Possessive Adjectives in French
This section explains possessive adjectives in French and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.
What is a Possessive Adjective?
Possessive adjectives are used to show ownership or possession. In English, they are "my, your, his, her, our, their", but in French, they must agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe, not the owner.
For example:
- Mon frère (My brother) – "Mon" is masculine because "frère" is masculine.
- Ma sœur (My sister) – "Ma" is feminine because "sœur" is feminine.
Foundation Tier: Basic Possessive Adjectives
| English | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Plural (M & F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| My | mon | ma | mes |
| Your (informal) | ton | ta | tes |
| His / Her / Its | son | sa | ses |
| Our | notre | notre | nos |
| Your (formal/plural) | votre | votre | vos |
| Their | leur | leur | leurs |
📌 Key Rule: The possessive adjective agrees with the noun, not the owner.
- Paul aime son chien. (Paul loves his dog.)
- Sophie aime son chien. (Sophie loves her dog.)
(Even though Sophie is female, we use "son" because "chien" is masculine.)
Foundation Tier Examples
| French Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Mon père est gentil. | My father is kind. |
| Ma mère est intelligente. | My mother is intelligent. |
| Mes amis sont sympas. | My friends are nice. |
| Ton frère est drôle. | Your brother is funny. |
| Ta maison est belle. | Your house is beautiful. |
| Tes livres sont intéressants. | Your books are interesting. |
| Son oncle est anglais. | His/Her uncle is English. |
| Sa tante habite à Paris. | His/Her aunt lives in Paris. |
| Ses cousins sont français. | His/Her cousins are French. |
Higher Tier: Special Rules & Exceptions
Using "Mon" Instead of "Ma" Before a Vowel (Mon, Ton, Son)
If a feminine noun starts with a vowel or silent "h", use mon, ton, son instead of ma, ta, sa to improve pronunciation.
| Incorrect (❌) | Correct (✅) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ma amie | Mon amie | My (female) friend |
| Ta école | Ton école | Your school |
| Sa histoire | Son histoire | His/her story |
Possessive Adjectives with Plural Nouns
For plural nouns, use mes, tes, ses, nos, vos, leurs (regardless of gender).
- Mes frères et sœurs sont intelligents. (My brothers and sisters are intelligent.)
- Leurs enfants sont adorables. (Their children are adorable.)
Using "de" Instead of Possessive Adjectives
In French, "de + noun" is often used instead of possessive adjectives for clarity.
- C'est le livre de Paul. (It's Paul's book.)
- C'est la voiture de ma mère. (It's my mother's car.)
📌 Key Difference: In English, we say "Paul's book," but in French, we say "the book of Paul" (le livre de Paul).
Difference Between "Votre" and "Vos" / "Leur" and "Leurs"
| French | English | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Votre (singular) | Your (formal/plural) | Votre maison est grande. | Your house is big. |
| Vos (plural) | Your (formal/plural) | Vos enfants sont polis. | Your children are polite. |
| Leur (singular) | Their | Leur père est médecin. | Their father is a doctor. |
| Leurs (plural) | Their | Leurs amis sont sympas. | Their friends are nice. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Ma amie est sympa. → ✅Mon amie est sympa. (Use "mon" before vowels!)
❌Ses parents est gentils. → ✅ Ses parents sont gentils. (Verb agreement needed!)
❌Leur livres sont intéressants. → ✅ Leurs livres sont intéressants. (Use "leurs" for plural nouns!)
❌C’est Paul livre. → ✅ C’est le livre de Paul. (French does not use apostrophe s!)
Key Takeaways
✅ Possessive adjectives agree with the noun, not the owner (son frère / sa sœur).
✅Use "mon, ton, son" before a vowel, even if the noun is feminine (mon amie).
✅Use "mes, tes, ses, nos, vos, leurs" for plural nouns (leurs enfants).
✅Use "de + noun" to express possession instead of "'s" (le livre de Sophie).
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