El mío o La mía?

Question

I often see when people are speaking Spanish and they say "mine", they tend to use the the masculine version less than the feminine version. I know that you say whatever one depending on it's gender but sometimes do they just say "La mía" more because it rolls off the tongue and is easier to say? I hope you get what I'm trying to ask

It may have come from Latin /Italian , you can say, ' mia madre ' but if you qualify it with an adjective you say, 'la mia bella madre' , does this help you ? - ray76, Oct 17, 2016

Answer 1

It depends on the gender of the direct object.

Esa es mi bicicleta (femenine). Esa es la mia.( la->the bicicle)

Ese es mi coche (masculine). Ese es el mio.(el->the car)

For a native both are easy to say. Nobody would say la instead le for this reason. Maybe that the context provides other O.D and not the one that you suppose they are referring to. Sorry for my English . I'm sure that needs corrections - 000a35ff, Oct 16, 2016

Thanks for the answer. I understood that it depends on the gender of the direct object but someone I know who only speaks Spanish pointed at a book on the floor and said "No es la mía". I couldn't think of any feminine word for a book? - Quincyhopper, Oct 16, 2016

It was a printed book or a notebook? In the second case It could be an agenda, libreta, cartilla - 000a35ff, Oct 16, 2016

Answer 2

Question hijacking, but ...

Can someone explain why the definite article is used in "Esa es la mía / Ese es el mío." I didn't think it was required when the "mía / mío" was being used as a possessive adjective. So why not just "Esa es mía / Ese es mío"?

I understand its necessity when it is being used as a possessive pronoun. For example if I wanted to say "Mine [my bicycle] is red" then it would be a pronoun and require the article "La mía es roja" but I don't understand why it is included in the other case where it just seems to be an adjective.

You can say esa es mia , and it would be ok too. - 000a35ff, Oct 16, 2016

Gracias Astotxua. Is there any difference in meaning / sentiment? - jellonz, Oct 16, 2016

the only diference is that you are speaking about a determinante and ofthen, previously mentioned thing or person. other times it is for emphatize its possesion - 000a35ff, Oct 17, 2016

Thanks again Asto. - jellonz, Oct 17, 2016