Possessive adjectives in French are used to show ownership or possession. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, not with the possessor (unlike in English).
Forms of Possessive Adjectives
| Possessor | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Plural (Both Genders) |
| My | Mon | Ma | Mes |
| Your (singular/informal) | Ton | Ta | Tes |
| His/Her/Its | Son | Sa | Ses |
| Our | Notre | Notre | Nos |
| Your (plural/formal) | Votre | Votre | Vos |
| Their | Leur | Leur | Leurs |
Usage Rules
- The possessive adjective agrees with the noun it modifies:-Mon livre (my book) – masculine singular
-Ma voiture (my car) – feminine singular
-Mes livres (my books) – plural - Before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent ‘h’, use the masculine form for euphony: Mon amie (my friend – feminine) – Son histoire (his/her story)
- “Notre”, “Votre”, and “Leur” don’t change for gender in singular, only for plural:Notre maison (our house) – Nos maisons (our houses)
Examples in Context
- J’ai perdu mon passeport. (I lost my passport.)
- Elle aime sa nouvelle robe. (She likes her new dress.)
- Nous cherchons nos clés. (We’re looking for our keys.)
- Leur appartement est grand. (Their apartment is big.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t confuse possessive adjectives with possessive pronouns:
C’est mon livre. (This is my book.) – Adjective
Ce livre est le mien. (This book is mine.) – Pronoun - Remember to use the correct form before feminine nouns starting with vowels:Correct: Mon école est près d’ici. (My school is near here.)Incorrect: Ma école est près d’ici.
Practice Tip
When learning new nouns, practice using them with different possessive adjectives to reinforce both the gender of the noun and the correct form of the adjective.
Understanding and correctly using possessive adjectives is crucial for expressing ownership and relationships in French. As you practice, you’ll become more comfortable with choosing the right form based on the gender and number of the noun being modified.