Possessive Adjectives (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Possessive adjectives
Overview
Possessive adjectives in Spanish show ownership or belonging, just like in English (my, your, his, etc.). However, unlike English, Spanish possessive adjectives must change their form to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. This means they agree with the thing being possessed, not the person who owns it.
The most important concept to understand is that Spanish possessive adjectives agree with the noun being possessed, not with the person who possesses it. This is different from English, where possessive adjectives remain constant.
Rules & formation
The fundamental principle governing Spanish possessive adjectives is the concept of grammatical agreement. They must match both the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun that follows them.
Key Rule: Agreement Possessive adjectives must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun that follows them, NOT the gender of the person who owns the item.
For example:
- If you're talking about "casa" (house - feminine), you use the feminine form
- If you're talking about "casas" (houses - plural), you use the plural form
Most possessive adjectives have the same form for masculine and feminine (like mi, tu, su), but "nuestro/nuestra" and "vuestro/vuestra" change endings like regular adjectives.
Only two possessive adjectives change their endings to show gender agreement: "nuestro/nuestra" (our) and "vuestro/vuestra" (your - informal plural). All others remain the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.
Table of key forms
| English | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My | mi | mi | mis | mis |
| Your (tú) | tu | tu | tus | tus |
| His/Her/Your (usted) | su | su | sus | sus |
| Our | nuestro | nuestra | nuestros | nuestras |
| Your (vosotros) | vuestro | vuestra | vuestros | vuestras |
| Their/Your (ustedes) | su | su | sus | sus |
Notice how "mi", "tu", and "su" remain unchanged across gender, while "nuestro" and "vuestro" have four different forms each to match all gender and number combinations.
Example sentences
Here are practical examples showing how possessive adjectives work in context:
Worked Example: Agreement with Different Noun Types
Agreement with feminine nouns:
- "Nuestra abuela es francesa" = Our grandmother is French
- "Tu hermana es muy simpática" = Your sister is very nice
Agreement with masculine plural nouns:
- "Nuestros primos viven en Madrid" = Our cousins live in Madrid
- "Sus juguetes están en el suelo" = Their toys are on the floor
Agreement with mixed examples:
- "Su perro se llama Rover" = His dog is called Rover
- "Sus perros se llaman Rover y Spot" = His dogs are called Rover and Spot
- "Mis padres son muy estrictos" = My parents are very strict
Notice how the possessive adjective changes form to match the noun (abuela/primos/perro/perros), whilst keeping the same meaning of possession.
Common mistakes & tips
Understanding the most frequent errors students make can help you avoid these pitfalls and master possessive adjectives more effectively.
Mistake 1: Using the wrong gender form with "nuestro/vuestro"
- Wrong: "nuestra libro" ❌
- Right: "nuestro libro" ✅ (libro is masculine)
Remember: Always check if the noun is masculine or feminine before choosing between nuestro/nuestra or vuestro/vuestra.
Mistake 2: Confusing "su/sus" meanings "Su" and "sus" can mean his, her, your (formal), or their. Use context to understand the meaning, or ask for clarification if needed.
This ambiguity is normal in Spanish - native speakers rely on context to determine the exact meaning.
Mistake 3: Trying to make "mi/tu" agree with gender "Mi" and "tu" never change for gender - they stay the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine.
These forms are gender-neutral and only change for number (mi → mis, tu → tus).
Top tip: Always look at the noun first, then choose the possessive adjective that matches its gender and number.
Mini practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Practice Translations
-
My brothers live in London. Answer: Mis hermanos viven en Londres.
-
Our house is very big. Answer: Nuestra casa es muy grande.
-
Their parents work in a hospital. Answer: Sus padres trabajan en un hospital.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Possessive adjectives must agree with the noun they describe, not the person who owns it
- Only "nuestro/nuestra" and "vuestro/vuestra" change endings for gender
- "Su/sus" can mean his, her, your (formal), or their - use context to work out which
- "Mi/tu" stay the same for masculine and feminine nouns
- Always add 's' for plural nouns (mis, tus, sus, nuestros, etc.)