Possessifs / Les possessives
When learning French, one of the key grammar concepts to master is possessives and that is what we studied today. These are words used to show ownership or possession, like “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” etc. In French, possessives change depending on the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun they describe. Let’s break it down:
————————————————————————1. Singular Possessives
For singular nouns, the possessive changes based on the gender of the noun being possessed. Here’s how it works:
- Masculine Nouns:
- Mon (my) – Mon livre (My book)
- Ton (your) – Ton sac (Your bag)
- Son (his/her) – Son chien (His/Her dog)
- Mon (my) – Mon livre (My book)
- Feminine Nouns:
- Ma (my) – Ma maison (My house)
- Ta (your) – Ta voiture (Your car)
- Sa (his/her) – Sa robe (His/Her dress)
- Ma (my) – Ma maison (My house)
Note: If a feminine noun starts with a vowel or silent “h,” use the masculine form for smoother pronunciation:
- Mon amie (My friend – feminine)
- Ton école (Your school – feminine)
2. Plural Possessives
For plural nouns, the possessive does not change based on gender. It only agrees with the number of the noun:
- Mes (my) – Mes livres (My books)
- Tes (your) – Tes sacs (Your bags)
- Ses (his/her) – Ses chiens (His/Her dogs)
3. Examples in Context
Let’s see some examples to make it clearer:
- Mon frère (My brother – masculine singular)
- Ma sœur (My sister – feminine singular)
- Mes parents (My parents – plural)
- Ton stylo (Your pen – masculine singular)
- Ta table (Your table – feminine singular)
- Tes cahiers (Your notebooks – plural)
- Son chat (His/Her cat – masculine singular)
- Sa chaise (His/Her chair – feminine singular)
- Ses amis (His/Her friends – plural)
Key Takeaway
- Singular possessives change based on gender: mon/ma, ton/ta, son/sa.
- Plural possessives are the same for both genders: mes, tes, ses.
- Always match the possessive to the noun’s gender and number, not the owner’s gender.