Possessive Adjectives in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide

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Key Takeaways

• Master the two types of possessive adjectives: short form and long form
• Understand when to use each type of possessive adjective
• Learn how possessive adjectives agree with the noun in number and gender
• Practice using mi, tu, su, nuestro and other forms in real conversations
• Avoid common mistakes with gender agreement and form selection

Express Ownership and Relationships Clearly

Possessive adjectives are essential for talking about what belongs to you and others. They’re the words we use to say “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “our,” and “their.” Mastering these will help you describe relationships, possessions, and connections in everyday Spanish conversations.

Short Form Possessive Adjectives (Adjetivos Posesivos Átonos)

English	Spanish	Example Sentence	Translation
My	mi / mis	Mi casa es grande.	My house is big.
Your (tú)	tu / tus	Tu coche es rápido.	Your car is fast.
His/Her/Your (Ud.)	su / sus	Su libro está aquí.	His/Her book is here.
Our	nuestro/nuestra nuestros/nuestras	Nuestra familia es grande.	Our family is big.
Your (vosotros)	vuestro/vuestra vuestros/vuestras	Vuestro perro es simpático.	Your dog is friendly.
Their/Your (Uds.)	su / sus	Sus amigos son amables.	Their friends are kind.

💡 Grammar Tip: Short form possessives always come before the noun and do not use articles (el, la, los, las). “Mi casa” not “la mi casa.”

Gender and Number Agreement

Nuestro and Vuestro change to match the noun in gender and number:

Masculine	Feminine	Example (Masculine)	Example (Feminine)
nuestro (singular)	nuestra (singular)	nuestro coche	nuestra casa
nuestros (plural)	nuestras (plural)	nuestros coches	nuestras casas
vuestro (singular)	vuestra (singular)	vuestro libro	vuestra mesa
vuestros (plural)	vuestras (plural)	vuestros libros	vuestras mesas

Long Form Possessive Adjectives (Adjetivos Posesivos Tónicos)

English	Spanish	Example Sentence	Translation
Mine	mío/mía míos/mías	Un amigo mío vive aquí.	A friend of mine lives here.
Yours (tú)	tuyo/tuya tuyos/tuyas	Esa mochila es tuya.	That backpack is yours.
His/Hers/Yours (Ud.)	suyo/suya suyos/suyas	El coche es suyo.	The car is his/hers.
Ours	nuestro/nuestra nuestros/nuestras	La idea fue nuestra.	The idea was ours.
Yours (vosotros)	vuestro/vuestra vuestros/vuestras	Los libros son vuestros.	The books are yours.
Theirs/Yours (Uds.)	suyo/suya suyos/suyas	Las llaves son suyas.	The keys are theirs.

🔍 Grammar Focus: Long form possessives come after the noun and often replace “de + pronoun.” “Un amigo mío” is more natural than “un amigo de mí.”

When to Use Each Form

Use Short Form When:	Use Long Form When:
The possessive directly modifies the noun	Emphasizing who something belongs to
Normal, unemphatic statements	After the verb “ser” (to be)
Most everyday conversations	When the noun is omitted but understood
For “of mine/yours/his” constructions

Examples:

• Short Form: “Mi hermana es doctora.” (My sister is a doctor.)
• Long Form: “Esta hermana es mía.” (This sister is mine.)
• Long Form: “Es un coche suyo.” (It’s a car of his.)

Clarifying “Su” and “Sus”

Since “su/sus” can mean “his,” “her,” “your” (usted), or “their,” Spanish often adds clarification:

• “Su coche de él” (His car)
• “Su casa de ella” (Her house)
• “Sus libros de ustedes” (Your books)
• “Su perro de ellos” (Their dog)

Putting It All Together: Daily Conversations

Conversation 1: Family Discussion
Ana: Nuestros padres vienen a visitarnos. Mi hermano vendrá con su esposa.
Carlos: ¿Dónde estarán sus maletas? Nuestra casa es pequeña.
Ana: No te preocupes. Su habitación está lista.

Translation:
Ana: Our parents are coming to visit us. My brother will come with his wife.
Carlos: Where will their suitcases be? Our house is small.
Ana: Don’t worry. Their room is ready.

Conversation 2: Office Setting
Jefe: ¿Dónde está tu informe?
Empleado: Está en mi escritorio. Nuestro equipo lo terminó ayer.
Jefe: Su trabajo es excelente. Los informes son suyos, ¿verdad?
Empleado: Sí, la idea principal fue mía.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using articles with short forms: “La mi casa” (wrong) → “Mi casa” (correct)
2. Forgetting gender with nuestro/vuestro: “Nuestro casa” (wrong) → “Nuestra casa” (correct)
3. Mixing up short and long forms: “Es mi” (wrong) → “Es mío” (correct)
4. Overusing “su” without clarification: Add “de él/ella/usted” when needed
5. Wrong word order with long forms: “Mío coche” (wrong) → “Coche mío” (correct)

Quick Reference Chart

Form Type	Position	Example	Use Case
Short Form	Before noun	Mi libro	Most conversations
Long Form	After noun	Libro mío	Emphasis, after “ser”
Nuestro/Vuestro	Changes gender	Nuestra casa, nuestros coches	Must agree with noun
Su/Sus	Needs clarification	Su coche de él	When meaning is unclear

Practice Exercise: Choose the Correct Form

Select the correct possessive adjective:

1. (My) ______ hermano vive en Madrid. (mi/mío)
2. Esta casa es ______. (nuestro/nuestra)
3. (Their) ______ libros están aquí. (su/sus)
4. Es un amigo ______. (mi/mío)

Answers:

1. Mi hermano vive en Madrid.
2. Esta casa es nuestra.
3. Sus libros están aquí.
4. Es un amigo mío.

📚 Master all adjective types: Continue with Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish

Ready to Show Ownership?

Think you’ve mastered possessive adjectives? Test your ability to express ownership and relationships in Spanish!

Take Our Possessive Adjectives Quiz ►

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