French Possessive Adjectives: Definition, Examples & Practice

Key takeaways

• French possessive adjectives (les adjectifs possessifs) show ownership or relationships, just like my, your, his, her, our, their in English.
• They agree with the gender and number of the noun — not the owner.
• Common forms: mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses, notre, nos, votre, vos, leur, leurs.
• They always come before the noun.
• Learning them is essential for everyday conversations in French.

What Are Possessive Adjectives in French?

Possessive adjectives (déterminants possessifs) tell us who something belongs to. They answer questions like Whose book? or Whose house?

The difference from English: in French, the possessive adjective agrees with the thing owned, not the person who owns it.

Examples:

• Mon frère → my brother (masculine noun).
• Ma sœur → my sister (feminine noun).
• Mes parents → my parents (plural noun).

French Possessive Adjectives Chart

Here’s the full chart of possessive adjectives:

Rules for Using Possessive Adjectives

1. Agreement with the noun

The possessive adjective matches the gender and number of the noun it describes.

• Mon livre → my book (masc. sing.).
• Ma voiture → my car (fem. sing.).
• Mes amis → my friends (plural).

2. Masculine form before a vowel or mute h

To avoid awkward sounds, French uses the masculine form mon, ton, son before a feminine noun starting with a vowel or mute h.

• Mon amie → my (female) friend.
• Son histoire → his/her story.

3. Singular vs plural ownership

• One thing owned: Notre maison → our house.
• Multiple things owned: Nos maisons → our houses.

French Possessive Adjectives in Context

Here are some examples in everyday sentences:

• C’est mon stylo. → This is my pen.
• Voici ta sœur. → Here is your sister.
• Il aime ses enfants. → He loves his children.
• Nous parlons à notre professeur. → We are talking to our teacher.
• Elles visitent leurs grands-parents. → They are visiting their grandparents.

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The Berlitz examples of French possessive adjectives highlight how these forms are indispensable in describing family, friends, and daily life.

Common Mistakes with Possessive Adjectives

1. Mixing owner and object agreement 
   
   • ❌ Ma frère → incorrect, because frère is masculine.
   • ✅ Mon frère.
2. Forgetting masculine before vowels 
   
   • ❌ Ma amie.
   • ✅ Mon amie.
3. Confusing plural forms 
   
   • ❌ Mes parent.
   • ✅ Mes parents.

The Lawless French guide stresses these pitfalls, which are among the most common learner errors.

Exercises: French Possessive Adjectives Practice

1. Fill in the blanks

• C’est ________ (my) voiture.
• Voici ________ (your, informal) stylo.
• Elles visitent ________ (their) cousins.

2. Translate into French

• My brother is tall.
• Our parents are kind.
• Their house is beautiful.

3. Correct the mistakes

• Ma oncle est professeur. → ________
• Son sœur est petite. → ________

Answers

1. ma, ton, leurs
2. Mon frère est grand | Nos parents sont gentils | Leur maison est belle
3. Mon oncle est professeur | Sa sœur est petite

Tips for Mastering French Possessive Adjectives

• Practice with family vocabulary: mon père, ma mère, mes cousins.
• Always remember that the adjective matches the thing owned, not the owner.
• Watch out for feminine nouns starting with vowels: mon amie, ton école, son idée.
• Make flashcards: one side with an English phrase (my car), the other with the French equivalent (ma voiture).

To see how possessives fit into bigger grammar topics, check our French verb tenses overview. For study strategies, explore learning French effectively, and to plan your goals, read about how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

French possessive adjectives (les adjectifs possessifs) are small but vital words that help you express relationships and ownership. They agree with the gender and number of the noun, not with the person who owns it. With practice, you’ll easily say ma voiture, mes amis, leur maison without hesitation.

Make possessives part of your daily practice by talking about your family, your belongings, and your surroundings while you learn French with Promova. Soon, choosing between mon, ma, mes will feel completely natural.