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    Learn French > French lessons and exercises > French test #4164
    > Other French exercises on the same topics: Adjectives | Genitive [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Place des adjectifs - Ordinal adjectives - Adjectives agreement - Pronoms possessifs - Adjectifs qualificatifs de sens contraires - Adjectif qualificatif - Déterminants adjectifs possessifs - Accord des adjectifs qualificatifs
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    Possessive adjectives



     

    The possessive adjectives

    The possessive adjectives determine the ownership relation of the noun that it qualifies.
    Ma couverture.
    Sa
    trousse
    Nos cahiers.

    Which case ?

    Masculine singular

    Masculine plural

    Feminine singular

    Feminine plural

    notice

    A single owner and a single owned object

    Mon

    Ton

    son

    Ma

    Ta

    sa

    Before a feminine noun beginning with a vowel or a soundless 'h' we use 'mon, ton, son' instead of 'ma, ta, sa'

    EX :

    mon alarme

    ton ampoule

    son histoire

    A single owner and several owned objects

    Mes

    Tes

    ses

    Mes

    Tes

    ses

    Several owners and a single owned object

    Notre

    Votre

    leur

    Notre

    Votre

    leur

    Several owners and several owned objects

    Nos

    Vos

    Leurs

    Nos

    Vos

    Leurs

    The tonic possessive

    adjectives

    Mien

    Tien

    Sien

    Nôtre vôtre

    Leur

    Miens

    Tiens

    Siens

    Nôtres

    Vôtres

    Leurs

    Mienne

    Tienne

    Sienne

    Nôtre vôtre

    Leur

    Miennes

    Tiennes

    Siennes

    Nôtres

    Vôtres

    Leurs

    These tonic forms are used in the formal language. You must'nt confuse them with the possessive pronouns preceded by an article

    EX :

    Il a fait siennes mes idées

    How Possessive Adjectives accord with their nouns

    The Possessive Adjectives can be divided into 3 groups - one for each group of grammatical person

    (1) My/Our: mon, ma, mes nos, notre
    (2) Your: ton, ta, tes, vos, votre
    (3) He/She/It/Their: son, sa, ses, leur, leurs


    The gender and number of the object possessed determine which form to use .

    We use (mon, ma, mes, nos, notre) to refer to our own possessions.

    We use (ta, votre, tes, vos) to refer to the possessions of the person to whom we speak.

    We use (sa, leur, ses, leurs) to refer to the possessions of the person whom we speak about.

    Three possessive adjectives agree with the noun they qualify, according to its meaning

    Here are some criteria :

    1. 'leur, notre, votre' as well as the noun they qualify, stay in the singular form

    - before nouns which do not have a plural form

    On ne peut pas faire confiance à leur odorat.


    -

    When there is one obvious object that is owned by a group

    Les dimanches soir les habitants de Toulouse retournent dans leur ville.

    2. The possessive adjectives take the plural form as well as the noun they qualify:

    - Before nouns which do not have a singular form

    Ils présentèrent leurs condoléances

    « Condoléances » is always plural



    When there is an idea of reciprocity,comparison or addition

    Ils ont échangé leurs cahiers.

    Chacun a un cahier et l’échange avec l’autre.

    Each one has a copy-book and exchanges with the other


    - When each of the owners possesses several objects

    La nuit les voitures allument leurs phares.

    A car has got two headlights at least.

    3. When a single object is owned individually by each owner, the singular or plural form is used, depending on the point of view taken.

    - plurality or collection => plural

    Les renards ont fait leurs terriers sur cette colline.

    Here we perceive several « terriers »( burrows) were made.


    - the type of object rather than the collection => singular

    Les renards font leur terrier sur des collines.

    Here we speak about a group and their type of home.

    Your turn now



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