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Spanish Grammar: PRONOUNS
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS Defined
When a word not only expresses possession but takes the place of a noun, it is a possessive pronoun.
Agreement
Unlike English, in Spanish the possessive pronouns, since they function more or less like adjectives, must agree with the noun for which they stand in gender and number.
In the following sentences the word libro (book) has been replaced by the possessive pronoun. "Libro" is masculine singular; therefore, the masculine singular possessive pronoun has replaced it.
¿Dónde está su libro?
Where is your book?
El mío está aquí.
Mine is here.
El suyo (El de él) es verde.
His is green.
El nuestro es grande.
Ours is large.
In the following sentences the word "pluma" is feminine singular and is replaced by the feminine singular possessive pronoun.
Esta pluma es verde.
This pen is green.
La mía no es blanca.
Mine is not white.
La suya (La de él) es negra.
His is black.
La nuestra es grande.
Ours is large.
In the following sentences the word "libros" is masculine plural and is replaced by the masculine plural possessive pronoun.
¿Dónde están sus libros?
Where are your books?
Los míos están aquí.
Mine are here.
Los suyos (Los de él) son rojos.
His are red.
Los nuestros son azules.
Ours are blue.
In the following sentences the word "plumas" is feminine plural and is replaced by the feminine plural possessive pronoun.
Estas plumas son verdes.
These pens are green.
Las mías son blancas.
Mine are white.
Las suyas (Las de él) son negras.
His are black.
Las nuestras son grandes.
Ours are large.
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preventing ambiguity
The expression el suyo (as well as la suya, los suyos, and las suyas) may mean his, hers, yours, its, or theirs. Such ambiguity can be avoided by substituting the appropriate form of the definite article, followed by an explanatory prepositional form (de él, de ella, de Ud., de ellos, etc.).
Instead of "el suyo" use "el de él," "el de ella," "el de Ud.," etc.
Instead of "la suya" use "la de él," "la de ella," "la de Ud.," etc.
Instead of "los suyos" use "los de él," "los de ella," "los de Ud.," etc.
Instead of "las suyas" use "las de él," "las de ella," "las de Ud.," etc.
| Tengo el suyo. = | Tengo el de él. -
I have his. |
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preventing repetition
In order to prevent the repetition of the noun, the following construction may be used:
Mi pluma y la pluma de Juan.
My pen and Juan's pen.
Mi pluma y la de Juan.
My pen and Juan's.
Su lápiz y el lápiz de María.
Your pencil and Maria's pencil.
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(neuter form)
The possessive pronoun has also a neuter form: lo mío, lo tuyo, lo suyo, lo nuestro, lo vuestro, lo suyo. The neuter pronoun does not refer to any particular noun but rather to a group of things, e.g. lo mío may mean the following: what is mine, my possessions, my people, etc.
Yo sé defender lo mío.
I know how to defend what is mine.
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Additional Notes
The possessive pronoun drops the definite article after the verb ser when no distinction in ownership is emphasized. However, for emphasis or contrast, the definite article must be used.
Este libro es suyo.
This book is yours.
Esta pluma es suya.
This pen is his.
But:
Ése es el mío.
That one is mine (specifically the one that belongs to me).
Esta pluma es la suya.
This pen is his. (emphasis)
The possessive pronoun is sometimes used after a noun and is usually translated "of mine," "of his," etc., or "my" if used in an exclamation.
Un amigo mío vive aquí.
A friend of mine lives here.
¡Hijo mío! ¡Qué alto es Ud.!
My son! How tall you are!
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Table of Possessive Pronouns
| singular | plural | |
mine |
mío, -a | míos, -as |
yours (familiar) |
tuyo, -a | tuyo, -as |
his, her, its, yours (formal) |
suyo, -a | suyos, -as |
our |
nuestro, -a | nuestros, -as |
yours (familiar) |
vuestro, -a | vuestros, -as |
theirs, yours (formal) |
suyo, -a | suyos, -as |