Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn about French possessive adjectives that show ownership and agreement with the nouns they describe. This lesson covers forms like mon, ma, mes, and their use depending on the gender and number of the noun, including important pronunciation notes and common examples.
  1. The adjective agrees with the possessed noun.
PersonneSingulierFémininPluriel
JeMonMa (My)Mes 
TuTonTa (Your)Tes
Il / Elle / OnSonSa (Her)Ses
Nous Notre (Our)Notre (Our)Nos  (Our)
Vous Votre (Your)Votre (Your)Vos (Your)
Ils / Elles Leur (Their)Leur (Their)Leurs (Theirs)

Exceptions!

  1. When feminine nouns begin with a vowel or a silent 'h', the masculine possessive adjective is used. Example: Mon écharpe.

Exercise 1: Les adjectifs possesifs

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Leur, ton, mon, sa, son, nos, mes

1. Tu :
Je suis ... cousin.
(I am your cousin.)
2. Je :
Paul est ... frère.
(Paul is my brother.)
3. Il :
C'est ... fils, il s'appelle Martin.
(He is his son, his name is Martin.)
4. Elle :
Elles sont ensemble, elle et ... mère.
(They are together, she and her mother.)
5. Nous :
Nous sommes avec ... amis.
(We are with our friends.)
6. Ils/Elles :
... famille est anglaise.
(Their family is English.)
7. Nous :
Nous avons deux filles. Elles sont ... enfants.
(We have two daughters. They are our children.)
8. Je :
Je suis le fils préféré de ... parents.
(I am my parents' favourite son.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. J'adore ma mère et ___ sourire chaleureux.

(I love my mother and ___ warm smile.)

2. Nous visitons ___ grand-père chaque dimanche.

(We visit ___ grandfather every Sunday.)

3. Il a deux frères et ___ sœur.

(He has two brothers and ___ sister.)

4. Mon oncle aime ___ fils et ___ fille.

(My uncle loves ___ son and ___ daughter.)

5. Elle aime beaucoup ___ tante gentille.

(She really likes ___ kind aunt.)

6. ___ parents peuvent réunir toute la famille.

(___ parents can gather the whole family.)

Possessive Adjectives in French

This lesson focuses on possessive adjectives in French, an essential part of everyday communication. Possessive adjectives indicate ownership or relationship between the speaker and an object or person. They must agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe, which is different from English where they only agree with the owner.

Understanding Possessive Adjectives

French possessive adjectives change according to the person (first, second, third) and the number (singular, plural) of the object possessed.

  • For example, mon (my) is used for masculine singular nouns, while ma is used for feminine singular nouns.
  • However, when a feminine noun begins with a vowel or a silent "h," the masculine form is used for easier pronunciation, like in mon écharpe.
  • Plural forms like mes correspond to "my" for multiple items regardless of gender.

Examples of Possessive Adjectives

Here are some common possessive adjectives:

  • Mon / Ma / Mes - my (masculine, feminine, plural)
  • Ton / Ta / Tes - your (singular familiar)
  • Son / Sa / Ses - his, her, its
  • Notre / Nos - our
  • Votre / Vos - your (plural or formal)
  • Leur / Leurs - their

Key Differences from English

In English, possessive adjectives like "my," "your," and "her" do not change according to the noun's gender or number; they only correspond to the owner. In French, the possessive adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, not with the owner. For example, "her book" translates to son livre (using the masculine form because "livre" is masculine).

Useful phrases include: mon livre (my book), ta maison (your house), and leurs amis (their friends).

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Monday, 07/07/2025 14:43