Possessive Adjectives: How do we express possession using possessive adjectives in French?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

 

Introduction

Mastering possessive adjectives in French is essential for expressing ownership and relationships clearly. In this guide, we’ll explore how to use possessive adjectives in French, providing you with the tools to speak more naturally and fluently. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, understanding possessive adjectives in French will enhance your communication and comprehension.

 

List of French Possessive Adjectives

• Mon (my) – masculine singular or before a vowel sound
  
  
• Ma (my) – feminine singular
  
  
• Mes (my) – plural
  
  
• Ton (your, informal) – masculine singular or before a vowel sound
  
  
• Ta (your, informal) – feminine singular
  
  
• Tes (your, informal) – plural
  
  
• Son (his/her/its) – masculine singular or before a vowel sound
  
  
• Sa (his/her/its) – feminine singular
  
  
• Ses (his/her/its) – plural
  
  
• Notre (our) – singular (both masculine and feminine)
  
  
• Nos (our) – plural
  
  
• Votre (your, formal or plural) – singular (both masculine and feminine)
  
  
• Vos (your, formal or plural) – plural
  
  
• Leur (their) – singular (both masculine and feminine)
  
  
• Leurs (their) – plural
  
  
  

 

Basic Grammar Structure

Possessive Adjective + Noun

Examples:

 

Mon (my):

Mon chien (my dog) – Pronunciation: mon chien (mohn मोँ) chien (shyaah शयाँ)

Mon ami (my friend) – before a vowel sound – Pronunciation: mon ami (mohn मोँ) ami (ah-mee आ-मी)

 

Ma (my):

Ma maison (my house) – Pronunciation: ma maison (mah मः) maison (meh-zon मे-ज़ों)

 

Mes (my):

Mes livres (my books) – Pronunciation: mes livres (may मे) livres (leevr लीवर)

 

Ton (your, informal):

Ton chat (your cat) – Pronunciation: ton chat (tohn तोह) chat (shah शाह)

 

Ta (your, informal):

Ta voiture (your car) – Pronunciation: ta voiture (tah ता) voiture (vwaah-teer वाह-तीर)

 

Tes (your, informal):

Tes crayons (your pencils) – Pronunciation: tes crayons (tay ता) crayons (kray-yon क्रे-योँ)

 

Son (his/her/its):

Son frère (his brother) – Pronunciation: son frère (sohn सों) frère (frehr फ्रेर)

Son école (her school) – before a vowel sound – Pronunciation: son école (sohn सों) école (ay-kohl एकोल)

 

Sa (his/her/its):

Sa sœur (her sister) – Pronunciation: sa sœur (sah सः) sœur (suhr सुhr)

 

Ses (his/her/its):

Ses amis (his friends) – Pronunciation: ses amis (say से) amis (ah-mee आ-मी)

 

Notre (our):

Notre professeur (our teacher) – Pronunciation: notre professeur (noh-truh नो-त्र) professeur (pro-feh-suhr प्रो-फे-सर)

 

Nos (our):

Nos enfants (our children) – Pronunciation: nos enfants (noh नोह) enfants (ahn-fah अं-फा)

 

Votre (your, formal or plural):

Votre travail (your work) – Pronunciation: votre travail (voh-truh वोत्र) travail (trah-vahy त्राह-वाय)

 

Vos (your, formal or plural):

Vos idées (your ideas) – Pronunciation: vos idées (voh वोह) idées (ee-day ई-दे)

 

Leur (their):

Leur maison (their house) – Pronunciation: leur maison (luhr लुhr) maison (meh-zon मे-ज़ों)

 

Leurs (their):

Leurs parents (their parents) – Pronunciation: leurs parents (luhr लुhr) parents (pah-ron पः-रों)

 

Conditions and Exceptions:

• Before a Vowel Sound: For ease of pronunciation, the masculine form is used before a vowel sound, even if the noun is feminine. For example, “mon amie” (my female friend), not “ma amie”. Pronunciation: mon amie (mohn मोँ) amie (ah-mee आ-मी)
  
  
  
• Agreement in Gender and Number: The possessive adjective must agree with the noun it modifies, not the possessor. For instance, “sa voiture” (his/her car), regardless of whether the owner is male or female. Pronunciation: sa voiture (sah सः) voiture (vwaah-teer वाह-तीर)
  
  
  

 

Possessive Adjectives in Phrases:

J’ai perdu mes clés. (I lost my keys.)
– Pronunciation: J’ai perdu mes clés (zhay pehr-doo may क्ले)

Votre réponse est correcte. (Your answer is correct.)
– Pronunciation: votre réponse est correcte (voh-truh रे-ponse एट correcte को-rect)

Ils aiment leur chien. (They love their dog.)
– Pronunciation: ils aiment leur chien (eel ehm luhr shyaah ईल अं luhr शयाँ)

 

Importance:

Understanding possessive adjectives is vital for anyone learning French as it helps in making sentences clearer and more precise. It’s also fundamental for effective communication, allowing speakers to describe relationships and ownership accurately.

 

Fun Examples:

Mon chien a mangé mon devoir. (My dog ate my homework.)
– Pronunciation: Mon chien a mangé mon devoir (mohn shyaah मोँ शयाँ a mahn-jay a mahn-jay मोँ मों-जे)

Ton chat a volé ton sandwich! (Your cat stole your sandwich!)
– Pronunciation: Ton chat a volé ton sandwich (tohn shah तोह शाह a voh-lay तोह शाँ-द्वीश)

 

Identifying Possessive Adjectives in a Sentence

Examples and Identification:

1.Mon chien est très énergique.

Mon (my) is the possessive adjective, modifying chien (dog), which is masculine singular.

Mon chien est très énergique. (My dog is very energetic.)

Pronunciation: Mon (mohn मोँ) chien (shyaah शयाँ)

2.Elle adore son chat.

Son (her) is the possessive adjective, modifying chat (cat), which is masculine singular.

Elle adore son chat. (She loves her cat.)

Pronunciation: Son (sohn सों) chat (shah शाह)

3.Nous avons perdu nos clés.

Nos (our) is the possessive adjective, modifying clés (keys), which is plural.

Nous avons perdu nos clés. (We have lost our keys.)

Pronunciation: Nos (noh नोह) clés (klay क्ले)

3.Votre voiture est magnifique.

Votre (your) is the possessive adjective, modifying voiture (car), which is feminine singular.

Votre voiture est magnifique. (Your car is magnificent.)

Pronunciation: Votre (voh-truh वोत्र) voiture (vwaah-teer वाह-तीर)

4.Ils aiment leurs enfants.

Leurs (their) is the possessive adjective, modifying enfants (children), which is plural.

Ils aiment leurs enfants. (They love their children.)

Pronunciation: Leurs (luhr लुhr) enfants (ahn-fah अं-फा)

Funny Example:

Ton chat a mangé mon poisson!

Ton (your) is the possessive adjective, modifying chat (cat), which is masculine singular.

Mon (my) is the possessive adjective, modifying poisson (fish), which is masculine singular.

Ton chat a mangé mon poisson! (Your cat ate my fish!)

Pronunciation: Ton (tohn तोह) chat (shah शाह) a mangé (ah mahn-jay आ मों-जे) mon poisson (mohn pwah-son मोँ प्वा-सों)

 

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