I'm a beginner at learning Spanish. Su, sus

Question

Please help me understand this in a very basic beginner way. I see there is a question posted already about su and sus, but I don't understand if I'm reading Spanish and the sentence contains, "su", or "sus", how can I tell if it's talking about a male or a female or an it?

Welcome to SpanishDict, Judy. - rac1, Jul 9, 2017

Now look what you have gone and done, Judy haha. I hope we answered your question and your understanding is now clearer :) - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

Answer 1

The following links may help you:

Possessive Adjectives - short and long forms

Possessive Pronouns

su can be his, hers, its, your - singular (usted), their, your - plural (ustedes)

sus can be any of the above when possessing a plural object.

Since su and sus can mean so many things, sometimes there is a possibility of confusion. There is a simple little formula for this.

de él - can only mean his
de ella
de usted
de ellos
de ustedes
etc.

If there is still a possibility of confusion you can go one step further:

de Juán (Juán's)
de Roberto (Roberto's)

Thanks! I'm trying to understand how it can mean so many things and how to know which it means! - Judy6398, Jul 10, 2017

So if I'm reading something in Spanish and it says Sus how do I know if it's, him her or it? - Judy6398, Jul 10, 2017

Or their!? - Judy6398, Jul 10, 2017

You can usually figure it out by context whether su or sus means his, hers, its, your or theirs. Sometimes within the sentence, other times from previous sentences. You have to know who/what is being talked about. - DilKen, Jul 10, 2017

Next time you have a doubt about su or sus, upload an entire paragraph or several lines of dialog and someone can show you how to figure out what the su or sus is referring to. - DilKen, Jul 10, 2017

You have to do the same thing in English. For example: "you" can refer to one person you are talking to, a whole group of people or no one in particular, as in, When you eat too much you get fat. You :) can tell what is meant by the context. - DilKen, Jul 10, 2017

Answer 2

Hi.

Without going into too much grammatical detail (because I would probably confuse you, and myself lol) 'su/sus' is an adjective so relates to the noun that it is describing. If the noun is singular (regardless of being male or female) then we use 'su', if plural then 'sus'.

Examples:

El científico probó su teoría. = The scientist proved his theory. (Because teoría is singular, then we use 'su')

El equipo recibió un premio por sus méritos. = The team received an award for its merits. (Because méritos is plural, then we use 'sus')

El fiscal presentó sus alegaciones finales. = The prosecution gave its closing arguments. (Because alegaciones is plural, then we use 'sus')

"Su/Sus"is not an adjective. It is a pronoun. Other than that, it is a good answer. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jul 9, 2017

It's plural, not plaural (no A). - NKM1974, Jul 9, 2017

Thanks guys. DonB .... according to our very own Spanishdict dictionary, it's an adjective! - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

Don: mi, tu, su, sus etc. are possessive adjectives that precede a noun. mío, tuyo, suyo, suyas, etc. can be possessive adjectives following nouns or they can be possessive pronouns substituting for a previously mentioned thing. - DilKen, Jul 9, 2017

I agree with Ken, possessive adjective. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 9, 2017

Guys, please don't take this the wrong way, but as Judy6398 specifically asked that her question be explained as simply as possible I deliberately didn't go into too much grammatical detail. I honestly think that grammar gets in the way sometimes - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

and is not always conducive to learning - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

I am simply agreeing that it is an adjective, as that was disputed. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 9, 2017

You are right, Billy..I agree that grammar can sometimes get in the way. It has with me many times. - rac1, Jul 9, 2017

Lol you are all guillty! ;) - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

Grammar used to tie me up in knots. I'd spend ages trying to work out the grammatical explainations for everything. Then I stopped studying, as it were, and just concentrated on enjoying using the language. I stopped asking myself why something was said - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

in such a way and instead just accepted that's the way it is. I genuinely feel that my Spanish has improved drammatically because of this. Yes I make loads of mistakes, but who cares, I can chat away now for quite some time about many subjects. - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

I suppose the difference with me is, I am learning the language to use it in conversation - and I do! rather than learning to pass an exam. - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

As you can see lol. my English spelling and grammar are not the best, but boy I'm a great speaker haha ;) - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

I have issues with English grammar/reading/writing. My spelling & speaking are that of Commonwealth countries, ie. Britain, Canada, etc. - NKM1974, Jul 9, 2017

Nkm your English spelling is better than mine :) - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

Billygoat: Your answer was fine for the original poster. Sometimes a member makes a comment and I think it is helpful to correct them in a way that is appropriate for their level of knowledge (and other members) :) - DilKen, Jul 9, 2017

Of course, feel free to disagree. We all have to follow the path which we think is best. Few rights or wrongs in my opinion. Just different strokes.... - DilKen, Jul 9, 2017

No pasa nada Ken. Solo estoy bromeando. Respeto las opiniones de todos! - billygoat, Jul 9, 2017

Billy: Bien dicho. Que tengas un buen día. :) - DilKen, Jul 9, 2017

@billygoat, I had a recourse in British English almost 3 decades ago. I have to relearn everything from phonetics (IPA) & reading the Oxford/Cambridge dictionaries. - NKM1974, Jul 9, 2017

My dictionary says "su" is an adjetivo posesivo. - ian-hill, Jul 9, 2017

Answer 3

"Su/Sus"is not an adjective. It is a pronoun. Other than that, it is a good answer. - DonBigoteDeL

Hi bigote, billy did get it right. It IS an adjective!!

Just like in English, possessive adjectives and pronouns.

su abrigo...adjective

el abrigo es suyo...pronoun.

Thanks amiga. :) - rac1, Jul 9, 2017