Possessive Pronouns

Possession can be expressed by adding one of a series of suffixes, the pronomial suffixes, to the noun which is being possessed. The plural forms of these suffixes, which are part of the enclitics, are used with the اضافه. For instance:

If the noun being described ends in ا or و add ی before the suffix.

The pronomial suffixes have different functions. In their possessive function, they refer to the possessive relation that can also be expressed through the personal pronouns in an اضافه construction. For instance: However, this construction can only be used when the noun being posessed is a subject or and indirect object of a sentence. If the posessed noun is a direct object, only use the suffixes. Additionally, in reflexive constructions only the enclitics, not the personal pronouns, should be used.


 * .من) عینکم را پیدا نمی کنم) : I can't find my glasses.


 * شما) عینکتان را پیدا نمی کنید؟) : Can't you find your glasses?

Constructions such as '.من) عینک من را پیدا نمی کنم)' or 'شما) عینک شما را پیدا نمی کنید؟)' would not be correct. Here, the personal pronouns من or شما are already used as the subject of the sentence and cannot be repeated.

The expression for 'mine' is the same as 'my property', and therefore it can be formed both ways, just as above. This use, however, is restricted to the spoken language. In written language the noun is usually repeated instead. Similar in connection with the interrogative pronoun 'whose?'


 * این کیف مال کیست؟ : Whose bag is this?


 * .مال من است : It is mine.


 * این کیف کیف کیست؟ : Whose bag is this bag?


 * .کیف من است : It is my bag.