40 Expressing possessive relations
This chapter examines the forms used by Spanish speakers to express possession and to
enquire about possession. The notes below explain the uses of possessive adjectives and
pronouns and a range of other constructions associated with this function.^10 (p. 42)
40.1 Expressing ownership and possession
40.1.1 Using possessives40.1.1.1 Mi, tu, su...
To express ownership and possession, when this is already established or it is
understood, we use words like mi, ‘my’, tu, ‘your’ (fam.), su, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘its’,
nuestro, ‘our’, vuestro, ‘your’ (fam.), su, ‘your’, ‘their’. These words are followed by a
noun or a noun phrase, and they must agree in number (singular or plural) with the
thing possessed; nuestro and vuestro must also agree in gender (masculine and
feminine).
Mi llave, por favor.
My key, please.
No olvides tus gafas de sol.
Don’t forget your sunglasses.
Su pasaporte, por favor.
Your passport, please.
Nuestra habitación no está mal.
Our room is not bad.40.1.1.2 Mío, tuyo, suyo...
Ownership and possession may also be expressed with mío, ‘mine’, tuyo, ‘yours’
(fam.), suyo, ‘yours’, ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘its’, nuestro, ‘ours’, vuestro, ‘yours’ (fam.), suyo,
‘yours’, ‘theirs’, which can function as adjectives or pronouns. These words follow the
noun or are free standing and they all agree in number (singular or plural) and gender
(masculine and feminine) with the noun they refer to, not with the possessor.
^10 (p. 42)