Question re SpanishDict grammar quiz question on possessive adjectives
Hi! I am sorry this is a long question, but I really do want to understand this, so my question is very detailed. I just did the SD grammar lesson & quiz on possessive adjectives, and I'm confused about when to use the short form vs the long form (ex. sus vs. suyos). Here is what the lesson says:
- Long-form Possessive Adjectives
Long-form possessive adjectives are used less often than the short-form possessive adjectives as they are used to emphasize the owner of one noun, to contrast one owner with another, or to emphasize a personal relationship. They must match the noun they modify in both gender and number in all forms.
el libro mío (singular, masculine) los libros míos (plural, masculine) la casa mía (singular, feminine) las casas mías (plural, feminine) ¡Dios mío! (My God/My goodness!)
They are placed after the noun they modify. In the case of long-form possessive adjectives, you do use the definite or indefinite article in front of the noun, since the possessive adjective comes later.
¿Dónde están los zapatos tuyos? (Where are your shoes?) Las reservaciones vuestras son a las ocho. (Your reservations are at 8:00.) Este es mi silla y aquélla es la silla tuya. (This is my chair and that one is yours.)
Here are two of the questions that confused me. In both cases I had the choice of sus or suyos.
Son los perros de Elsa y Elisa. I chose sus perros. SD said Oops! Wrong answer. The noun "perros" is a plural masculine noun and pertains to "Elsa y Elisa" who are referred to in the 3rd person; therefore, the correct possessive adjective of those listed would be the long-form 3rd person plural masculine "suyos" which would appear after the noun "perros."
Somos los hijos de Marta. I chose sus hijos. SD said Great work! The noun "hijos" is a plural noun and pertains to "Marta" who is referred to in the 3rd person; therefore, the correct possessive adjective of those listed would be the short-form 3rd person plural "sus."
I do not understand why sus is wrong in the first example and right in the second one. Can anyone help? Thanks!
3 Answers
For me the terminology used in this quiz is very confusing, so I can only say that:
Sus perros / los perros suyos are both correct.
I, too, tried taking the quiz. I think your understanding about personal possessive pronouns is correct as mine is. I got some wrong answers when I chose the long form (coming after) rather than the short form (coming before). In some cases the model was vague and not successfully pedagogic. It should allow us to write out "Son sus perros" or Son los perros suyos" which are both correct, rather that assume that we know which form it is asking for in every example. I must admit that I like this site because of the forum interaction and teaching rather than the lessons that are embedded. It might be worthwhile sharing this experience with "Feedback". The site should investigate and correct errors when they are detected and reported.
I would also use "¿Son sus perros?" Or even "¿Los perros son de ellas?" The longer form "perros suyos" is also correct, but a little awkward.
For the second one. "Somos los hijos de Marta" I would also use "Somos sus hijos"
Somos "hijos" suyos" may be correct, but also a little awkward.
Normally we don't use use the nominative form unless you're saying something like this"
Esos perros, son los suyos ¿No? Y estos chicos, ¿son suyos también?
However when you do use the longer form, they will follow the noun or stand alone as I have done here.
Saying "¿Esos son los perros suyos?(or vuestros) may be correct but is not the norm.
Sometimes there are regional differences as to which form is preferred.
