Possessives

Possessive adjectives and pronouns (los posesivos) are used to indicate possession or belonging. They always agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, i.e., the thing that is possessed.

Possessive adjectives (adjetivos posesivos) have long and short forms that always accompany a noun. Possessive pronouns (pronombres posesivos), however, are used to replace a noun.

Possessive Adjectives

Short Forms

Rule 1: The short forms of possessive adjectives, or adjetivos posesivos átonos, always come before a noun. Because these possessives function as adjectives, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they relate to.

Here is an overview of the short forms of possessive adjectives in Spanish:

Long Forms

Rule 2: The long forms of possessive adjectives (adjetivos posesivos tónicos) always come after the noun they refer to. They must agree in gender and number with that noun.

Rule 3: Long forms of possessive adjectives are used with the verb ser, when the noun forms part of the subject of a sentence.

Here is an overview of the long forms of possessive adjectives in Spanish:

Possessive Pronouns

Rule 4: Possessive pronouns (pronombres posesivos) are used to replace a previously-mentioned noun and are preceded by the definite article. The possessive pronoun must agree in gender and number with this noun.

Here's an overview of possessive pronouns in Spanish: