French possessive adjectives explained

French possessive adjectives can be tricky for English speakers. Unlike in English, where we use the same form regardless of gender, French possessive adjectives change based on the gender and number of the noun they modify. Let's break it down:

Basic Forms

Here are the basic forms of French possessive adjectives:

• My: mon (m), ma (f), mes (pl)
• Your: ton (m), ta (f), tes (pl)
• His/Her/Its: son (m), sa (f), ses (pl)
• Our: notre (m/f), nos (pl)
• Your (plural/formal): votre (m/f), vos (pl)
• Their: leur (m/f), leurs (pl)

Gender Agreement

The possessive adjective agrees with the noun it modifies, not the possessor:

• Mon livre (my book) - masculine noun
• Ma voiture (my car) - feminine noun
• Mes livres (my books) - plural noun

Special Case: Feminine Nouns Starting with Vowels

For feminine nouns beginning with a vowel or silent h, use the masculine form for euphony:

• Mon amie (my friend, female) instead of ma amie
• Son histoire (his/her story) instead of sa histoire

Examples in Context

• Je prends mon sac et mes clés. (I'm taking my bag and my keys.)
• Tu as oublié ta veste dans ta voiture. (You forgot your jacket in your car.)
• Nous aimons notre maison et nos voisins. (We love our house and our neighbors.)

Remember, practice makes perfect. Try using these adjectives in various sentences to get comfortable with their usage.