- In the chart above you can see the Spanish possessive pronouns which agree with what they describe, NOT with the person who owns that thing. For example, el suyo can mean his, her, yours or theirs, but can only be used to replace a masculine singular noun.
- After ser use mío, tuyo, etc (without article) to mean mine, your, etc.
– ¿De quién es la cartera? (Who the wallet is it?)
– Es mía (It is mine).
Only use the article after ser when the sense is my one, your one, etc. Compare:
Pregunta a Ana si este abrigo es suyo (Ask Ana if this coat is hers).
Pregunta a Ana si este abrigo es el suyo (Ask Ana if this coat is her one).
- Instead of el suyo/la suya/los suyos/las suyas, it is sometimes clearer to say el/la/los/las de usted/él/ella/ustedes/ellos/ellas. You choose between the definite article to agree with the noun referred to.
Mi libro y el de usted (my book and yours).
Mis amigas y las de ella (my friends and hers).
- El/la/los/las can also be used with a name or other noun referring to somebody.
Lola tiene un jardín muy bonito, pero yo prefiero el de Marisa (Lola’s got a nice garden but I prefer Marisa’s).
Ellos tienen un coche muy rápido, pero yo prefiero el de mi jefe (they’ve got a fast car but I prefer my boss’).
Esta no es mi chaqueta, la mía es azul (This is not my jacket, mine is blue).