Possessive adjectives: mi, tu, su…
A1Grammar path · Lesson 19 of 86 · Stage A1 · Questions, negatives and plans
Possessive adjectives let you say 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her' or 'our' when you talk about family, belongings or personal details. They always come before the noun: mi libro (my book), tu casa (your house), su coche (his, her, your formal or their car). The key idea is that the form matches the thing owned, so plural nouns take -s (mis, tus, sus) and nuestro also changes for gender: nuestra casa. The most common mix-up is tu (your, no accent) versus tú (you, with an accent): Tú tienes tu libro.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
mi / tu / su + sustantivo singularmis / tus / sus + sustantivo pluralnuestro / nuestra / nuestros / nuestras + sustantivo¿Cuál es + tu / su + sustantivo?When to use it
Talking about family and relationships
When you introduce relatives or friends, Spanish almost always puts a possessive adjective before the noun.
Talking about belongings and places
Use them to say whose things or home you mean; remember the plural follows the objects, not the owner.
Su for usted, him, her and them
Su and sus cover formal usted, his, her and their (ustedes, ellos). Context tells you who is meant.
Possessive adjectives
Frequently asked questions
Why does one person use sus instead of su?
Because the possessive agrees with the thing owned. One person with several books is sus libros; several people with one car is su coche.
What is the difference between tu and tú?
Tu without an accent means 'your' and goes before a noun. Tú with an accent is the pronoun 'you', the subject: Tú tienes tu libro.
How do I know if su means his, her or your?
Usually the context makes it clear. If it could be ambiguous, use de él, de ella or de usted: el coche de ella.
Does nuestro change for gender?
Yes. Nuestro and vuestro have four forms matching the noun's gender and number: nuestro perro, nuestra casa, nuestros amigos, nuestras hijas. Mi, tu and su only change for number.
Can I say el mi libro?
No. The possessive adjective replaces the article, so you just say mi libro.
Why do people say me duele la cabeza without mi?
With body parts and clothing, when the owner is already clear, Spanish usually uses the article instead of the possessive: Me lavo las manos.