tagħna / tagħkom / tagħhom

Our and Their

Level 1

tagħna: our/ours; tagħkom: your/yours, plural; tagħhom: their/theirs.

How It Works

Place these possessives after the noun. Tagħna identifies possessors including the speaker; tagħkom addresses several possessors; tagħhom identifies a third-person group. These forms do not distinguish the owners' gender. A definite possessed noun takes its appropriate article.

Compare the noun-phrase fragments il-ktieb tagħna, “our book,” and il-kotba tagħna, “our books.” The number of books changes, but the possessive stays the same. Descriptive adjectives follow the possessed noun's agreement features: nadifa describes a feminine room, while ħomor describes plural cars. When addressing one possessor, use tiegħek. English “your” leaves the singular/plural distinction unstated, whereas these Maltese forms express it. Learn the complete spellings rather than extending the singular tiegħ- shape to every person.

Examples (3)

  1. Il-ktieb tagħna ġdid.

    Our book is new.

    One book has plural possessors including the speaker.

  2. Il-kamra tagħkom nadifa.

    Your room is clean.

    Tagħkom addresses several people.

  3. Il-karozzi tagħhom ħomor.

    Their cars are red.

    Ħomor describes the cars; tagħhom identifies their possessors.

How It Connects

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

tagħna / tagħkom / tagħhomLevel 1Our and Their

Learn This First

Introduce the complete plural-possessor forms through groups owning singular and plural items, with particular attention to the distinction English leaves unstated in 'your'.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.