Possessive Adjectives

Defining What Belongs to Whom

What is a Possessive Adjective?

In Italian, possessive adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns that they modify.

Possessive adjectives are also sometimes preceded by a definite article.

Rules regarding article usage

The definite article is not used before a singular, unmodified noun referring to a family relationship.

For example: mio fratello

The definite article is used when the noun is plural.

The definite article is also used when the noun is modified by another adjective.

For example: il mio amico americano

The definite article is also used when the possessive adjective is loro.

Masculine Forms of Possessive Adjectives

English Singular PluralMy il mio i mieiYour (fam.) il tuo i tuoiHis il suo i suoiHer il suo i suoiYour (form.) il Suo i SuoiOur il nostro i nostriYour (fam.) il vostro i vostriTheir il loro i loroYour (form.) il Loro i Loro

Feminine Forms of Possessive Adjectives

English Singular PluralMy la mia le mieYour (fam.) la tua le tueHis la sua le sueHer la sua le sueYour (form.) la Sua le SueOur la nostra le nostreYour (fam.) la vostra le vostreTheir la loro le loroYour (form.) la Loro le

Loro