Possessive Pronouns (mein, dein, sein...)
Expressing possession: my, your, his, her, etc.
Key Points
- Possessive pronouns take ein/kein endings
- Endings agree with the noun, not the owner
- Learn the base forms: mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer
- Only masculine accusative changes: mein → meinen
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns show ownership and agree with the noun they modify (not the owner).
The Possessive Pronouns
| Pronoun | Possessive | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mein | my |
| du | dein | your (informal) |
| er | sein | his/its |
| sie | ihr | her/its |
| es | sein | its |
| wir | unser | our |
| ihr | euer | your (plural informal) |
| sie | ihr | their |
| Sie | Ihr | your (formal) |
Endings
Possessive pronouns take the same endings as ein/kein:
Nominative Case
| Gender | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | mein Vater | my father |
| Feminine | meine Mutter | my mother |
| Neuter | mein Kind | my child |
| Plural | meine Eltern | my parents |
Accusative Case
| Gender | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | meinen Vater | my father |
| Feminine | meine Mutter | my mother |
| Neuter | mein Kind | my child |
| Plural | meine Eltern | my parents |
Important Notes
-
Agreement: The ending agrees with the thing owned, not the owner:
- seine Mutter (his/its mother) - feminine noun
- ihr Vater (her father) - masculine noun
-
'euer' is special: When adding endings, the 'e' before 'r' drops:
- eure Mutter (not euere)
- euer Vater
-
Capitalization: Formal 'Ihr' is always capitalized, like 'Sie'.
Examples
"Das ist mein Buch."
"That is my book."
💡 'Buch' is neuter nominative, so 'mein' (no ending)
"Ich sehe deinen Bruder."
"I see your brother."
💡 'Bruder' is masculine accusative, so 'deinen'
"Ihre Schwester ist nett."
"Her sister is nice."
💡 'Schwester' is feminine, so 'ihre' (with 'e' ending)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗ Confusing 'sein' (his/its) with 'ihr' (her/their)
- ✗ Forgetting the 'e' in feminine forms: meine not mein
- ✗ Not dropping 'e' from 'euer': saying 'euere' instead of 'eure'
Practice Tips
Describe your family members: 'Mein Vater ist...', 'Meine Mutter ist...'. Practice all forms with one noun.
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