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Gli aggettivi possessivi 2 / Possessive adjectives 2.

Other than “mio, tuo, suo, vostro, nostro, loro” there are other possessive adjectives such as:

Masculine
singular		Feminine
singular		Masculine
plural		Feminine
plural
proprio
Stesso
l’altrui		propria
stessa
l’altrui		propri
stessi
gli altrui		proprie
stesse
le altrui

1. PROPRIO

The adjective Proprio is used to avoid ambiguity:

  • Marco ha incontrato Andrea che gli ha detto di contare soltanto sulle proprie.
  • Marco met Andrea who told him to rely only on his own.

The adjective Proprio is usually used with impersonal constructions and mostly with an indefinite subject.

  • Bisogna rispettare la propria famiglia.
  • You have to respect your family.
  • Si deve ragionare con la propria testa.
  • You have to think with your own head.
  • Ognuno faccia il proprio dovere.
  • Everyone does their duty.

Proprio has a reinforcing value together with mio, tuo, suo, etc., and is found as an alternative to stesso/medesimo (the latter less used).

  • L’ho visto con i miei propri occhi.
  • I saw it with my own eyes.
  • L’ha fatto con le sue proprie mani.
  • L’ha fatto con le sue proprie mani.
  • L’ha fatto a rischio della sua stessa/propria vita.
  • He did it at the risk of his own life.
  • Ho agito contro il mio stesso interesse.
  • I acted against my own interest.

In reference to the subject proprio is found, as an alternative to suo, sua, sui, sue.

  • L’ha riparato a proprie / sue spese.
  • He repaired it at his own expense.
  • Non è riuscito ad esprimere la propria /sua opinione.
  • He was unable to express his opinion.
  • Mario lo faceva per il proprio/suo interesse.
  • Mario did it for his own interest.
  • Era in pensiero per i suoi /propri cari.
  • He was worried about his loved ones.

Altrui

The adjective ALTRUI, invariable, (It is the article preceding the adjective –altrui– that varies, depending on the noun. ) indicates an indefinite possessor or one different from the speaker, and means: di of/ degli altri of others. It is normally placed after the name.

  • Ascoltate talvolta anche le ragioni altrui.
  • Sometimes also listen to other people’s reasons
  • Non impicciarsi degli affari altrui.
  • Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs
  • L’altrui fortuna non deve destare invidia.
  • Other people’s luck must not arouse envy.
  • Le altrui glorie lo rattristavano.
  • Other people’s glories saddened him.