Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn to use Spanish possessive adjectives like "mío", "tuya", and "suyos" that come after the noun to emphasize ownership. This lesson covers their forms, agreement rules, placement, and differences from possessive pronouns, with practical examples to help A2 learners use them naturally and correctly.
  1. Possessive adjectives agree with the gender and number of the noun.
  2. These possessive adjectives are placed after the noun.
Pronombre (Pronoun)Adjetivo posesivo (Possessive adjective)Ejemplo (Example)
YoMío / mía / míos / míasVoy a llevar una vida sana con una amiga mía. (I'm going to lead a healthy life with a friend of mine.)
Tuyo / tuya / tuyos / tuyas¿Ese es un compañero tuyo del gimnasio? (Is that a gym partner yours?)
Él / EllaSuyo / suya / suyos / suyasEntrena con unos amigos suyos. (He trains with some of his friends.)
Nosotros/asNuestro / nuestra / nuestros / nuestrasVamos al entrenamiento con unos primos nuestros. (We are going to training with some our cousins.)
Vosotros/asVuestro / vuestra / vuestros / vuestras¿Son unos ejercicios vuestros o del instructor? (Are those your exercises or the instructor's?)
Ellos / EllasSuyo / suya / suyos / suyasPractican yoga con unas compañeras suyas. (They practise yoga with some of theirs female classmates.)

Exceptions!

  1. The same adjective is used for both the third person singular and plural.
  2. Be careful not to confuse them with possessive pronouns, such as la mía, which replace the noun. Example: Las pesas tuyas (adjective) are heavier than las mías (pronoun). On the other hand, the possessive adjective always accompanies the noun.

Exercise 1: Los adjetivos posesivos: "Mío", "Tuyo", "Suyo", ...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

vuestra, nuestra, tuyo, suya, míos, mía

1. 1a plural:
Practicamos yoga con una amiga ... cada semana.
(We practise yoga with a friend of ours every week.)
2. 2a singular:
: El entrenamiento ... fue muy intenso.
(Your training was very intense.)
3. 1a singular:
Hago unos ejercicios ... en casa cada mañana.
(I do some of my own exercises at home every morning.)
4. 3a plural:
Ellos olvidaron una toalla ... en la piscina.
(They forgot one of their towels at the swimming pool.)
5. 1a singular:
Hago una rutina ... con yoga y pesas en casa.
(I do my own routine with yoga and weights at home.)
6. 1a plural:
Vamos a una clase ... de yoga los martes.
(We go to one of our yoga classes on Tuesdays.)
7. 3a singular:
Vi una mochila ... junto a la piscina.
(I saw her bag next to the pool.)
8. 2a plural:
¿Lleváis siempre ... rutina al gimnasio?
(Do you always bring your routine to the gym?)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses possessive adjectives after the noun to emphasize ownership, following the indicated rules.

1.
It does not agree in number: "shoes" is plural and "my" is singular.
The possessive adjective must be placed after the noun, not before.
2.
The possessive adjective must go after the noun, not before.
"Your" does not agree in gender with "shirt", which is feminine.
3.
It does not agree in number: "mates" is plural and "he" is singular.
The possessive adjective must be placed after the noun.
4.
The possessive adjective must be placed after the noun, not before.
It does not agree in number: "friends" is plural and "our" is singular.

Possessive Adjectives in Spanish: "Mío", "Tuyo", "Suyo", and More

This lesson focuses on the use of Spanish possessive adjectives that come after the noun to emphasize ownership or relationship. Unlike the regular possessive adjectives placed before the noun (like "mi", "tu", "su"), these forms such as mío, tuya, and suyos highlight possession in a stronger, more expressive way.

Key Points to Remember

  • Placement: These possessive adjectives are positioned after the noun to emphasize the connection. For example: "una amiga mía" (a friend of mine).
  • Agreement: They agree in gender and number with the noun they accompany — mío / mía / míos / mías, tuya / tuyos, etc.
  • Same forms for third person: The forms suyo / suya / suyos / suyas are used for both singular and plural third-person possessors.
  • Distinction from possessive pronouns: Unlike possessive pronouns that replace nouns (e.g., "la mía"), these adjectives always accompany the noun.

Practical Examples

  • "Voy a llevar una vida sana con una amiga mía." (I will live a healthy life with a friend of mine.)
  • "¿Ese es un compañero tuyo del gimnasio?" (Is that a partner of yours from the gym?)
  • "Practican yoga con unas compañeras suyas." (They practice yoga with some friends of theirs.)

Important Notes on Usage

Be careful not to confuse these possessive adjectives with the regular ones placed before the noun or with possessive pronouns. For example, "las pesas tuyas son más pesadas que las mías." Here, "tuyas" and "mías" come after the noun to emphasize possession.

Comparing English and Spanish Possession Expressions

In English, possessive adjectives (my, your, his/her) always come before the noun, while possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his/hers) replace the noun. Spanish has a unique structure where possessive adjectives can also follow the noun to add emphasis. This is less common in English and can express nuances like "a friend of mine" compared to simply "my friend." Understanding this difference enhances your ability to express ownership more naturally in Spanish.

Useful phrases include "una amiga mía" (a friend of mine), "un compañero tuyo" (a partner of yours), and "unos ejercicios suyos" (some exercises of theirs). These structures enrich your vocabulary and understanding of possession nuances.

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