-mu / -ku / -su

Our, Your and Their

Level 2

Our bag can be one bag; their books requires a plural noun.

How It Works

Add mu, ku or su after the linked noun to mean our, your or their. Schuh describes masculine singular and plural heads as using n and feminine singular heads as using r. Caron gives a more restricted selection rule: r with feminine heads ending in -a, and n elsewhere. The examples here fit both descriptions. Write the complete possessive form together.

Compare jakarmu, our bag, jakarku, your bag, and jakarsu, their bag. The feminine noun and its r stay unchanged; only the possessor changes. Several owners can share one bag.

Conversely, littattafansu, their books, contains a plural possessed noun. Learn the noun's complete linked form rather than appending an ending mechanically to every dictionary plural. Possessive constructions also express social relationships, such as their teacher. The example with ku addresses a group. Plural address can also refer to an individual in particular social relationships; context establishes that interpretation.

Examples (3)

  1. Jakarmu tana nan.

    Our bag is here.

    Feminine singular jaka takes r before mu.

  2. Motarku tana can.

    Your car is there.

    One feminine car takes r; ku here addresses a group.

  3. Littattafansu suna gida.

    Their books are at home.

    Plural littattafai has the linked stem littattafa- before n; su identifies the possessor group.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-mu / -ku / -suLevel 2Our, Your and Their

Learn This First

Recognize attached singular possessors, independent plural participants and lexical plural agreement before distinguishing several owners from several owned items.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.