How to Use French Possessive Adjectives

French possessive adjectives are essential for expressing ownership or belonging. Unlike English, these adjectives agree with the noun they modify, not the possessor. Let's explore how to use them correctly.

Basic Forms of French Possessive Adjectives

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)

Agreement with the Noun

The possessive adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies:

• Mon livre (my book) - masculine singular
• Ma voiture (my car) - feminine singular
• Mes amis (my friends) - plural (both genders)

Special Cases

Before Feminine Nouns Starting with a Vowel

Use the masculine form before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent 'h' for better pronunciation:

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

Plural Possessors

For 'our', 'your' (plural), and 'their', the adjective only changes for plural nouns:

• Notre maison (our house)
• Nos maisons (our houses)
• Leur chat (their cat)
• Leurs chats (their cats)

Examples in Context

• J'ai perdu mon portefeuille. (I lost my wallet.)
• Elle a oublié ses clés. (She forgot her keys.)
• Nous aimons notre appartement. (We love our apartment.)
• Où sont vos bagages ? (Where is your luggage?)

Remember, practice is key to mastering French possessive adjectives. Try creating your own sentences to reinforce these rules.