Use 'sus' before plural nouns to indicate possession by him, her, it, them, or formal you.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Indicates possession for third person or formal second person.
- Always matches the number of the noun possessed.
- Does not distinguish gender of the possessor or the noun.
Visión general
'Sus' es la forma plural del adjetivo posesivo 'su'. En español, los adjetivos posesivos deben concordar en número con el objeto poseído, no con el poseedor. Por lo tanto, usamos 'sus' siempre que el sustantivo sea plural, independientemente de si el poseedor es una persona o varias. 2) Patrones de uso: Se coloca siempre antes del sustantivo al que modifica. A diferencia del inglés, no indica el género del poseedor, sino que se refiere a 'él', 'ella', 'usted', 'ellos', 'ellas' o 'ustedes'. Ejemplo: 'Sus libros' puede significar 'his books', 'her books', 'their books' o 'your (formal) books'. 3) Contextos comunes: Es fundamental en la comunicación diaria para describir posesiones. Se utiliza tanto en contextos formales como informales. Es común en situaciones donde se habla de terceros o al dirigirse a alguien de manera respetuosa (usted/ustedes). 4) Comparación: A menudo se confunde con 'tu' (singular) o 'tus' (plural para 'tú'). Mientras que 'tus' se usa con amigos o familiares, 'sus' se reserva para la tercera persona o el trato de cortesía. A diferencia de 'nuestros' o 'vuestros', 'sus' no cambia según el género (masculino/femenino) del sustantivo, solo se ajusta al número plural.
Examples
Sus hijos van a la escuela.
everydayHis/her/their children go to school.
Señor, ¿son estos sus documentos?
formalSir, are these your documents?
Ella olvidó sus llaves en casa.
informalShe forgot her keys at home.
Los autores presentan sus conclusiones.
academicThe authors present their conclusions.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
A sus órdenes
At your service
En sus manos
In his/her/their hands
Por sus propios medios
By his/her/their own means
Often Confused With
'Tus' is the plural possessive for the informal 'tú', while 'sus' is for the third person or formal 'usted'.
'Su' is the singular form of 'sus'. Use 'su' for one object and 'sus' for multiple objects.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Use 'sus' to maintain neutrality regarding the possessor's identity. It is highly versatile but can be ambiguous; clarify with 'de + persona' if needed. It is standard across all Spanish dialects.
Common Mistakes
Students often try to make it agree with the possessor (e.g., 'sua' for feminine). Remember it never changes for gender. Also, confusing 'sus' with 'tus' is common when transitioning from informal to formal speech.
Tips
Focus on the noun number
Always look at the noun following the possessive. If the noun is plural, you must use 'sus' every single time.
Avoid gender confusion
Remember that 'sus' does not change for gender. Do not try to make it agree with the owner's gender.
Formal address usage
In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'sus' is used to show respect when addressing someone as 'usted'. It is a key element of polite social interaction.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'suus', which functioned similarly as a possessive pronoun. It evolved through Old Spanish into the current invariable form.
Cultural Context
In Hispanic culture, 'sus' is essential when using the 'usted' form, which is a sign of respect for elders or authority figures. Mastering this is key to social etiquette.
Memory Tip
Think of 'S' for 'Sus' and 'S' for 'Several'. If you have several items, use 'Sus'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsEn español, el adjetivo posesivo concuerda con el objeto poseído, no con el dueño. Si el objeto es plural, usamos 'sus' aunque el dueño sea una sola persona (él, ella o usted).
El significado depende exclusivamente del contexto de la conversación. Si no está claro, se puede añadir 'de él', 'de ella', 'de ellos' o 'de usted' al final de la frase.
No, 'sus' es invariable en cuanto al género. Se usa igual para sustantivos masculinos (sus perros) que para femeninos (sus casas).
'Su' se utiliza cuando el sustantivo es singular, mientras que 'sus' se utiliza obligatoriamente cuando el sustantivo es plural.
Test Yourself
Juan tiene muchos amigos. ___ amigos son muy simpáticos.
Como 'amigos' es plural, debemos usar el posesivo plural 'sus'.
¿Cuál es la frase correcta?
El posesivo debe concordar en número con el sustantivo (casas) y el verbo debe concordar con el sujeto.
zapatos / son / sus / rojos
El adjetivo posesivo siempre precede al sustantivo.
Score: /3
Summary
Use 'sus' before plural nouns to indicate possession by him, her, it, them, or formal you.
- Indicates possession for third person or formal second person.
- Always matches the number of the noun possessed.
- Does not distinguish gender of the possessor or the noun.
Focus on the noun number
Always look at the noun following the possessive. If the noun is plural, you must use 'sus' every single time.
Avoid gender confusion
Remember that 'sus' does not change for gender. Do not try to make it agree with the owner's gender.
Formal address usage
In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'sus' is used to show respect when addressing someone as 'usted'. It is a key element of polite social interaction.
Examples
4 of 4Sus hijos van a la escuela.
His/her/their children go to school.
Señor, ¿son estos sus documentos?
Sir, are these your documents?
Ella olvidó sus llaves en casa.
She forgot her keys at home.
Los autores presentan sus conclusiones.
The authors present their conclusions.
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