A possessive pronoun in Spanish is used the same way as in English, to replace a noun or a possessive adjective. For example, instead of saying "This is my book" (possessive adjective + noun) you could just say "This book is mine" (possessive pronoun).

There are 5 possessive pronouns in Spanish and each has 4 forms as it must always agree with the noun that it replaces. It can be a little confusing because one of them "suyo" is used for second person singular, third person singular, second person plural and third person plural! So it is often the context that demonstrates which meaning it may have.

Note that the possessive pronoun in Spanish is usually used with the definite article (el, la, los, las), EXCEPT when it comes after the verb.

For example: "El libro grande es mío, pero el tuyo es nuevo"

Here is a table with the forms of the possessive pronoun:

Examples of the use of the possessive pronoun

• Este carro es mío, pero ese carro es tuyo. This car is mine, but that car is yours.
• Las alfombras son nuestras, pero las mesas son suyas. The carpets are ours, but the tables are his/yours/theirs.
• Mi telefono esta dañado. Pablo me está prestando el suyo. My telephone is damged. Pablo is lending me his.
• Profesor, estos libros deben ser los vuestros mientras los míos no están aquí. Teacher, these books must be yours, while mine are not here.

Interactive exercises - Ejercicios interactivos

Read the sentences below and type in the correct possessive pronoun

Lee las oraciones e inserta el pronombre possesivo correcto.