Possessives

Possessive adjectives and nouns are words that express ownership or possession. They are equivalent to the English terms "my", "your", "his", "hers", "its", "our", and "their". In Italian, possessive adjectives are also used with definite articles and agree in gender and number with the noun being possessed, rather than with the owner.

Possessives are usually compound forms which include a definite article. Unlike in English where we have a different word for the adjective and pronoun, i.e. "my" and "mine", in Italian, the same compound word "il mio" is used for both. What gives it meaning is context and placement within the sentence.

Example: "il tuo libro e il mio" - your book and mine

In Italian there is the concept of formal and informal wording. When referring to people you know, friends, family, children etc. you can use the more casual informal form. When conversing with strangers, officials, doctors, etc. the formal form is used to convey politeness and respect.