Note: There is no contraction for "de la," "de los," or "de las." Common Sentence Patterns Maria. (It is Maria's.) Son de los estudiantes. (They belong to the students.) Es del profesor. (It is the professor's.) 🛠 Practice It: Exercise P2-19
¿De quién son ...? (Whose are [these multiple things]?) Example: ¿De quién es el bolígrafo? (Whose is the pen?) ¿De quién son las llaves? (Whose are the keys?) 📝 How to Answer: The "De" Construction
In English, we often use the word "whose" at the beginning of a sentence. In Spanish, we use a prepositional phrase: . De: Means "of" or "from." Quién: Means "who." Translation: Literally "Of whom is...?" Singular vs. Plural p2-19 estructura 1 -de quien es -practice it -
When the owner is a masculine noun preceded by the article "el," a contraction occurs: Example: Es el libro del chico. (It is the boy’s book.)
To answer the question of ownership without using possessive adjectives (like mi or tu ), Spanish uses the formula: . The Rules of Contraction Note: There is no contraction for "de la,"
Always check if the object is singular ( es ) or plural ( son ) before you speak.
Mastering Spanish possessives involves more than just memorizing vocabulary; it requires understanding the syntax of ownership. The phrase is a cornerstone of Spanish Structure 1 (Estructura 1), serving as the primary way to ask "Whose is it?" (It is the professor's
Identify the object and the owner, then use the correct form of the verb ser . Whose is the backpack? (It belongs to the girl.) Question: ¿De quién es la mochila? Answer: Es de la chica. Whose are the maps? (They belong to the tourists.) Question: ¿De quién son los mapas? Answer: Son de los turistas. Whose is the computer? (It belongs to the driver - male.) Question: ¿De quién es la computadora? Answer: Es del conductor. Whose are the notebooks? (They belong to Sara.) Question: ¿De quién son los cuadernos? Answer: Son de Sara. 💡 Key Tips for Success