A1 Italian GrammarPossessive Adjectives
Learn Italian possessive adjectives (mio, tuo, suo, nostro, vostro, loro) to express ownership. Unlike English, Italian possessives agree in gender and number with the possessed object, not the possessor. Also learn when to use or omit the definite article with possessives.
1Possessive Forms Overview
Italian possessive adjectives change form to match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun they describe. Unlike English 'my', Italian has four forms for each person: mio, mia, miei, mie. The possessive usually requires a definite article before it.
Possessive Adjectives
| English | Masc. Sing. | Fem. Sing. | Masc. Plur. | Fem. Plur. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| my | il mio | la mia | i miei | le mie |
| your (informal) | il tuo | la tua | i tuoi | le tue |
| his/her/its/your (formal) | 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 |
Examples
Il mio libro è sul tavolo.
My book is on the table.
il mio = my (masc. sing.)
La tua macchina è nuova.
Your car is new.
la tua = your (fem. sing.)
I nostri amici arrivano domani.
Our friends arrive tomorrow.
i nostri = our (masc. plur.)
Le sue sorelle vivono a Milano.
His/Her sisters live in Milan.
le sue = his/her (fem. plur.)
2Agreement with the Noun
The possessive agrees with what is owned, not who owns it. 'His book' and 'her book' are both 'il suo libro' because 'libro' is masculine. This is different from English where we distinguish 'his' and 'her'. Context determines the possessor.
Agreement Examples
| Possessor | Object | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| he | casa (f.) | la sua casa | his house |
| she | casa (f.) | la sua casa | her house |
| he | cane (m.) | il suo cane | his dog |
| she | cane (m.) | il suo cane | her dog |
Examples
Marco ama la sua famiglia.
Marco loves his family.
la sua = his (famiglia is feminine)
Anna legge il suo giornale.
Anna reads her newspaper.
il suo = her (giornale is masculine)
Dove sono i tuoi occhiali?
Where are your glasses?
i tuoi = your (occhiali is masc. plur.)
Le mie chiavi sono perse.
My keys are lost.
le mie = my (chiavi is fem. plur.)
3Family Members - No Article
With singular family member nouns, the definite article is omitted: 'mio padre' not 'il mio padre'. However, keep the article with: plural family members (i miei fratelli), modified family terms (il mio caro padre), or 'loro' (il loro padre). Informal terms like 'mamma' and 'papà ' can take the article.
Family Members Rule
| Without Article | With Article | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| mio padre | i miei genitori | singular vs plural |
| tua madre | le tue sorelle | singular vs plural |
| suo fratello | il suo fratello maggiore | modified noun |
| nostra zia | il loro zio | 'loro' always needs article |
Examples
Mia madre è italiana.
My mother is Italian.
No article with singular family
I miei nonni vivono in campagna.
My grandparents live in the countryside.
Article with plural family
Tuo fratello è simpatico.
Your brother is nice.
No article with singular family
Il loro figlio studia medicina.
Their son studies medicine.
'Loro' always needs the article
4Loro - The Exception
'Loro' (their) is invariable - it never changes form regardless of the gender or number of the noun. It always requires the definite article, even with singular family members. 'Loro' always follows the noun in formal/written style but can precede it in modern spoken Italian.
Loro - Invariable
| Noun Type | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| masc. sing. | il loro amico | their friend (m.) |
| fem. sing. | la loro amica | their friend (f.) |
| masc. plur. | i loro amici | their friends (m.) |
| fem. plur. | le loro amiche | their friends (f.) |
Examples
La loro casa è grande.
Their house is big.
'loro' doesn't change
I loro figli sono intelligenti.
Their children are intelligent.
'loro' stays the same for plural
Ho visto il loro cane.
I saw their dog.
'loro' with article always
Le loro valigie sono pesanti.
Their suitcases are heavy.
'loro' doesn't agree with noun