este meu amigo
Combining Determiners
Galician can stack several small words before a noun: este meu amigo (this friend of mine), os meus dous fillos (my two sons), algunha outra solución (some other solution).
How It Works
Demonstrative + possessive + noun
No article is needed: este meu amigo (this friend of mine), aquela túa idea (that idea of yours), esa súa casa. The possessive can also go after the noun: este amigo meu.
Article + possessive + number or outro + noun
- os meus dous fillos (my two sons)
- as túas tres irmás (your three sisters)
- o meu outro irmán (my other brother)
This is the usual order. In speech you may also hear os dous meus fillos or o outro meu irmán, but os meus dous fillos and o meu outro irmán are the forms to learn first.
Indefinite + outro
algunha outra solución (some other solution), ningún outro sitio (no other place), moitas outras cousas (many other things).
Outro + number
Outro comes before the number: outros dous días (another two days), outras tres persoas (three more people).
Todo goes first. Todo comes before the article or demonstrative: todos os meus amigos, todo este tempo.
Agreement. Every word agrees with the noun: estas miñas dúas amigas. For possessives after the noun, see un amigo meu.
Examples (6)
- Este meu amigo vive en Ourense.
This friend of mine lives in Ourense.
Word by Word: This my friend lives in Ourense.
- Aquela túa idea era moi boa.
That idea of yours was very good.
- Os meus dous fillos estudan en Santiago.
My two sons study in Santiago.
- O meu outro irmán traballa en Londres.
My other brother works in London.
- Hai algunha outra solución?
Is there some other solution?
- Quedamos outros dous días na praia.
We stayed at the beach for another two days.
Common Mistakes
Adding an article between the demonstrative and the possessive.
Este o meu amigo vive en Ourense.Este meu amigo vive en Ourense.A demonstrative already does the job of the article, so none is added.
Putting todo after the article.
Os todos meus amigos viñeron á festa.Todos os meus amigos viñeron á festa.Todo always comes first, before the article and the possessive.
Not making every word agree with the noun.
Hai algún outra solución?Hai algunha outra solución?Solución is feminine, so both words agree with it: algunha outra.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Demonstratives, possessives and numbers follow a recognizable ordering within a noun phrase.
Related Patterns
- un amigo meuPossessives as Pronouns and After the Noun
Possessives placed after the noun, as in este amigo meu.
Level 3 - todo o / todos osAll and Every: Todo
Todo goes before the article: todos os meus amigos.
Level 2 - os dous / ambosBoth: Os Dous and Ambos
Another way to talk about two people or things together.
Level 4 - algún / ningún / alguén / ninguénSome, No, Someone and No One
Indefinites that combine with outro, as in algunha outra solución.
Level 2
Practice este meu amigo in Bubblegum
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