Learn Spanish (Latin America): Este libro me pertenece.

Este libro me pertenece.

This book belongs to me.

Breakdown of Este libro me pertenece.

to belong (pertenecer a)

Elon.io is an online learning platform

We have an entire course teaching Spanish (Latin America) grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Spanish (Latin America) now

Questions & Answers about Este libro me pertenece.

Why is it este libro and not esto libro?

Este is the masculine singular word for "this," used directly before masculine nouns like libro. Esto is the neuter form of "this." You use esto when referring to abstract ideas, unknown objects, or general situations (like "What is this?"), but it is never placed directly next to a noun.

Why use me pertenece instead of just saying pertenece a mí?

The verb pertenecer (to belong) requires an indirect object pronoun to show who the item belongs to. Here, me acts as "to me." While you can say Este libro me pertenece a mí to add heavy emphasis ("This book belongs to me"), you can never drop the me.

Is the verb pertenecer completely regular?

In this sentence, pertenece is completely regular because it is in the third-person singular form, matching the subject Este libro. However, it is a "c-to-zc" verb, meaning it has an irregular yo (I) form: pertenezco (I belong). It follows the exact same pattern as conocer and parecer.