6.3. Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used principally in two contexts:

1. When the thing possessed has already been explicitly expressed in the sentence. E.g.,

Questa non è la tua borsa, è la mia.

This isn’t your bag, it’s mine.

2. In response to a question in which the thing possessed has already been named. E.g.,

È il suo quaderno?

Sì, è (il) suo

Is this his notebook?

Yes, it’s his.

As you can see in the second example above, it is possible to drop the article. But not with loro; again the article cannot be dropped with loro in relation to possession. E.g.,

E’ il loro appartamento?

Sì, è il loro.

Is it their appartment?

Yes, it’s theirs.