In the example below, in the phrase los mios (mine), the first letters of

the possessive pronoun ml- refer to the 1st person singular possessor

(mine) and the ending of the possessive pronoun (-os) and the definite

article agree with the noun possessed libros (books) which is mascu-

line plural.

The first letters of the possessive pronoun refer to the possessor and

the ending of the possessive pronoun agrees with the noun possessed.

Where are your books? Mine are in the living room.

rnasc. p1. endings

~Dónde estdn tus libros? L4~ mit’s están en la sala.

y

1st pers. sing. possessor

Here are the steps you should follow in choosing the correct posses-

sive pronoun.

4

1. Indicate the possessor. This is shown by the first letters of the pos-

sessive pronoun.

mine ml-

yours tuy-

his, hers, yours suy-

ours nuestr-

yours vuestr-

theirs, yours suy-

2. Find the noun possessed and determine its gender and number.

Choose the definite article + the possessive pronoun ending

according to the gender and number of that noun.

• if the noun possessed is masculine singular -4 use the definite

article el and add -o to the first letters of the possessor.

Where is the book? Mine is on the table.

noun possessed

rnasc. sing.

~Dónde está el libro? El mb está sobre la mesa.

• if the noun possessed is feminine singular —> use the definite

article Ia and add -a to the first letters of the possessor.

Where is the magazine? Mine is on the table.

noun possessed

fern. sing.

tDónde está la revista? La mba estd sobre la mesa.

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• if the noun possessed is masculine plural—> use the definite

article los and add -Os to the first letters of the possessor

Where are the books? Mine are on the table.

noun possessed

rnasc. p1.

tDónde están los libros? Los mfos están sobre La mesa.

• if the noun possessed is feminine plural—.> use the definite article

las and add -as to the first letters of the possessor.

Where are the magazines? Mine are on the table.

noun possessed

fern. p1.

~Dónde están las revistas? Las mfas están sobre la mesa.

3. Select the proper form.

Let us apply the steps to the following examples.

She is reading her magazines. He is reading yours.

1. INDICATE THE POSSESSOR: tuy-

2. INDICATE THE NOUN POSSESSED AND ITS NUMBER AND GENDER:

Magazines (las revistas) is feminine plural.

3. SELECTION: las + -as

Ella lee sus revistas. El lee las tuyas.

Susana forgot her notebook but we have ours.

1. INDICATE THE POSSESSOR: nuestr-

2. INDICATE THE NOUN POSSESSED AND ITS NUMBER AND GENDER:

Notebook (el cuaderno) is masculine singular.

3. SELECTION: el + -o

Susana olvidd su cuaderno pero tenemos el nuestro.

Careful

The definite article is not used when the possessive pronoun follows a

form of the verb ser (to be).

is this your coat? No, it’s not mine. Mine is larger

~Es éste tu abrigo? No, no es mb. El mb es más grande.

ILrJ

possessive pronoun artIcle + possessive

without article pronoun

after ser