Learn Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns in Italian

Do you make mistakes with possessive adjectives and pronouns? Are you uncertain whether you need an article when using possessives with some words?
Unlike in English, Italian possessive adjectives agree with the noun they describe regarding gender and number. The following article will explain the rules and provide activities to help you learn the Italian possessive adjectives, along with frequently asked questions.

Do you know how to use possessive adjectives and pronouns in Italian? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how articles are used.

• Questa è la vostra insegnante
• Alessio va dal suo amico.
• Venite a casa nostra?
• La casa di Mario ha tre piani, la mia due.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the text and pay attention to the possessives:

How to use the Italian Possessive adjective and pronouns

The possessive adjective and pronouns must agree with the noun.

For example, if the thing possessed is masculine singular, your possessive adjective must be masculine singular as well.

In Italian, possessive forms do not distinguish between “his” and “her,” so it’s important to pay special attention to how “suo” (his) and “sua” (her) are used in sentences to accurately convey possession.

Examples:

Le sue scarpe (feminine) sono nuove. (His shoes are new)

I suoi pantaloni (masculine) sono carini (His pants are nice.)

le sue scarpe (her shoes)

Le sue scarpe (his shoes)

Position of the Italian Possessive adjective

In most cases, the possessive adjective comes before the noun. When it comes after a word, it has a very emphatic or emotive meaning:

Mamma mia! Dio mio!

Qui siamo in casa nostra! (Here we are in our own place! )

Questo dev’essere opera tua! (This must be your work! – ironical) 

Distinctions between Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives

Possessive pronouns and adjectives are identical in form (whereas in English they change ‘my/mine, your/yours’, etc.). 

Watch the virtual board below to learn more about adjective and pronoun differences.

The possessive adjectives are always preceded by the definite article.

The pronouns are used on their own to refer to something that has already been mentioned or that is present.

Use of article with Italian Possessive adjectives and pronouns

Unlike English, the definite article is part of the possessive. It is not optional.

(In English possessives are never accompanied by articles) 

In Italian, the possessives are always preceded by an article, except in a few cases. 

Both article and possessive must agree in gender and number with the noun to which they are attached.

Omission of the article with possessive

Sometimes the definite article is not used with possessive adjectives

You don’t need it before some nouns of family members in the singular form.

Possessive with family nouns

There is a special rule for possessive adjectives with family nouns.

We use the possessive without the article for singular family nouns.

• Vado al teatro con mio zio (⚠️ don’t say – il mio zio)
• Mia sorella Cinzia ha 30 anni (⚠️ don’t say – la mia sorella)

We use the possessive with the article for plural family nouns.

• Vado al teatro con i miei zii (⚠️ don’t say – miei zii)
• Le mia sorelle Cinzia e Paola hanno 30 anni (⚠️ don’t say – mie sorelle)

	Singular masculine	Singular feminine	Plural masculine	Plural feminine
grandfather grandmother	mio nonno	mia nonna	i nostri nonni	le nostre nonne
father mother	mio padre	mia madre	i nostri padri	le nostre madri
brother sister	mio fratello	mia sorella	i nostri fratelli	le nostre sorelle
uncle aunt	mio zio	mia zia	i nostri zii	le nostre zie
cousin	mio cugino	mia cugina	i nostri cugini	le nostre cugine
nephew	mio nipote	mia nipote	i nostri nipoti	le nostre nipoti
husband wife	mio marito	mia moglie	i nostri mariti	le nostre mogli
son doughter	mio figlio	mia figlia	i nostri figli	le nostre figlie

Additional advanced information about possessive with family nouns

The definite article is used with nouns that are modifications of the basic forms: babbo/papà (dad), mamma (mom), sorellina (little sister), nonnino (small, dear grandfather), and so on. 

A definite article is used when the family name is modified by another adjective or includes a suffix. 

il mio caro zio (my dear uncle)

il mio fratellino (my little brother)

A definite article is not used with the possessive adjective when the adjective comes after the noun in an expression or in exclamations. 

A mio parere… Dio mio! (In my opinion . . . My God!)

Cara mia! (My dear!)

Mamma mia! Oh my! (idiomatic) 

Omission of the possessive

In English, the possessive is commonly used to indicate personal belongings or relationships, and parts of the body.

In Italian, when the relationship or ownership is obvious, as in the examples shown, the possessive is not used.

This is particularly true when referring to parts of the body or items of clothing, where a reflexive pronoun is often used instead: 

Porterò la macchina. (I’ll bring my car.) 

Aveva una giacca sulle spalle. (She had a jacket over her shoulders)

FAQs about Italian Possessive Adjectives

Q1: Do possessive adjectives in Italian always need an article? A1: Generally, yes. Unlike English, Italian possessive adjectives are usually preceded by a definite article. However, there are exceptions, such as when referring to singular family members (e.g., mio padre, tua madre).

Q2: How do I know which form to use? A2: The form of the possessive adjective depends on the gender and number of the noun it describes. Always match the adjective to the noun, not to the possessor.

Q3: What about “loro”? Does it change? A3: “Loro” is an exception and does not change for gender or number. It remains the same in all cases.

Q4: Can possessive adjectives come after the noun? A4: No, in Italian, possessive adjectives always precede the noun.

Q5: Is there any difference between “suo” and “sua”? A5: Yes, “suo” is used for masculine singular nouns, and “sua” is used for feminine singular nouns. Similarly, “suoi” and “sue” are for masculine and feminine plural nouns, respectively.

Conclusion

Mastering possessive adjectives and pronouns is a vital part of becoming fluent in Italian. Practice regularly with the activities provided, and soon you’ll find using them becomes second nature. Remember, consistency is key!

Feel free to share your practice sentences or any questions you have in the comments below. Buona fortuna!

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