Possessive pronouns in Spanish are words that replace a noun to indicate ownership or possession, avoiding repetition in a sentence. They function similarly to English possessive pronouns like "mine," "yours," "his," "hers," "ours," and "theirs."
Understanding Possessive Pronouns
Unlike possessive adjectives (which modify a noun), possessive pronouns stand alone and replace the noun that is being possessed. A crucial aspect of Spanish possessive pronouns is that they agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they replace, not with the owner. They are almost always preceded by a definite article (el, la, los, las).
Forms of Spanish Possessive Pronouns
Here is a comprehensive list of Spanish possessive pronouns, showing their variations based on the gender and number of the item being possessed:
| English Equivalent | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mine | el mío | la mía | los míos | las mías |
| yours (informal, singular) | el tuyo | la tuya | los tuyos | las tuyas |
| his/hers/its/yours (formal, singular) | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas |
| ours | el nuestro | la nuestra | los nuestros | las nuestras |
| yours (informal, plural) | el vuestro | la vuestra | los vuestros | las vuestras |
| theirs/yours (formal, plural) | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas |
How to Use Possessive Pronouns
- Agreement: Remember that the pronoun's form matches the gender and number of the thing possessed.
- Example: "¿Es tu libro?" (Is it your book?) – "Sí, es el mío." (Yes, it's mine.) – Libro is masculine singular, so mío is masculine singular.
- Example: "¿Son tus llaves?" (Are they your keys?) – "Sí, son las mías." (Yes, they're mine.) – Llaves is feminine plural, so mías is feminine plural.
- Definite Article: Possessive pronouns almost always use a definite article (el, la, los, las) before them.
- Example: "Mi coche es rojo, pero el suyo es azul." (My car is red, but his/hers/yours is blue.)
- Context for "Suyo": The pronoun "suyo" can mean "his," "hers," "its," "yours" (formal singular or plural), or "theirs." Its exact meaning depends entirely on the context of the conversation or sentence.
- Example: "Nuestra casa es grande. ¿Y la suya?" (Our house is big. And yours/theirs?) – Here, "la suya" could refer to "your house" (formal singular or plural) or "their house."
Spanish grammar notes that possessive pronouns clarify ownership clearly and concisely by replacing previously mentioned nouns, preventing repetition and making communication more efficient.
