Possessive and Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns
Possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, vuestro, su and their plural forms) show who something belongs to and must agree in number with the thing owned (mis libros, not mi libros for a plural), while nuestro/vuestro also agree in gender (nuestra casa). Possessive pronouns (el mío, la tuya, los suyos) replace the noun entirely and take an article, and are used to avoid repeating a noun already mentioned. Demonstrative adjectives (este/esta/estos/estas for 'this/these', ese/esa/esos/esas for 'that/those, nearby', aquel/aquella/aquellos/aquellas for 'that/those, further away') point out which specific thing is meant and agree in gender and number with the noun; their neuter forms (esto, eso, aquello) refer to a whole idea or an unidentified object rather than a specific noun. The examiner is testing accurate agreement in both systems and correct choice between the three degrees of distance for demonstratives.
Before you start
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Method
- Match a possessive adjective to the owner (mi/mis for yo, tu/tus for tú, su/sus for él/ella/usted/ellos/ellas/ustedes, nuestro/a/os/as for nosotros, vuestro/a/os/as for vosotros) and always agree it in number (and gender for nuestro/vuestro) with the noun owned, not with the owner: mis hermanas (my sisters, plural because hermanas is plural, regardless of how many owners there are).
- Because su/sus can mean his, her, its, your (usted) or their, add de + name/pronoun for clarity when the context does not make the owner obvious: el coche de mi padre instead of just su coche.
- To replace a noun with a possessive pronoun, use the definite article plus the possessive pronoun form (el mío, la mía, los tuyos, las suyas), agreeing with the noun replaced: Mi mochila es azul; la tuya es roja (Mine is blue; yours is red).
- Pick the correct demonstrative adjective for distance from the speaker: este/esta/estos/estas for something close to the speaker, ese/esa/esos/esas for something closer to the listener or a moderate distance, aquel/aquella/aquellos/aquellas for something far from both speakers, often visible in the distance or far off in time.
- Agree every demonstrative adjective in gender and number with the noun it describes: estos zapatos, aquella ciudad, esas fotos.
- Use the neuter forms esto, eso and aquello (never with a noun and never changing for gender/number) to refer to a whole situation, statement or something not yet identified: No entiendo esto (I don't understand this).
- Demonstrative pronouns, used to replace a noun rather than describe it, look identical to the adjective forms in modern spelling (este es mío - this one is mine); context makes clear whether a noun follows or has been dropped.
Worked example
Translate: 'Is that your bag over there (far away), or is this one mine?'
- 'That...over there (far away)' needs the third-degree demonstrative for something distant: aquella, agreeing with mochila (feminine).
- 'Your bag' needs the possessive adjective tu, agreeing with the feminine singular noun: tu mochila.
- 'This one' replaces the noun and is close to the speaker, so use the demonstrative pronoun esta on its own.
- 'Mine' is a possessive pronoun replacing mochila, so use the article + possessive pronoun agreeing in gender/number: la mía.
- Assemble the full question: ¿Es aquella tu mochila, o esta es la mía?
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Complete: ___ (my, plural) padres viven en Madrid.Show answer
Answer: Mis (Mis padres viven en Madrid).
Q2Translate: 'This book is mine, and that one (nearby) is yours.'Show answer
Answer: Este libro es mío, y ese es tuyo.
Q3Spot the error: 'Nuestro casa es muy grande.'Show answer
Answer: It should be 'Nuestra casa' - nuestro agrees in gender with the feminine noun casa.
Q4Translate: 'I don't understand that (the whole situation).'Show answer
Answer: No entiendo eso.
Q5Complete with a possessive pronoun: Mi móvil es nuevo, pero ___ (hers) es viejo.Show answer
Answer: el suyo (pero el suyo es viejo).
Q6Choose the correct demonstrative: (aquella/esta) montaña que se ve muy lejos en el horizonte.Show answer
Answer: aquella - aquella montaña, because it is far from the speaker, visible in the distance.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: Esta casa es mía, pero aquella casa al final de la calle es de mis abuelos. Nuestro jardín es más pequeño que el suyo, aunque nuestras flores son más bonitas que las de ellos.
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Translate into Spanish: 'These photos are mine, but those ones (near you) are my sister's. That mountain over there is very beautiful.'
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See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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