Possessive pronouns replace a noun already known while indicating to whom it belongs. They are used when the possessed is implied, and not expressed after the possessive determiner. Like personal pronouns and the other pronouns, they participate in the organization of the sentence by avoiding repetition.

Possessive pronouns vary according to the possessor's person, but also according to the gender and number of the noun replaced. The form chosen thus depends on the possessed noun, not on the person who possesses it. The definite article is always present before the pronominal form.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le pronom remplace un nom masculin singulier.The pronoun replaces a masculine singular noun.	Le mienMine.
Le pronom remplace un nom féminin singulier.The pronoun replaces a feminine singular noun.	La tienneYours.
Le pronom remplace un nom masculin pluriel.The pronoun replaces a masculine plural noun.	Les nôtresOurs.
Le pronom remplace un nom féminin pluriel.The pronoun replaces a feminine plural noun.	Les leursTheirs.

The possessive pronoun agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces. Thus, chaise yields la tienne, while livres yields les tiens. The person of the possessor remains the same, but the form changes with the possessed object.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le genre du nom remplacé détermine la forme du pronom.The gender of the replaced noun determines the form of the pronoun.	La chaise est la tienneThe chair is yours.
Le nombre du nom remplacé détermine la forme du pronom.The number of the replaced noun determines the form of the pronoun.	Les livres sont les miensThe books are mine.
La personne du possesseur ne change pas l’accord avec le nom remplacé.The person of the possessor does not change the agreement with the noun replaced.	Cette place est la sienneThis place is hers.

A possessive adjective always accompanies an expressed noun, whereas a possessive pronoun replaces it. My book keeps the noun 'book', but mine drops it. This difference allows distinguishing possession followed by the noun and possession already known.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
L’adjectif possessif garde le nom.The possessive adjective keeps the noun.	Mon livre est sur la tableMy book is on the table.
Le pronom possessif remplace le nom.The possessive pronoun replaces the noun.	Le mien est sur la tableMine is on the table.
Le choix dépend de la présence ou non du nom.The choice depends on whether the noun is present or not.	Je prends le tienI take yours.

The pronominal forms are always introduced by a definite article. One says le mien, la mienne, les nôtres, les vôtres or les leurs. This presence of the article is part of the very form of the pronoun.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le pronom possessif prend toujours un article défini.The possessive pronoun always takes a definite article.	C’est la sienneThat's hers.
L’article varie avec le genre du nom remplacé.The article varies with the gender of the replaced noun.	Le livre est le sienThe book is his.
L’article varie aussi avec le nombre du nom remplacé.The article also varies with the number of the replaced noun.	Ce sont les leursThey are theirs.

The possessive pronoun is often used to resolve ambiguity between several possible possessors. It is particularly useful with son, sa and ses, whose form does not clearly indicate which possessor is intended. The pronoun then makes ownership explicit and identifiable.

IdéeIdea.	ExempleExample.
Le pronom précise le possesseur.The pronoun specifies the possessor.	Le manteau est le sienThe coat is his.
Il évite l’ambiguïté de son, sa et ses.It avoids the ambiguity of son, sa and ses.	La clé est la sienneThe key is hers.
Il met en relief l’appartenance déjà connue.It highlights ownership that is already known.	La décision est la nôtreThe decision is ours.

In writing and in a careful register, the forms of possessive pronouns are frequent and natural. In informal spoken language, people often prefer constructions like c’est à moi or c’est à toi. With certain kinship terms, the possessive adjective remains more common in conversation.

RégionRegion.	Mot ou expressionWord or expression.	Définition régionaleRegional definition.	ExempleExample.
FamilleFamily.	c’est à moiIt's mine.	Tournure courante à l’oral pour exprimer la possession de façon simple.A common spoken construction for expressing possession in a simple way.	C’est à moi que tu parles, pas au mien.It's me you're talking to, not mine.
Écrit soignéPolished writing.	le nôtreOurs.	Forme fréquente dans un registre formel où le pronom possessif est préféré.A common form in a formal register where the possessive pronoun is preferred.	Le nôtre est déjà réservé.Ours is already reserved.
ConversationConversation.	mon pèreMy father.	Avec certains noms de parenté, l’adjectif possessif reste souvent plus naturel.With certain kinship terms, the possessive adjective often remains more natural.	Mon père arrive bientôt, comme le tien.My father is arriving soon, just like yours.

The possessive pronoun replaces a noun, indicates ownership and agrees with the noun it replaces. It always appears with the definite article and takes different forms depending on gender and number. In the sentence, it functions as a true pronoun, whereas the possessive adjective keeps the expressed noun.