"Mis," "tus," and "sus" are individual Spanish possessive adjectives that indicate ownership and always precede a plural noun. They do not form a single phrase but rather represent different forms of possession.
Understanding Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives in Spanish, like their English counterparts ("my," "your," "his," "her"), are words that show who owns or possesses something. They agree in number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify, not with the owner.
Let's break down the meaning of each word:
- Mis: This is the plural form of "mi," meaning "my." It is used when you are talking about multiple items that belong to you.
- Tus: This is the plural form of "tu," meaning "your" (informal singular). It is used when you are talking about multiple items that belong to a single person you address informally (e.g., a friend or family member).
- Sus: This is the plural form of "su," and it is highly versatile. It can mean:
- "his" (plural items belonging to a male)
- "her" (plural items belonging to a female)
- "its" (plural items belonging to an object or animal)
- "their" (plural items belonging to multiple people or things)
- "your" (formal singular, referring to plural items belonging to one person you address formally, e.g., "usted")
- "your" (plural, referring to plural items belonging to multiple people, e.g., "ustedes")
Overview of Possessive Adjectives (Plural Forms)
The following table illustrates the meanings and usage of these plural possessive adjectives:
| Possessive Adjective | Singular Form | Meaning (English) | Example Usage (Spanish) | Example Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mis | Mi | My | mis libros | my books |
| Tus | Tu | Your (informal singular) | tus amigos | your friends |
| Sus | Su | His, Her, Its, Their, Your (formal singular or plural) | sus perros, sus llaves | his/her dogs, their keys |
Practical Examples
To further clarify their use, here are some examples:
- Mis:
- Mis padres vienen mañana. (My parents are coming tomorrow.)
- ¿Dónde están mis gafas? (Where are my glasses?)
- Tus:
- Tus ideas son muy buenas. (Your ideas are very good.)
- ¿Trajiste tus cuadernos? (Did you bring your notebooks?)
- Sus:
- Él cuida sus plantas. (He takes care of his plants.)
- Ella compró sus zapatos nuevos. (She bought her new shoes.)
- Ellos vendieron sus casas. (They sold their houses.)
- Señor García, ¿cuáles son sus planes? (Mr. García, what are your plans? - formal singular 'you')
- Ustedes deben traer sus documentos. (You all should bring your documents. - plural 'you')
These adjectives are fundamental in Spanish for expressing possession clearly and correctly.
[[Spanish Grammar]]
