Possessives

InstructorÁngel Ruiz Blanco

The possessives are used to indicate ownership or possession.

The possessives also specify if the thing owned has one or more possessors

The term possessive includes two important components:

Possessor Possessed

Concept

Most possessives belong to the category of determiners. A general classification of determiners is:

Articles Possessive determiners Demonstrative determiners Numeral determiners Indefinite determiners

The determiners

There are two types of possessives:

Possessive Adjectives

◦ Short Form◦ Long form

Possessive Pronouns

Types of possessives

Concept: Possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the thing possessed.

Forms:

Possessive adjectives (short form)

Mi (s) My Nuestro(a), (os), (as)

Our

Tu (s) Your Vuestro (a), (os), (as)

Your

Su (s) Your (formal), his, her, its

Su (s) Your (formal), their

Clarifications:

Short possessive adjectives are always located before the noun that they modify

“Mi”, “tu” and “su” have the same form for the masculine and feminine forms

“Nuestro” and “vuestro” have different gender and number

Possessive adjectives (short form)

The form “su” or “sus”:

The possessive adjective “su” can have several different meanings in English which can create confusion

“Su” can mean: his, her, your, its, or their

To avoid ambiguity the possessive adjective “su” can be substituted with the formula:

◦ De + noun Ex. El libro de María.

◦ De + pronoun (él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes) Ex. El libro de ella.

Possessive adjectives (short form)

Possessives are not used when referring to parts of the body

◦ Carlos se afeitó la cara.

Possessives are not used when referring to clothing

◦ María se quitó los guantes

However, the possessive adjective is used:

◦ To clarify

◦ If the part of the body is modified

◦ If the part of the body or the object or clothing is the subject of the sentence

Possessive adjectives (short form): Special Rules

Concept: Remember that short or long form possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the thing possessed

Forms:

Possessive adjectives (long form)

Mío (a), (os), (as)

Mine Nuestro(a), (os), (as)

Ours

Tuyo (a), (os), (as)

Yours Vuestro (a), (os), (as)

Yours

Suyo, (a), (os), (as)

Yours (formal), his, hers, its

Su (s) Yours (formal), their

Clarifications:

Long possessive adjectives are always located after the noun that they modify

“Mío”, “tuyo”, “suyo”, “nuestro”, and “vuestro” have different gender and number

Possessive adjectives (long form)

The forms “suyo” , “suya”, “suyos”, “suyas” can have several different meanings in English which can create confusion just as was the case with “su”

“suyo” , “suya”, “suyos”, “suyas” can mean: of his, of hers, of yours, of theirs

To avoid ambiguity these possessive adjectives can be substitute with the formula

◦ De + noun Un amigo de Pablo (A friend of Pablo)

◦ De + pronoun (él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes) Un amigo de él (A friend of his)

Possessive adjectives (long form)

The noun conserves its article or determinerEx. Un amigo tuyo te llamó ayer

The determiner does not appear in sentences with exclamations or interjections¡Dios mío, qué calor!

You must use them when they are before the words: “un”, “algún (o), “ningún (o)”, “cualquier (a)”, “cada”, “mucho”, “poco”, “varios”, “más”, “menos”

Possessive adjectives (long form)Special Rules

Concept: As with possessive adjectives, the possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession but they substitute the noun instead of modify it.

Forms: The possessive pronouns use the same forms as the possessive adjectives (long form) except that they place the definite articles (el, la, los, las) in front of the possessive

Possessive Pronouns

The possessives agree in number and gender with what is owned or possessed, NOT with the possessor.

Possessive Gold Rule