A1 Nouns & Articles 15 min read Easy

My, Your, His: Portuguese Possessives (o meu, a tua)

Always match possessives to the object owned and include the definite article for a natural, polished sound.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Portuguese possessives agree with the object being possessed, not the owner, and usually require a definite article.

  • Possessives agree in gender and number with the object: 'o meu carro' (masc), 'a minha casa' (fem).
  • In European Portuguese, the definite article is mandatory: 'o meu livro'.
  • In Brazilian Portuguese, the article is often dropped in informal speech, though still grammatically standard.
Article + Possessive + Noun (e.g., 'O meu amigo')

Overview

In Portuguese, possessive determiners—words like ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘our’, and ‘their’—function as adjectives. Their primary role is to indicate ownership or a close relationship. Unlike English, where possessives often remain unchanged regardless of the noun they modify, Portuguese possessives must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the thing being possessed, not the possessor.

This fundamental rule is crucial for correct usage.

Furthermore, a distinctive feature of Portuguese possessives is their frequent use with definite articles (o, a, os, as). While English uses "my car," Portuguese commonly uses o meu carro (literally "the my car"). This structure is standard, especially in European Portuguese, where omitting the article can sound archaic or highly formal.

In Brazilian Portuguese, the article's usage is more flexible and can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts. Mastering this agreement and article usage from the outset is essential for sounding natural.

Consider o meu livro (my book). Here, livro is a masculine singular noun. Consequently, the possessive meu is masculine singular, and it is preceded by the masculine singular definite article o.

If you refer to a minha caneta (my pen), caneta is a feminine singular noun, requiring minha (feminine singular possessive) and a (feminine singular definite article).

How This Grammar Works

The structure of possessive phrases in Portuguese follows a consistent pattern that emphasizes agreement. The core construction is [Definite Article] + [Possessive Determiner] + [Noun]. All three components must harmonize in gender and number with the noun that is being possessed.
This tripartite agreement is a cornerstone of Portuguese grammar and is driven by the linguistic principle of concordance, where modifying words adapt to the grammatical features of the noun they relate to.
For instance, if you are talking about chaves (keys), which is a feminine plural noun in Portuguese, your possessive phrase must reflect this. You would use as (feminine plural definite article), minhas (feminine plural possessive determiner for 'my'), and chaves (the noun itself), forming as minhas chaves. Each part of this phrase has adapted to match the grammatical characteristics of chaves.
Conversely, for óculos (glasses), a masculine plural noun, the construction would be os meus óculos.
This system ensures clarity regarding the noun's grammatical properties within the sentence, even if the noun itself were to be omitted in subsequent references. The agreement helps to cement the relationship between the possessor and the possessed item. Failing to match the gender and number consistently will lead to grammatically incorrect and potentially confusing sentences, such as o minha casa instead of a minha casa.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming possessive phrases in Portuguese involves selecting the correct definite article and possessive determiner based on the gender and number of the noun being possessed. The possessive determiners themselves change form to match the noun. Below are the basic forms for singular and plural, masculine and feminine, for each person.
2
Possessive Determiners and their Forms
3
| Possessor | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
4
| :-------- | :----------------- | :---------------- | :--------------- | :-------------- |
5
| Eu (I) | meu | minha | meus | minhas |
6
| Tu (You) | teu | tua | teus | tuas |
7
| Ele/Ela/Você (He/She/You formal) | seu | sua | seus | suas |
8
| Nós (We) | nosso | nossa | nossos | nossas |
9
| Vós (You plural, formal/archaic EP) | vosso | vossa | vossos | vossas |
10
| Eles/Elas/Vocês (They/You plural) | seu | sua | seus | suas |
11
The Full Construction: [Definite Article] + [Possessive Determiner] + [Noun]
12
Identify the noun: Determine its gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
13
Select the matching definite article: o (masc. sing.), a (fem. sing.), os (masc. plural), as (fem. plural).
14
Choose the possessive determiner: Select the correct form from the table above that matches the noun's gender and number, and the possessor's person.
15
Examples:
16
o meu carro (my car) – carro is masculine singular.
17
a minha bicicleta (my bicycle) – bicicleta is feminine singular.
18
os teus livros (your books) – livros is masculine plural.
19
as tuas chaves (your keys) – chaves is feminine plural.
20
This pattern remains consistent across all possessive persons. The key is always to look at the noun being possessed first.

Gender & Agreement

The concept of gender agreement is paramount when using Portuguese possessives. Unlike English, where 'my' remains 'my' regardless of whether you're talking about 'my car' or 'my house', Portuguese possessives must adapt to the grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they precede. This is a critical distinction that often causes difficulty for English speakers.
To reiterate: the possessive determiner agrees with the possessed noun, not with the gender of the possessor. This means that a man talking about a sua secretária (his/your desk/secretary) would use sua because secretária is a feminine noun, despite the possessor being masculine. Similarly, a woman referring to o seu telemóvel (her/your cell phone) would use seu because telemóvel is a masculine noun. The possessor's gender is irrelevant to the form of the possessive determiner.
Agreement in practice:
| Noun Type | Example Noun | Article | Possessive (My) | Full Phrase | Translation |
| :---------------- | :------------- | :------ | :-------------- | :--------------------- | :--------------- |
| Masculine Singular | livro (book) | o | meu | o meu livro | my book |
| Feminine Singular | casa (house) | a | minha | a minha casa | my house |
| Masculine Plural | cadernos (notebooks) | os | meus | os meus cadernos | my notebooks |
| Feminine Plural | roupas (clothes) | as | minhas | as minhas roupas | my clothes |
This strict agreement rule is non-negotiable for correct Portuguese. Always identify the noun's gender and number first, then select the appropriate article and possessive form. This methodical approach will prevent common grammatical errors.
For instance, you would never say a meu livro or o minha casa.

When To Use It

Portuguese possessive phrases are used whenever you need to express ownership, belonging, or a close relationship with a noun. Their application spans a wide range of everyday communication, from identifying personal items to discussing family, body parts, or abstract concepts. Understanding the nuances of when and how to deploy them effectively is key to natural communication.
Common contexts include:
  • Personal belongings: This is the most straightforward use. Onde está o meu carregador? (Where is my charger?) or A minha mala é nova. (My bag is new.).
  • Family members and relationships: A minha irmã mora em Londres. (My sister lives in London.) or O seu marido é muito simpático. (Her/Your husband is very kind.).
  • Body parts: While sometimes the definite article alone is used when the possessor is clear (e.g., Lavei as mãos. - I washed my hands.), possessives are also common for emphasis or clarity: A minha cabeça dói. (My head hurts.) or Os teus olhos são bonitos. (Your eyes are beautiful.).
  • Abstract concepts and opinions: A sua opinião é importante. (Your opinion is important.) or Esta é a nossa ideia. (This is our idea.).
Regional differences in article usage:
  • European Portuguese (EP): The definite article preceding the possessive is nearly always mandatory in standard spoken and written EP. Omitting it can sound very formal, poetic, or even archaic. For example, O meu pai é professor. (My father is a teacher.) is standard. Saying Meu pai é professor would sound unnatural to most EP speakers in daily conversation.
  • Brazilian Portuguese (BP): Article usage is more flexible. While O meu carro é azul. is perfectly common, Meu carro é azul. is also widely accepted and frequently heard, especially in informal contexts. The choice can sometimes depend on regional dialect or desired emphasis. However, as a learner, including the article is a safe and often preferred default, particularly in formal settings.
When in doubt, especially in the early stages of learning, it is safer to include the definite article with the possessive, as this is grammatically correct and widely understood in both variants.

Common Mistakes

Portuguese possessives present several traps for learners, primarily due to direct translation from English and insufficient attention to agreement rules. Identifying these common errors is the first step toward correcting them.
  1. 1Gender Confusion (Possessor vs. Possessed): This is arguably the most frequent error. Learners often mistakenly try to match the possessive determiner's gender with their own gender, or the gender of the person owning the item, rather than the item itself. For example, a female learner might incorrectly say o minha livro (masculine noun livro) instead of o meu livro. Remember: the possessive determiner always agrees with the noun it modifies. If the noun livro is masculine, the possessive must be masculine (meu), irrespective of the speaker's gender.
  1. 1Omitting the Definite Article (Especially in EP): While more acceptable in some BP contexts, removing the article (o, a, os, as) before the possessive is a significant error in European Portuguese and often sounds incomplete or overly formal in BP. Incorrect: Meu amigo é alto. (in EP). Correct: O meu amigo é alto. In BP, both might be heard, but the latter is generally safer.
  1. 1Ambiguity of seu/sua/seus/suas: These forms can mean 'your' (formal/BP informal), 'his', 'her', or 'their'. This polysemy can lead to confusion. For example, Ele pegou a sua caneta. could mean "He picked up his pen," "He picked up her pen," or "He picked up your pen." To resolve this ambiguity, especially for 'his', 'her', or 'their', Portuguese speakers often use the prepositions de + pronoun after the noun:
  • dele (de + ele = of him/his)
  • dela (de + ela = of her/hers)
  • deles (de + eles = of them/theirs - masculine plural)
  • delas (de + elas = of them/theirs - feminine plural)
So, to clearly say "He picked up his pen," you would say Ele pegou a caneta dele. This structure is unambiguous and highly common, particularly in BP, but also understood in EP.
  1. 1Incorrect Number Agreement: Forgetting to pluralize the possessive determiner and article when the noun is plural is another common mistake. Incorrect: o meu carros. Correct: os meus carros (my cars). Ensure all three elements—article, possessive, and noun—are in the correct number.
  1. 1Confusing o meu amigo with um amigo meu: While both translate to "my friend" or "a friend of mine," their meanings differ subtly. O meu amigo (my friend) refers to a specific friend. Um amigo meu (a friend of mine) implies one among potentially many friends. The latter places the possessive after the noun, functioning differently.

Common Collocations

Certain phrases and expressions frequently incorporate possessive determiners, forming collocations that sound natural to native speakers. Learning these common pairings can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension.
  • à sua disposição: (at your disposal) - A formal and polite phrase, often used in professional or customer service contexts. Ex: "Os documentos estão à sua disposição." (The documents are at your disposal.)
  • o meu/seu dia: (my/your day) - Commonly used when talking about one's daily experiences. Ex: "Como foi o teu dia?" (How was your day?) or "O meu dia foi cansativo." (My day was tiring.)
  • dar a sua opinião: (to give one's opinion) - A standard way to express offering an opinion. Ex: "Gostaria de dar a minha opinião sobre o assunto." (I would like to give my opinion on the matter.)
  • pela sua conta: (on your own account/at your own expense) - Implies responsibility or self-funding. Ex: "Ele viajou pela sua conta." (He traveled on his own account.)
  • na minha/sua ausência: (in my/your absence) - A formal construction often found in official communications. Ex: "Por favor, cuide disto na minha ausência." (Please take care of this in my absence.)
  • a seu favor: (in your favor) - Refers to something being advantageous to someone. Ex: "A decisão foi a seu favor." (The decision was in your favor.)
These are just a few examples; many verbs and nouns naturally pair with possessives in predictable ways. Paying attention to these fixed expressions will improve both your active vocabulary and your grammatical accuracy.

Real Conversations

Understanding how possessives are used in authentic, everyday communication is vital for moving beyond textbook Portuguese. The differences between formal and informal, and between European and Brazilian Portuguese, become particularly apparent in spoken and written exchanges.

Informal Text Message (BP):

- A: Oi! Onde está meu carregador? Preciso dele. (Hi! Where is my charger? I need it.)

- B: Tá na sua mochila. Eu vi lá. (It's in your backpack. I saw it there.)

- A: Ah, valeu! Meu celular tá morrendo. (Oh, thanks! My cell phone is dying.)

O

Observation

* Notice the omission of o before meu in meu carregador and meu celular in BP, common in casual texts. Sua here clearly refers to 'your' because the context makes it unambiguous.

Formal Email (EP):

- Subject: Re: A sua encomenda nº 12345 (Re: Your order no. 12345)

- Body: Estimado(a) Cliente, Agradecemos a sua preferência. A sua encomenda será entregue na sua morada amanhã. Caso tenha alguma questão, por favor, contacte o nosso serviço de apoio ao cliente. (Dear Customer, We appreciate your preference. Your order will be delivered to your address tomorrow. If you have any questions, please contact our customer support service.)

O

Observation

* In this formal EP context, the definite article a is consistently used before sua (your) and nossa (our), maintaining formal grammatical correctness. There is no ambiguity for sua here as it refers to the recipient's order/address.

Casual Conversation (EP):

- A: Olha, aquela é a nossa mesa? (Look, is that our table?)

- B: Sim, é a nossa. Os nossos amigos já chegaram. (Yes, it's ours. Our friends have already arrived.)

- A: Acho que o teu casaco ficou na cadeira. (I think your jacket stayed on the chair.)

O

Observation

* The article a is used with nossa mesa and nossa (as a possessive pronoun). Os nossos amigos correctly uses the plural article and possessive. O teu casaco demonstrates the mandatory article use in EP, and teu (informal 'your') is appropriate for friends.

These examples highlight that while the core rules of agreement apply universally, the presence or absence of the definite article and the choice between seu/sua and dele/dela are often dictated by context, formality, and regional dialect. As you advance, you will develop an intuitive sense for these distinctions.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Do I always need the definite article (o/a/os/as) before the possessive determiner?
  • A: In European Portuguese, almost always in standard usage. Omitting it sounds formal or archaic. In Brazilian Portuguese, it's optional, especially in informal spoken and written contexts like texting, but including it is always grammatically correct and often preferred in formal settings.
  • Q: Can seu/sua/seus/suas mean 'your', 'his', 'her', or 'their'? How do I know which one?
  • A: Yes, these forms are ambiguous. The intended meaning often comes from context. To avoid confusion, particularly for 'his', 'her', or 'their', it is very common and recommended to use dele (of him), dela (of her), deles (of them, masc.), or delas (of them, fem.) after the noun. For example, a caneta dela (her pen) is unambiguous.
  • Q: How do I determine the gender of a noun so I can choose the correct possessive?
  • A: The gender of a noun is typically indicated by its definite article (o for masculine, a for feminine) or its ending (-o often masculine, -a often feminine, though there are exceptions). It's crucial to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning. If unsure and the noun ends in -e or -a, a general rule is to assume -a for feminine and -o or other endings for masculine, but always verify. There is no shortcut for memorization and exposure.
  • Q: What about body parts? Do I use possessives then?
  • A: Sometimes. When the possessor is clear from context (e.g., the subject of the verb), Portuguese often uses just the definite article with body parts, rather than a possessive. For example, Lavei as mãos. (I washed my hands.) is more common than Lavei as minhas mãos.. However, possessives are used when clarity is needed, for emphasis, or when the owner isn't the subject: A minha cabeça dói. (My head hurts.) or Ele tocou na sua mão. (He touched his/her/your hand - ambiguous without context).
  • Q: How do I say "It's mine" without a noun?
  • A: You use the possessive pronoun forms. These are often preceded by the definite article. For example, É meu. (It's mine - masculine, referring to a masculine noun) or É a minha. (It's mine - feminine, referring to a feminine noun). The form matches the noun that is implied. O livro é meu. (The book is mine.) or A casa é a minha. (The house is mine.).
  • Q: Is vosso/vossa still used?
  • A: Vosso/vossa (your, plural, formal) is largely archaic in Brazilian Portuguese and rare in everyday European Portuguese, primarily appearing in very formal, religious, or historical texts. In modern usage, seu/sua/seus/suas (referring to vocês) or deles/delas is used for plural 'your'. A beginner should focus on meu, teu, seu, nosso, and the de + pronoun constructions.

Portuguese Possessive Adjectives

Person Masc. Sing. Fem. Sing. Masc. Plural Fem. Plural
1st (My)
o meu
a minha
os meus
as minhas
2nd (Your - informal)
o teu
a tua
os teus
as tuas
3rd (His/Her/Your - formal)
o seu
a sua
os seus
as suas
1st Plural (Our)
o nosso
a nossa
os nossos
as nossas
2nd Plural (Your - PT)
o vosso
a vossa
os vossos
as vossas
3rd Plural (Their/Your - formal)
o seu
a sua
os seus
as suas

Meanings

Possessives indicate ownership or relationship between a person and an object or another person.

1

Possessive Adjective

Used before a noun to indicate ownership.

“O meu carro é azul.”

“A tua mãe é simpática.”

2

Possessive Pronoun

Used to replace the noun entirely.

“Este livro é meu.”

“A casa é tua.”

Reference Table

Reference table for My, Your, His: Portuguese Possessives (o meu, a tua)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Art + Poss + Noun
O meu carro
Negative
Não + Art + Poss + Noun
Não é o meu carro
Question
Art + Poss + Noun + ?
É o teu carro?
Pronoun
Noun + Verb + Poss
O carro é meu
Plural
Art + Poss + Noun(s)
Os meus carros
Formal
O seu + Noun
O seu livro

Formality Spectrum

Formal
A minha residência encontra-se aqui.

A minha residência encontra-se aqui. (Describing location)

Neutral
A minha casa está aqui.

A minha casa está aqui. (Describing location)

Informal
A minha casa é aqui.

A minha casa é aqui. (Describing location)

Slang
O meu barraco é aqui.

O meu barraco é aqui. (Describing location)

Possessive Agreement Map

Possessive

Gender

  • Masculine o meu
  • Feminine a minha

Number

  • Singular o meu
  • Plural os meus

European vs Brazilian Usage

European
O meu livro My book
Brazilian
Meu livro My book

Choosing the Possessive

1

Is the noun masculine?

YES
Use 'o meu/teu/seu'
NO
Use 'a minha/tua/sua'
2

Is the noun plural?

YES
Add -s to the possessive
NO
Keep singular

Possessive Categories

👤

Singular

  • • o meu
  • • o teu
  • • o seu
👥

Plural

  • • os meus
  • • os teus
  • • os seus
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Examples by Level

1

O meu carro é vermelho.

My car is red.

2

A minha casa é grande.

My house is big.

3

O teu livro está aqui.

Your book is here.

4

A tua mãe é simpática.

Your mother is nice.

1

Não é o meu telemóvel.

It is not my phone.

2

É o teu computador?

Is it your computer?

3

Os meus pais moram aqui.

My parents live here.

4

As minhas chaves estão na mesa.

My keys are on the table.

1

Este livro é meu, não é teu.

This book is mine, it's not yours.

2

O seu projeto foi aprovado.

Your (formal) project was approved.

3

Ela esqueceu os seus óculos.

She forgot her glasses.

4

O nosso carro é mais rápido.

Our car is faster.

1

Lavei as mãos antes de comer.

I washed my hands before eating.

2

O seu comportamento foi inaceitável.

His/Her behavior was unacceptable.

3

A nossa equipa venceu o jogo.

Our team won the game.

4

Os seus argumentos não fazem sentido.

Your/Their arguments make no sense.

1

Aquele meu amigo de infância chegou.

That friend of mine from childhood arrived.

2

A sua excelência, o senhor embaixador.

Your Excellency, the ambassador.

3

Os meus, os teus e os nossos.

Mine, yours, and ours.

4

A minha alma sente-se livre.

My soul feels free.

1

É um seu conhecido, suponho?

He is an acquaintance of yours, I suppose?

2

Os seus feitos perdurarão na história.

His deeds will endure in history.

3

A minha e a tua, ambas são válidas.

Mine and yours, both are valid.

4

O seu, o meu, o nosso destino.

His, mine, our destiny.

Easily Confused

My, Your, His: Portuguese Possessives (o meu, a tua) vs Possessive Adjective vs Pronoun

Learners often use the article when it's not needed as a pronoun.

My, Your, His: Portuguese Possessives (o meu, a tua) vs Teu vs Seu

Learners mix up informal 'teu' with formal 'seu'.

My, Your, His: Portuguese Possessives (o meu, a tua) vs Possessive vs Demonstrative

Mixing up 'meu' (my) with 'este' (this).

Common Mistakes

✗

O minha casa

✓

A minha casa

Casa is feminine, so it needs the feminine article.
✗

A meu carro

✓

O meu carro

Carro is masculine, so it needs the masculine article.
✗

Meu livro

✓

O meu livro

European Portuguese requires the article.
✗

O meu mãe

✓

A minha mãe

The possessive must match the noun (mãe), not the owner.
✗

Os meu livros

✓

Os meus livros

If the noun is plural, the possessive must be plural.
✗

A sua carro

✓

O seu carro

Carro is masculine.
✗

O nosso casa

✓

A nossa casa

Casa is feminine.
✗

Este livro é o meu

✓

Este livro é meu

When used as a predicate, the article is usually omitted.
✗

A sua ideia é a minha ideia

✓

A sua ideia é a minha

Avoid repetition by using the possessive pronoun.
✗

Eu gosto do meu

✓

Eu gosto do meu

This is actually correct, but often confused with 'o meu'.
✗

O meu, o teu, o seu

✓

O meu, o teu, o seu

Contextual usage of 'seu' can be ambiguous.
✗

A minha e a tua

✓

A minha e a tua

Ensure the article is repeated for clarity.

Sentence Patterns

O/A ___ é meu/minha.

Este não é o meu ___.

Onde estão os meus ___?

A minha ___ é melhor que a tua.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Onde está o meu carregador?

Job Interview common

O meu objetivo é aprender.

Ordering Food very common

A minha conta, por favor.

Social Media common

A minha foto nova!

Travel common

Onde está a minha mala?

Classroom very common

O meu livro está na página 10.

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💡

Gender Check

Always look at the noun first. If it ends in -o, it's likely masculine. If in -a, it's likely feminine.
⚠️

Don't match the owner

A man saying 'A minha mãe' is correct because 'mãe' is feminine. Don't let your own gender confuse you.
🎯

Article usage

In Portugal, always use the article. In Brazil, you can drop it, but keeping it is never wrong.
💬

Formal 'Seu'

In Brazil, 'seu' is a common way to address someone politely. In Portugal, it is strictly third-person.

Smart Tips

Check the article. If it's 'o', use 'o meu'. If it's 'a', use 'a minha'.

Meu casa → A minha casa

Use 'o seu' instead of 'o teu' to be polite.

Onde está o teu carro, senhor? → Onde está o seu carro, senhor?

Drop the article when the possessive follows the verb 'ser'.

Este livro é o meu. → Este livro é meu.

Always check the gender of the family member, not your own.

O meu mãe → A minha mãe

Pronunciation

[u 'mew]

Vowel reduction

In European Portuguese, the 'o' in 'o meu' is often reduced to a schwa sound.

['nɔsɐ]

Nasalization

The 'ão' in 'nossa' is nasalized.

Question intonation

O teu livro? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'M-A-T-A': Meu, A, Tua, A. Match the object, not the owner!

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. You look at the object (the mirror), and the possessive word reflects the object's gender, not your own face.

Rhyme

If the noun ends in O, the possessive is O; if it ends in A, the possessive is A.

Story

Maria is holding a book (o livro). She says 'O meu livro'. Then she picks up a pen (a caneta). She says 'A minha caneta'. She doesn't care that she is a girl; she only cares about the book and the pen.

Word Web

meuteuseunossovossominhatuasua

Challenge

Label 5 items in your room with sticky notes using 'O meu/A minha'.

Cultural Notes

Brazilians frequently drop the definite article before possessives in speech, e.g., 'Meu carro' instead of 'O meu carro'.

In Portugal, the definite article is almost always required for standard, correct grammar.

Usage often follows European Portuguese patterns but with unique local vocabulary.

Portuguese possessives derive from Latin pronouns like 'meus', 'tuus', and 'suus'.

Conversation Starters

“

Qual é o teu nome?

“

Onde está o teu telemóvel?

“

Como é a tua casa?

“

O que pensas da minha ideia?

Journal Prompts

Describe 3 things you own.
Describe your family members.
What are your goals for this year?
Compare your life with your friend's life.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct possessive.

Este é ___ (my) livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o meu
Livro is masculine singular.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha casa
Casa is feminine singular.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O meu mãe é simpática.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha mãe
Mãe is feminine.
Make it plural. Sentence Transformation

O meu carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Os meus carros
Pluralize both article and possessive.
Match the possessive to the noun. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-carro, 2-casa
Gender agreement.
Select the correct pronoun usage. Multiple Choice

Este livro é ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meu
As a predicate, the article is dropped.
Fill in the blank.

___ (Our) casa é pequena.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A nossa
Casa is feminine singular.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

casa / a / minha / é / grande

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha casa é grande
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct possessive.

Este é ___ (my) livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o meu
Livro is masculine singular.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha casa
Casa is feminine singular.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

O meu mãe é simpática.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha mãe
Mãe is feminine.
Make it plural. Sentence Transformation

O meu carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Os meus carros
Pluralize both article and possessive.
Match the possessive to the noun. Match Pairs

Match: 1. O meu, 2. A minha

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-carro, 2-casa
Gender agreement.
Select the correct pronoun usage. Multiple Choice

Este livro é ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meu
As a predicate, the article is dropped.
Fill in the blank.

___ (Our) casa é pequena.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A nossa
Casa is feminine singular.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

casa / a / minha / é / grande

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A minha casa é grande
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

___ (Our) professor é muito bom.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O nosso
Select the correct form Multiple Choice

Qual frase está correta?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O teu computador é novo.
Translate to Portuguese Translation

My books are here.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Os meus livros estão aqui.
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

carro / O / novo / meu / é

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O meu carro é novo.
Fix the agreement Error Correction

As meus amigas estão no shopping.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As minhas amigas estão no shopping.
Match the possessive to the noun Match Pairs

Match the items:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Match successfully.
Fill the gap Fill in the Blank

___ (Your - informal) telemóvel está a tocar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O teu
Pick the right one Multiple Choice

Where are my shoes?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Onde estão os meus sapatos?
Translate Translation

Our house is your house.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A nossa casa é a sua casa.
Complete the dialogue Fill in the Blank

Ana: De quem é este café? Paulo: É ___ (my).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o meu

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

In European Portuguese, it is grammatically required. It helps distinguish the possessive from other words.

Yes, it is very common in informal speech, but using it is still considered correct.

No, it only changes based on the noun you are talking about.

'Teu' is informal 'your', while 'seu' is formal 'your' or 'his/her'.

Use 'os meus pais'. 'Pais' is masculine plural.

Yes, 'seu' can mean his, her, their, or formal your.

Because 'mãe' is a feminine noun. The possessive must agree with the noun.

Use 'nosso' for 'our'. It follows the same agreement rules as 'meu'.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

mi, tu, su

Portuguese requires gender agreement and articles.

French high

mon, ma, mes

French uses 'mon' for feminine nouns starting with a vowel.

German moderate

mein, dein, sein

German has a complex case system.

Japanese low

no

Japanese has no gender agreement.

Arabic low

Suffixes

Arabic is a synthetic language.

Chinese low

de

Chinese has no gender or number agreement.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Portuguese Intensifiers: Very, Much, and Little (Muito & Pouco)

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A1 Requires

Definite Articles (o, a, os, as)

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A1 Requires

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