ASpanish

Framework · PABN

PABN — Possessive Adjectives Before a Noun

P.A.B.N. Possessives go BEFORE the noun. They agree with the thing possessed, not the possessor.

U3← All grammar

The rules

  • All possessives agree for NUMBER. Only nuestro and vuestro also agree for GENDER.
  • mi / mis (my). tu / tus (your inf sing). su / sus (his/her/your formal/their). nuestro / -a / -os / -as (our). vuestro / -a / -os / -as (Spain y'all). su / sus (their / your formal pl).
  • Disambiguate su: el libro de él / de ella / de usted / de ellos.
  • English 's → Spanish de + owner (REVERSED order): 'Ian's pencil' = el lápiz de Ian.

Common errors

mía hermana → mi hermana

Possessive agrees with the thing possessed; mi/mis don't change for gender.