French adjectives not only describe nouns but also must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they modify. Similarly, possessive adjectives are a type of pronoun that show ownership and must match both the possessor and the noun in gender and number.
French Adjectives
Most French adjectives change their endings to agree with the noun:
| Case | Ending Example (heureux = happy) |
|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | heureux |
| Feminine Singular | heureuse |
| Masculine Plural | heureux |
| Feminine Plural | heureuses |
- Adjectives typically follow the noun, except for some common ones (beau, jeune, vieux, etc.) that precede it.
- A few adjectives are invariable and do not change form.
French adjectives agree with the noun in both gender and number.
Most French adjectives come after the noun.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives show who owns something and match the noun's gender/number, not just the owner:
| Owner \ Noun | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Plural (M/F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je (I) | mon | ma | mes |
| Tu (you, informal) | ton | ta | tes |
| Il/Elle/On (he/she) | son | sa | ses |
| Nous (we) | notre | notre | nos |
| Vous (you, formal/pl) | votre | votre | vos |
| Ils/Elles (they) | leur | leur | leurs |
- For feminine nouns starting with a vowel, ma, ta, sa become mon, ton, son for easier pronunciation.
Possessive adjectives depend on the gender and number of the noun, not just the owner.
'Notre' is used for singular nouns, so 'Our car' is 'Notre voiture.'
Conclusion
French adjectives and possessive pronouns are essential for expressing description and ownership accurately. Their correct use requires attention to agreement rules in gender and number.
- Adjectives change endings to match nouns (heureux/heureuse/heureux/heureuses).
- Possessive adjectives link ownership to noun gender/number (mon/ma/mes).
- Mastery of these rules helps avoid common errors and deepens French fluency.