2.2.4: Gli aggettivi possessivi
- Page ID
- 341150
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Possessive Adjectives: Expressing Ownership and Relationships
Possessive adjectives are used to indicate ownership or connection between people and things. They are a fundamental part of everyday communication, helping us describe whose object, idea, or person we are talking about.
- Match the gender and number of possessive adjectives to the noun they describe.
- Understand when to use or omit the definite article with possessive adjectives.
- Apply possessive adjectives in practical and familiar contexts (e.g. città, amici, occhiali, famiglia).
- Complete exercises that reinforce correct usage of possessive adjectives.
- Practice using possessive structures in short dialogues and descriptive writing.
Unlike in English, they are usually preceded by a definite article.
Structure:
definite article + possessive adjective + noun
Examples:
- il mio zaino (my backpack)
- la tua amica (your friend)
- i suoi libri (his/her books)
Just like descriptive adjectives, possessive adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
For example:
- la mia casa (my house – feminine singular)
- i miei amici (my friends – masculine plural)
Let’s explore how to use these adjectives accurately and naturally in everyday conversation.
Remember! The correct form of a possessive adjective depends on the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun it refers to, not on the person who owns it.
Refer to the table below as you begin learning these forms. Try choosing a few Italian nouns you already know and test how they would appear with "my," "your," or "their." This will help you start recognizing patterns and using them confidently.
| Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| my | il mio | la mia | i miei | le mie |
| your (informal) | il tuo | la tua | i tuoi | le tue |
| his/her/its | il suo | la sua | i suoi | le sue |
| our | il nostro | la nostra | i nostri | le nostre |
| your (plural) | il vostro | la vostra | i vostri | le vostre |
| their | il loro | la loro | i loro | le loro |
Important Notes
-
loro is invariable — only the article changes.
-
Articles il, la, i, le are always used because possessive adjectives start with a consonant.
Examples
- la mia città (my city)
- le mie amiche (my friends – feminine)
- i suoi occhiali (his/her glasses)
- il nostro professore (our professor)
- la tua casa (your house)
- i tuoi amici (your friends)
- le sue lezioni (his/her classes)
- la loro università (their university)
Be aware that the general rule article + possessive adjective + noun does not always apply when talking about family members (for example: mia madre, mio padre, mio fratello, mia sorella). We will look at these exceptions in detail in Chapter 4 when we talk about family. For now, don’t worry. Focus on becoming familiar with the general rule and its usage, so it will be easier to adjust later.
Practice Exercises
Now that you’ve studied the structure and agreement of possessive adjectives, it’s time to practice. These activities will help reinforce the patterns and get you comfortable using the correct forms.
Fill in the Table
Complete the missing parts of the possessive adjectives table by writing the correct form in each blank space.
| Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| my | il mio | la _______ | i miei | le mie |
| your (informal) | il _______ | la tua | i tuoi | le _______ |
| his/her/its | il suo | la _______ | i suoi | le sue |
| our | il _______ | la nostra | i _______ | le nostre |
| your (plural) | il vostro | la vostra | i _______ | le vostre |
Complete
Complete with the correct article and possessive adjective
Read each sentence carefully. Choose the correct answer from the three options provided.
Pay attention to gender, number, and agreement between the possessive adjective and the noun.
Only the verbs essere and avere are used.
-
Io ho uno zaino nuovo.
a) il mio b) il suo c) i suoi
→ _______ zaino è pesante. -
Tu hai una casa a Roma.
a) la tua b) la sua c) le tue
→ _______ casa è grande. -
Marco e Giulia hanno molti amici.
a) i suoi b) i loro c) le loro
→ _______ amici sono simpatici. -
Lei ha gli occhiali.
a) i suoi b) le sue c) il suo
→ _______ occhiali sono nuovi. -
Noi abbiamo una città preferita.
a) la nostra b) il nostro c) i nostri
→ _______ città è bellissima. -
Voi avete molte lezioni oggi.
a) le vostre b) i vostri c) le sue
→ _______ lezioni sono interessanti. -
Io ho un libro di grammatica.
a) il mio b) la mia c) i miei
→ _______ libro è utile. -
Tu hai un’auto nuova.
a) la tua b) la sua c) le tue
→ _______ auto è grande. -
Noi siamo insegnanti.
a) i nostri b) i suoi c) le nostre
→ _______ studenti sono bravi. -
Loro hanno un computer portatile.
a) il loro b) il suo c) i loro
→ _______ computer è vecchio.
Complete without a list
Fill in each blank with the correct article and possessive adjective.
-
Marco e Carlo hanno un cane. _______ cane è bello.
-
Io ho una bicicletta. _______ bicicletta è nuova.
-
Tu hai due quaderni. _______ quaderni sono sul tavolo.
-
Noi abbiamo uno zaino. _______ zaino è pesante.
-
Voi avete un computer. _______ computer è vecchio.
-
Loro hanno una macchina. _______ macchina è rossa.
-
Io ho un corso di italiano. _______ corso è interessante.
-
Tu hai una penna blu. _______ penna è sul banco.
-
Noi abbiamo molti amici. _______ amici sono simpatici.
-
Loro hanno una città preferita. _______ città è grande e bella.