English grammar
My umbrella or mine — don't repeat the noun
Say "mine" or "yours" without repeating the noun.
From the scene Mine is blue
In short
My, your and her need a noun: my umbrella. Mine, yours and hers stand alone, with no the.
Your turn
Which one goes with your umbrella → yours?
Options: That one is yours, Doña Elena. · Is that yours too? · Mine is blue (NOT "The mine is blue")
Show answer
your umbrella → yours → Is that yours too?
How it works
My / your / her / our / their always need a noun (my umbrella); mine / yours / hers / ours / theirs stand alone and replace the noun.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
No, the red one isn't (blank).
Options: my · the mine · mine
Show answer
No, the red one isn't mine.
No, el rojo no es el mío.
Good to know
His works both ways: his umbrella, it's his. These words never take the: Mine is blue, NOT "The mine is blue".
my umbrella → mine Mine is blue (NOT "The mine is blue")
Nuria
Mine is blue. That one there.
El mío es azul. Ese de ahí.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). That one there.
Options: Is that yours too · That one is yours · Mine is blue
Show answer
Nuria
Mine is blue. That one there.
El mío es azul. Ese de ahí.
your umbrella → yours Is that yours too?
Your turn
What goes with Is that yours too??
Options: my umbrella → mine · yours: friend or polite · your umbrella → yours
Show answer
Is that yours too? → your umbrella → yours
yours: friend or polite That one is yours, Doña Elena.
Nuria
That one is yours, Doña Elena. I recognise it.
Ese es el suyo, Doña Elena. Lo reconozco.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). I recognise it.
Options: Mine is blue · Is that yours too · That one is yours, Doña Elena
Show answer
Nuria
That one is yours, Doña Elena. I recognise it.
Ese es el suyo, Doña Elena. Lo reconozco.
his umbrellas → his His are usually black (NOT "The his")
Elena
I don't know. His are usually black.
No lo sé. Los suyos son negros, normalmente.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I don't know. (blank).
Options: Is that yours too · His are usually black · Mine is blue
Show answer
Elena
I don't know. His are usually black.
No lo sé. Los suyos son negros, normalmente.
Common mistake
Not Him or The his here. Don Ramón's umbrellas: a possessive with no noun after it.
I don't know. His are usually black.
No lo sé. Los suyos son negros, normalmente.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| my umbrella → mine | Mine is blue (NOT "The mine is blue") |
|---|---|
| your umbrella → yours | Is that yours too? |
| yours: friend or polite | That one is yours, Doña Elena. |
| his umbrellas → his | His are usually black (NOT "The his") |
More lines from the story
- NuriaNo, the red one isn't mine.No, el rojo no es el mío.
- ElenaHis, yes... and he doesn't even leave the house!Los suyos, sí... ¡y él ni siquiera sale de casa!
- ElenaAh, yes. Mine is the small one. What a memory you have!Ah, sí. El mío es el pequeño. ¡Qué memoria la tuya!