Overview
This lecture explains how to use and form possessive adjectives in Spanish, comparing them with their English equivalents and discussing agreement rules.
Possessive Adjectives in English
- Possessive adjectives show ownership: my, your, his, her, its, our, your (plural), their.
- Chart is divided by first, second, and third person, singular and plural.
- “Your” can be singular or plural in English, but Spanish distinguishes them.
Possessive Adjectives in Spanish
- Spanish equivalents include: mi/mis (my), tu/tus (your, informal), su/sus (his, her, your formal, their), nuestro/a/os/as (our), vuestro/a/os/as (your, plural, Spain).
- Use su/sus for "their" and also for "your" formal (usted/ustedes).
- Ustedes (plural you outside Spain) uses su/sus just like third person plural.
Agreement Rules in Spanish
- Possessive adjectives in Spanish must agree in number (singular/plural) with the noun: mi hermana / mis hermanas.
- For nuestro and vuestro, agreement must also be in gender: nuestro amigo (male), nuestra amiga (female), nuestros amigos (male/mixed group), nuestras amigas (female group).
- Add “-s” to possessive adjectives for plural nouns.
- For mixed gender groups, use the masculine form by default.
Special Notes & Exceptions
- Do not use possessive adjectives with body parts in Spanish; use definite articles instead (e.g., la cabeza, los dientes).
- Example: "My head hurts" = Me duele la cabeza (not mi cabeza).
- Example: "Brush your teeth" = Lávate los dientes (not tus dientes).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Possessive adjective — word that shows to whom something belongs (e.g., my, your, his, su, nuestro).
- Agreement — matching the form of adjectives (number/gender) to the noun they describe.
- Definite article — word for "the" in Spanish (el, la, los, las), used with body parts.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice selecting the correct possessive adjective in Spanish for different nouns.
- Remember: use definite articles, not possessive adjectives, with body parts.
- Review additional language learning resources as needed.