Possessive Pronouns in Russian

Possessive Pronouns in Russian

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession, answering the question «Whose?» These pronouns help convey which person or thing owns or possesses something. In Russian, possessive pronouns agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. Additionally, Russian possessive pronouns change depending on whether the noun they refer to is singular or plural.

In this article, we will explore the forms of Russian possessive pronouns, their usage, and examples in different cases.


1. Basic Possessive Pronouns

Here are the basic possessive pronouns in Russian, which are used to indicate possession in the nominative case.

PronounSingularPlural
MyМой (moy) [masculine]Мои (moi) [plural]
Моя (moya) [feminine]Мои (moi) [plural]
Моё (moyo) [neuter]Мои (moi) [plural]
Your (informal)Твой (tvoy) [masculine]Твои (tvoi) [plural]
Твоя (tvoya) [feminine]Твои (tvoi) [plural]
Твоё (tvoyo) [neuter]Твои (tvoi) [plural]
HisЕго (yego) [masculine/neuter]Его (yego) [plural]
HerЕё (yeyo) [feminine]Её (yeyo) [plural]
OurНаш (nash) [masculine]Наши (nashi) [plural]
Наша (nasha) [feminine]Наши (nashi) [plural]
Наше (nashe) [neuter]Наши (nashi) [plural]
Your (formal/plural)Ваш (vash) [masculine]Ваши (vashi) [plural]
Ваша (vasha) [feminine]Ваши (vashi) [plural]
Ваше (vashe) [neuter]Ваши (vashi) [plural]
TheirИх (ikh) [masculine/feminine/neuter]Их (ikh) [plural]

2. Declension of Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Russian decline according to gender, number, and case of the noun they modify, similar to adjectives. This means that they have different forms depending on whether the noun they describe is in the nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, or prepositional case.


2.1. Declension of Possessive Pronouns in the Nominative Case

PronounMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
MyМой (moy)Моя (moya)Моё (moyo)Мои (moi)
Your (informal)Твой (tvoy)Твоя (tvoya)Твоё (tvoyo)Твои (tvoi)
HisЕго (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)
HerЕё (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)
OurНаш (nash)Наша (nasha)Наше (nashe)Наши (nashi)
Your (formal/plural)Ваш (vash)Ваша (vasha)Ваше (vashe)Ваши (vashi)
TheirИх (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)

2.2. Declension of Possessive Pronouns in the Genitive Case

PronounMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
MyМоего (moego)Моей (moyey)Моего (moego)Моих (moikh)
Your (informal)Твоего (tvoyego)Твоей (tvoyey)Твоего (tvoyego)Твоих (tvoyikh)
HisЕго (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)
HerЕё (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)
OurНашего (nashego)Нашей (nashey)Нашего (nashego)Наших (nashikh)
Your (formal/plural)Вашего (vashego)Вашей (vashey)Вашего (vashego)Ваших (vashikh)
TheirИх (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)

2.3. Declension of Possessive Pronouns in the Dative Case

PronounMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
MyМоему (moemu)Моей (moyey)Моему (moemu)Моим (moim)
Your (informal)Твоему (tvoyemu)Твоей (tvoyey)Твоему (tvoyemu)Твоим (tvoyim)
HisЕго (yemu)Её (yey)Его (yemu)Их (ikh)
HerЕё (yey)Её (yey)Её (yey)Их (ikh)
OurНашему (nashemu)Нашей (nashey)Нашему (nashemu)Нашим (nashim)
Your (formal/plural)Вашему (vashemu)Вашей (vashey)Вашему (vashemu)Вашим (vashim)
TheirИх (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)

2.4. Declension of Possessive Pronouns in the Accusative Case

PronounMasculineFeminineNeuterPlural
MyМой (moy)Мою (moyu)Моё (moyo)Мои (moi)
Your (informal)Твой (tvoy)Твою (tvoyu)Твоё (tvoyo)Твои (tvoi)
HisЕго (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)Его (yego)
HerЕё (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)Её (yeyo)
OurНаш (nash)Нашу (nashu)Наше (nashe)Наши (nashi)
Your (formal/plural)Ваш (vash)Вашу (vashu)Ваше (vashe)Ваши (vashi)
TheirИх (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)Их (ikh)

3. Examples of Possessive Pronouns in Sentences

  • Это мой стол. (This is my table.)
  • Твоя книга на столе. (Your book is on the table.)
  • Наш дом большой. (Our house is big.)
  • Её кошка очень красивая. (Her cat is very beautiful.)
  • Их машина новая. (Their car is new.)

4. Conclusion

Possessive pronouns in Russian are used to show ownership, and they change form depending on gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. Mastering the forms of possessive pronouns is essential for constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences in Russian. As with other types of pronouns, they require practice to become familiar with their various forms in different cases.

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