In French, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns are used to express ownership or association. Unlike in English, where only the thing possessed determines the form ("my," "your," "his," etc.), in French, the possessive form must agree with the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun being possessed, not the owner.
- Possessives indicate who owns something and must match the possessed noun.
- Both adjectives and pronouns change form for masculine/feminine and singular/plural.
- This agreement is a key difference from English.
How do French possessives work?
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives (mon, ton, son, etc.) are placed before the noun and show ownership. They must agree with the noun’s gender and number.
| Owner | Singular Masc. | Singular Fem. | Plural (Masc/Fem) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | mon | ma* | mes |
| 2nd sg | ton | ta* | tes |
| 3rd sg | son | sa* | ses |
| 1st pl | notre | notre | nos |
| 2nd pl | votre | votre | vos |
| 3rd pl | leur | leur | leurs |
For feminine singular nouns starting with a vowel or mute h, use the masculine form (mon, ton, son) to aid pronunciation.
Examples:
- mon livre (my book - masc. sing.)
- ma voiture (my car - fem. sing.)
- mes livres (my books - plural)
- mon amie (my [female] friend - fem. sing. but starts with vowel!)
What are the correct possessive adjectives for 'my' for a feminine singular noun and plural nouns?
What is the possessive adjective for 'my' with a feminine singular noun?
What is the form for 'my' when a feminine noun begins with a vowel?
Source Material
Author: Bescherelle
Document: Bescherelle - Les adjectifs possessifs
Date Published: 2020
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace the noun + possessive adjective to avoid repetition. They agree in gender and number with the noun they replace and are used alone (not before a noun).
| Owner | Masc. Sing. | Fem. Sing. | Plural (Masc/Fem) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | le mien | la mienne | les miens/les miennes* |
| 2nd sg | le tien | la tienne | les tiens/les tiennes* |
| 3rd sg | le sien | la sienne | les siens/les siennes* |
| 1st pl | le nôtre | la nôtre | les nôtres |
| 2nd pl | le vôtre | la vôtre | les vôtres |
| 3rd pl | le leur | la leur | les leurs |
For plural possessive pronouns, if referring to feminine objects, use les miennes/les tiennes/les siennes._
Examples:
- C’est mon livre. → C’est le mien. (That’s my book.)
- C’est ta voiture. → C’est la tienne. (That’s your car.)
- Ce sont nos amis. → Ce sont les nôtres. (Those are ours.)
What are the French possessive pronouns for 'mine'?
How do you say 'yours' (as a possessive pronoun) for a feminine singular noun in French?
What is the possessive pronoun for 'ours' (plural) in French?
Source Material
Author: Bescherelle
Document: Bescherelle - Les pronoms possessifs
Date Published: 2020
Conclusion
French possessives are a core part of expressing relationships between people and things, requiring careful attention to gender, number, and context (adjective vs. pronoun).
- Possessive forms depend on the possessed noun’s gender/number, not the owner.
- Adjectives precede the noun; pronouns replace the noun entirely.
- Mastery of possessives deepens understanding of French sentence structure and meaning.
How do French possessives differ from English?
Which are the possessive adjectives for 'my'?
What is the possessive adjective for 'my' (feminine singular)?
What possessive adjective is used if the feminine noun starts with a vowel?
What's 'our' as a possessive adjective for singular nouns?
Give the possessive pronouns for 'mine' in all forms.
What is the possessive pronoun for 'yours' (feminine singular)?
What is the possessive pronoun for 'ours' (plural)?