French Possessive Adjectives: Quick Guide and Examples
French possessive adjectives can be tricky for English speakers, as they agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, not the possessor. This guide will help you understand and use them correctly.
Basic Forms
French possessive adjectives have different forms based on:
- The person (first, second, or third)
- The number of possessors (singular or plural)
- The gender and number of the possessed noun
Here's a table of the basic forms:
| Possessor | Masculine | Feminine | Plural | |-----------|-----------|----------|--------| | my | mon | ma | mes | | your (singular) | ton | ta | tes | | his/her/its | son | sa | ses | | our | notre | notre | nos | | your (plural) | votre | votre | vos | | their | leur | leur | leurs |
Usage Rules
Gender Agreement
The possessive adjective agrees with the possessed noun, not the possessor:
- mon livre (my book) - masculine noun
- ma voiture (my car) - feminine noun
Plural Forms
Use plural forms when the possessed noun is plural:
- mes livres (my books)
- nos amis (our friends)
Special Case: Feminine Nouns Starting with Vowels
Use the masculine form before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent 'h' for better pronunciation:
- mon amie (my friend, feminine)
- son histoire (his/her story)
Examples in Context
- J'ai perdu mon passeport et mes clés. (I lost my passport and my keys.)
- Leur maison est grande, mais leurs chambres sont petites. (Their house is big, but their rooms are small.)
- Notre professeur nous a donné nos devoirs. (Our teacher gave us our homework.)
Remember, practice makes perfect. Try using these possessive adjectives in your own sentences to become more comfortable with them.