Ejemplo: La pizarra es de la escuela.
If you are working through the "Practice It" or textbook activities for this section, here are tips to help you succeed:
Strategy A: Identify the Subject Look at the item in the question or picture.
Strategy B: The "Flip" Method When you see a phrase like el libro de Pablo, practice "flipping" it in your head to English possession ("Pablo's book") and back to Spanish. This helps you get used to the word order where the owner comes after the object.
Strategy C: Possessive Adjectives vs. Possession This unit often
It sounds like you’re working through the Panorama or Vistas Spanish curriculum! "Estructura 1" in that specific lesson focuses on the verb ser (to be) and using the word de to show possession. p219 estructura 1 de quien es practice it top
Since Spanish doesn’t use "'s" (like "John's book"), you have to flip the sentence structure. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you master those "Practice It" activities. 1. The Core Formula
In English, we say: [Owner] + 's + [Object]In Spanish, you say: [The Object] + de + [The Owner] English: It is Miguel’s map. Spanish: Es el mapa de Miguel. 2. Asking "Whose is it?"
To ask who something belongs to, you use the phrase ¿De quién...? Singular: ¿De quién es...? (Whose is...?) Plural: ¿De quién son...? (Whose are...?) Examples: ¿De quién es la maleta? (Whose suitcase is it?) ¿De quién son los lápices? (Whose pencils are they?) 3. The "De + El" Shortcut (Contraction)
This is the part that usually trips people up on tests. When de is followed by the masculine article el, they must smush together into one word: del. Incorrect: Es el libro de el chico. Correct: Es el libro del chico.
Note: This only happens with "el." If it’s "la," "las," or "los," you keep them separate (e.g., de la chica, de los turistas). 4. Expressing Possession with Pronouns Ejemplo: La pizarra es de la escuela
If you want to say "It's his" or "It's hers" using this specific structure: Es de él. (It’s his.) Es de ella. (It’s hers.) Es de usted. (It’s yours—formal.) Practice Tip for "Top" Results:
When doing the "Practice It" or "Workbook" sections on page 219, always check two things:
Is the object singular or plural? (Use es for one, son for many).
Does the owner start with "el"? (If so, remember to use del).
Quick Check: If you had to translate "They are the teacher's (male) notebooks," would you use de el or del? If you are working through the "Practice It"
Mastering “¿De quién es?” and long-form possessives is not just about passing a quiz. In real Spanish conversation, possession is everywhere:
Without this page, you will default to English structure (“el libro de Juan” for everything), which is correct but repetitive. With p219, you gain the ability to say “It’s mine,” “It’s ours,” and “It’s theirs” fluidly.
Before you click “Start” on the practice, memorize these four core rules. They are directly from Estructura 1.
Who is speaking? Who owns the item?
| Concept | Explanation | |---------|-------------| | De + noun/pronoun | Shows possession: de Juan, de mí, de ti, de usted, de ella, de nosotros | | No “apostrophe s” in Spanish | Use de instead of ’s: Juan’s book = el libro de Juan | | Article before object | In questions: ¿De quién es la casa? (not just “casa”) |
This section teaches possession using: