Possessive pronouns in French show who owns something and they agree in gender and number with the thing possessed, not the owner. This guide goes over the key forms and usage.
Key Forms
The main French possessive pronouns are le mien, la mienne, les miens, les miennes (and similarly for tien, sien, nôtre, vôtre, leur). They agree in gender and number with the noun replaced.
Examples
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Usage
Possessive pronouns replace a noun phrase that shows possession so you don't repeat the noun. Use them when the possession is clear from context or when you add emphasis.
Distinction from Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives like mon, ton, son come before a noun and modify it, while possessive pronouns like le mien replace the noun entirely. Choose based on whether you need to replace or modify the noun.
Special Notes
Forms like le mien can be used with or without a following noun, and sometimes you add de + noun to clarify the owner when needed. Remember to match gender and number carefully.
Summary
French possessive pronouns agree with the thing possessed and replace noun phrases to show ownership clearly and succinctly. Practice switching between adjectives and pronouns for smooth expression.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025