Activity Overview
Many students know adjective agreement rules and can apply them. However, the agreement of possessive adjectives can prove more challenging. Many students are inclined to think that the possessive adjective agrees with the possessor. So, if it is “my book”, then the student may think the form of “my” in Spanish is dictated by the speaker’s gender and number. This is not correct! Instead, the student must clearly understand that the form of “my” is dictated by the possession, in this case, the book. To cement this understanding, students often need to be led through examples and exercises that challenge the rule and the student’s natural inclination.
This storyboard uses a comparatively challenging example. The possessive adjective nuestro was chosen for the example because it has all four forms, rather than just two. Students should note that while the possessor is plural and feminine, because the possession (the book) is singular and masculine, nuestro must be in its singular and masculine form. Student tendency is to make nuestro feminine and plural because of the two girls that own the book.
The focus of this activity is learning adjective agreement as it applies to possessive adjectives.
Activity 1: Student creates a storyboard whose first cell explains and illustrates the grammar rule with one possessive adjective of the student’s choosing. In the following cells, the student writes simple sentences with markups that show the relationships between the student’s various choices in grammar.
Activity 2 - Advanced: Student creates a narrative storyboard that uses possessive adjectives in context, clearly demonstrates the agreement rules taught, and illustrates student understanding. Student includes markups to show their reasoning.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Many students know adjective agreement rules and can apply them. However, the agreement of possessive adjectives can prove more challenging. Many students are inclined to think that the possessive adjective agrees with the possessor. So, if it is “my book”, then the student may think the form of “my” in Spanish is dictated by the speaker’s gender and number. This is not correct! Instead, the student must clearly understand that the form of “my” is dictated by the possession, in this case, the book. To cement this understanding, students often need to be led through examples and exercises that challenge the rule and the student’s natural inclination.
This storyboard uses a comparatively challenging example. The possessive adjective nuestro was chosen for the example because it has all four forms, rather than just two. Students should note that while the possessor is plural and feminine, because the possession (the book) is singular and masculine, nuestro must be in its singular and masculine form. Student tendency is to make nuestro feminine and plural because of the two girls that own the book.
The focus of this activity is learning adjective agreement as it applies to possessive adjectives.
Activity 1: Student creates a storyboard whose first cell explains and illustrates the grammar rule with one possessive adjective of the student’s choosing. In the following cells, the student writes simple sentences with markups that show the relationships between the student’s various choices in grammar.
Activity 2 - Advanced: Student creates a narrative storyboard that uses possessive adjectives in context, clearly demonstrates the agreement rules taught, and illustrates student understanding. Student includes markups to show their reasoning.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Agreement with Spanish Possessive Adjectives
Guide students through real-life object labeling to reinforce possessive adjective agreement
Engage students by having them label classroom objects with possessive adjectives. This interactive activity helps make agreement rules concrete as students practice choosing the correct adjective based on the possession, not the possessor.
Model how to select the correct possessive adjective for each object
Demonstrate by picking an object (like 'libro') and thinking aloud: Is it singular or plural? Masculine or feminine? Choose the right form of the possessive adjective to match these qualities, not who owns it.
Invite students to pair up and label classmates' items using Spanish possessive adjectives
Encourage collaboration by having students use sticky notes or slips of paper to label each other's items (e.g., mochila, cuaderno) with the correct possessive adjective. This practice makes the rule memorable and interactive.
Review each label as a class and discuss why each possessive adjective was chosen
Foster discussion by asking students to explain their choices. Highlight correct agreement and gently correct mistakes so everyone understands how to match the adjective to the object owned.
Create a classroom reference chart with examples for ongoing support
Build a resource by compiling student-labeled objects into a visual anchor chart. This supports continued practice and provides an at-a-glance reminder of how possessive adjective agreement works in Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions about Agreement with Spanish Possessive Adjectives
What are the rules for agreement with Spanish possessive adjectives?
Spanish possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe (the possession), not with the person who owns the object. For example, "nuestro libro" uses the masculine singular form because "libro" is masculine and singular.
How do I choose the correct form of 'nuestro' in Spanish?
Select the form of 'nuestro' based on whether the noun is masculine/feminine and singular/plural: nuestro (masculine singular), nuestra (feminine singular), nuestros (masculine plural), nuestras (feminine plural).
Does the possessive adjective in Spanish agree with the owner or the item?
In Spanish, the possessive adjective always agrees with the item being owned (the noun), not with the owner. For example, two girls owning a book would still use "nuestro libro" because "libro" is masculine singular.
What are some examples of possessive adjective agreement in Spanish?
Examples: mi casa (my house, feminine singular), mis casas (my houses, feminine plural), nuestro libro (our book, masculine singular), nuestras mochilas (our backpacks, feminine plural).
What is a simple classroom activity to teach Spanish possessive adjective agreement?
Have students create a storyboard that illustrates possessive adjective rules, using their own examples and marking how the adjective agrees with the noun's gender and number, not the owner's.
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