French Possessive Adjectives: Usage Guide

French possessive adjectives are essential for expressing ownership or belonging. Unlike English, these adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, not the possessor. Let's explore their usage and common mistakes to avoid.

Basic Forms

French possessive adjectives have different forms based on the gender and number of the possessed noun:

• Masculine singular: mon, ton, son
• Feminine singular: ma, ta, sa
• Plural (both genders): mes, tes, ses

Usage Examples

Singular Nouns

• Mon livre (my book) - masculine
• Ma voiture (my car) - feminine
• Ton stylo (your pen) - masculine
• Ta maison (your house) - feminine

Plural Nouns

• Mes amis (my friends) - both genders
• Tes chaussures (your shoes) - both genders

Special Cases

Before Vowels or Silent H

Use the masculine form before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent h:

• Mon amie (my friend, feminine)
• Son histoire (his/her story, feminine)

This is for easier pronunciation and to avoid hiatus.

Common Mistakes

1. Using the wrong gender: Incorrect: Ma livre Correct: Mon livre

2. Forgetting to change for plural: Incorrect: Mon chats Correct: Mes chats

3. Not using masculine form before vowels: Incorrect: Ma école Correct: Mon école

Practice Exercise

Try translating these phrases:

1. My dog
2. Your (plural) cars
3. Her umbrella
4. Our house

By mastering French possessive adjectives, you'll significantly improve your ability to express ownership and relationships in French conversations and writing.