🇫🇷A1 French GrammarPossessive Adjectives
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)
Practice
Get 2 of 3 right to learn this lesson
Complete: '___ soeur est gentille.' (My sister is nice.)
Marie loves ___ father. (son/sa/ses)
Complete: 'J'aime ___ amie Marie.' (I love my friend Marie.)
See Real Examples in Stories
Now that you've practiced, see this grammar in context
