Possessive - 의

Possessive - 의

Rule

● Add 의 to a noun. (Note: mainly used in a written form)

Eg.

• 나 + 의 → 나의 = my
• 너 + 의 → 너의 = your
• 그 + 의 → 그의 = his
• 그녀 + 의 → 그녀의 = her

However, in most spoken Korean, they are simplified for easier pronunciation.

Eg.

• 나의 → 내
• 너의 → 네 (pronounced 니)
• 그의/그녀의 → 쟤,걔 (not commonly used)
• 누가(who) → 누구 (whose)

For all possessives, only 내 and 네(니) are commonly used in spoken Korean. In most cases 의 is omitted.

Eg.

• My car = 내 차
• Your shoes = 네 신발 (pronounced 니 신발)
• Michael's car = 마이클의 자동차 (written form) or 마이클 차 (spoken form)

Notice that 의 has been omitted, and 자동차 has been simplified to 차.

• 누구 차야? (Whose car is it?)
• 마이클 (차) (You can either answer by saying 마이클 or 마이클 차)

In spoken Korean, 'he/she' or 'his/her' are rarely (almost never) used. Instead, his/her name is addressed as a subject in a first sentence, and then omitted for sentences following. This is the same for possessive forms. Instead of 'his/her', 'Michael's/Lisa's' are used.

Eg. 

• Lisa's friend1: 리사 가방 진짜 예뻐. (Lisa's handbag is really pretty)
• Lisa's friend2: 진짜? 나도 그거 사고 싶다. (Really? I, too, want to buy that)

Another thing to note is that 네 is attached to a personal name if a noun being possessed is a group/organisation. (Spoken Form)

• Lisa's friend1: 리사네 집 진짜 커 (Lisa's house is really big)
• Lisa's friend2: 리사네 학교도 커. (Lisa's school, too, is big)

Note: A school, house, company and country are some of the 'group/organisation' nouns that require 네 attached to a personal name which are being possessive. Any other personal items such as one's bag, car and so on do not need 네 attached to a personal name.