A1 French GrammarPossessive Adjectives
Express ownership in French with possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, etc.). Unlike English, French possessives agree with the gender and number of the thing possessed, not the owner. Master these essential words for talking about belongings and relationships.
1My, Your (informal) - mon, ton
French possessive adjectives agree with the noun they modify, not with the owner. 'My' has three forms: mon (masculine), ma (feminine), mes (plural). Before feminine nouns starting with a vowel, use mon instead of ma for easier pronunciation.
Mon/Ton/Son Forms
| Owner | Masc. Sing. | Fem. Sing. | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| my | mon | ma | mes |
| your (tu) | ton | ta | tes |
| his/her/its | son | sa | ses |
Examples
Mon frère est grand.
My brother is tall.
mon + masculine noun
Ma soeur habite à Paris.
My sister lives in Paris.
ma + feminine noun
Mes parents sont gentils.
My parents are nice.
mes + plural noun
Mon amie s'appelle Marie.
My friend is called Marie.
mon before vowel (not ma)
2His, Her, Its - son, sa, ses
French does not distinguish between 'his' and 'her' - both use son/sa/ses. The choice depends on the gender of the possessed item, not the owner. This is a major difference from English and often confuses learners.
Son/Sa/Ses Usage
| Noun Gender | Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| masculine | son | son livre | his/her book |
| feminine | sa | sa voiture | his/her car |
| fem. + vowel | son | son école | his/her school |
| plural | ses | ses amis | his/her friends |
Examples
Pierre aime sa mère.
Pierre loves his mother.
sa = his (mère is feminine)
Marie aime son père.
Marie loves her father.
son = her (père is masculine)
Elle cherche ses clés.
She is looking for her keys.
ses = her (plural)
Il parle à son amie.
He speaks to his friend.
son before vowel (feminine)
3Our, Your (formal/plural), Their
The plural owner possessives (notre, votre, leur) have only two forms each: singular and plural. They do not change for masculine/feminine, which makes them simpler to use than mon/ton/son. 'Votre' is used for formal 'you' or plural 'you'.
Notre/Votre/Leur Forms
| Owner | Singular Noun | Plural Noun |
|---|---|---|
| our | notre | nos |
| your (vous) | votre | vos |
| their | leur | leurs |
Examples
Notre maison est grande.
Our house is big.
notre = our (any singular)
Votre travail est excellent.
Your work is excellent.
votre = your (formal/plural)
Leurs enfants sont à l'école.
Their children are at school.
leurs = their (plural noun)
Nos amis arrivent demain.
Our friends arrive tomorrow.
nos = our (plural)
4Common Patterns and Exceptions
Remember to use mon/ton/son before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent h. Also note that French requires the possessive before each noun in a list, unlike English which can omit repetition.
Special Cases
| Situation | Correct | Incorrect | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| fem. + vowel | mon amie | ma amie | my friend (f) |
| fem. + h muet | son histoire | sa histoire | his/her story |
| noun list | mon père et ma mère | mon père et mère | my father and mother |
Examples
Mon école est près d'ici.
My school is near here.
mon before école (vowel)
Son habitude est de lire le soir.
His/her habit is to read in the evening.
son before silent h
J'aime mon père et ma mère.
I love my father and my mother.
Possessive before each noun
Voici ma chambre et mon bureau.
Here is my bedroom and my office.
ma (feminine) and mon (masculine)