ours |
| El vuestro (S) | Los vuestros (P) | Vuestro / Vuestros | Vuestra / Vuestras | Yours (plural, informal) |
| El suyo (S) | Los suyos (P) | Suyo / Suyos | Suya / Suyas | Theirs / Yours (plural, formal) |
✅ Key Rule:
Possessive pronouns agree with the noun they replace, not with the possessor.
How to Use Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are always used with a definite article (el, la, los, las), unless after forms of ser (to be).
Examples in Context
✅ Foundation Examples
- Este bolígrafo es el mío. → This pen is mine.
- Estos zapatos son los tuyos. → These shoes are yours.
- La casa grande es la nuestra. → The big house is ours.
✅ Higher-Tier Examples
- No sé si este coche es el suyo o el nuestro. → I don’t know if this car is his/hers/yours or ours.
- Prefiero mis libros, pero los tuyos también son interesantes. → I prefer my books, but yours are also interesting.
- Las ideas suyas siempre son brillantes. → His/her/your/their ideas are always brilliant.
✅ Grammar Tip:
- Use ‘el suyo / la suya’ carefully! It can refer to his, hers, yours (formal), or theirs, so context is key.
When to Omit the Definite Article
In Spanish, possessive pronouns drop the article after the verb "ser" (to be) unless emphasis is needed.
Examples:
- ¿De quién es esta chaqueta? – Whose jacket is this?
- Es mía. → It’s mine. (No "la" needed)
- Ese coche es nuestro. → That car is ours.
🔹 However, if emphasis is needed, the article can be used:
- La casa es la nuestra, no la suya. → The house is ours, not theirs/yours.
Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Adjectives
Possessive pronouns replace a noun, while possessive adjectives come before a noun.
| Possessive Adjective (Before Noun) | Possessive Pronoun (Replaces Noun) |
|---|---|
| Mi coche es azul. → My car is blue. | El coche azul es el mío. → The blue car is mine. |
| Tu mochila está aquí. → Your backpack is here. | Esta mochila es la tuya. → This backpack is yours. |
| Nuestra casa es grande. → Our house is big. | La casa grande es la nuestra. → The big house is ours. |
✅ Key Difference:
- Adjective: Comes before the noun → Mi coche (My car).
- Pronoun: Replaces the noun → El mío (Mine).
Summary Table
| Spanish Pronoun | English Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| El mío / La mía | Mine | Ese libro es el mío. → That book is mine. |
| El tuyo / La tuya | Yours (informal) | La chaqueta es la tuya. → The jacket is yours. |
| El suyo / La suya | His / Hers / Yours (formal) | El coche rojo es el suyo. → The red car is his/hers/yours. |
| El nuestro / La nuestra | Ours | Esa casa es la nuestra. → That house is ours. |
| El vuestro / La vuestra | Yours (plural, informal) | Las mochilas son las vuestras. → The backpacks are yours. |
| El suyo / La suya | Theirs / Yours (plural, formal) | El problema es el suyo. → The problem is theirs/yours. |
Practice Exercises
A. Translate into Spanish:
- This phone is mine.
- These books are ours.
- The house on the left is theirs.
- Your dog is big, but mine is small.
- My car is new, but his is old.
B. Choose the correct possessive pronoun:
- ¿Es este tu abrigo? – No, este no es ____ (mío / mía / míos).
- Tengo mis llaves, pero no encuentro las ____ (tuyas / tuyos / tuyo).
- Ese ordenador no es de ellos, es ____ (el nuestro / la nuestra / los nuestros).
- Mi hermana tiene un coche nuevo, pero el ____ (suyo / suyos / suya) es más bonito.
- Nuestra casa es pequeña, pero la ____ (vuestro / vuestra / vuestra) es grande.
Final Tips for Learning Spanish
✅ Always use the definite article (el, la, los, las) unless after ‘ser’.
✅Possessive pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
✅Be careful with ‘suyo’ – it can mean his, hers, yours (formal), or theirs!
✅Use possessive pronouns to avoid repeating the same noun.
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