Possessive pronouns

ByFast French

Possessive pronouns replace nouns and show ownership or possession. They agree in gender and number with the nouns they replace. In English, they are “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “ours,” and “theirs.”

Here’s a comprehensive table listing the French possessive pronouns:

PossessorSingularPlural
1st personle mien (mine)les miens (mine)
la mienne (mine)les miennes (mine)
2nd personle tien (yours)les tiens (yours)
la tienne (yours)les tiennes (yours)
3rd personle sien (his/hers)les siens (his/hers)
la sienne (his/hers)les siennes (his/hers)
1st person pluralle nôtre (ours)les nôtres (ours)
la nôtre (ours)les nôtres (ours)
2nd person pluralle vôtre (yours)les vôtres (yours)
la vôtre (yours)les vôtres (yours)
3rd person pluralle leur (theirs)les leurs (theirs)
la leur (theirs)les leurs (theirs)

The choice of possessive pronoun depends on the gender and number of the possessed noun.

For example:

  • If the possessed noun is masculine singular, you use “le mien” (mine).
  • If the possessed noun is feminine singular, you use “la mienne” (mine).

In plural contexts, similar agreements apply:

  • If the possessed noun is masculine plural, you use “les miens” (mine).
  • If the possessed noun is feminine plural, you use “les miennes” (mine).

Examples:

  1. Singular Possessive Pronouns:
    • “Ce livre est le mien.” (This book is mine.)
    • “C’est ta voiture, mais la mienne est plus rapide.” (That’s your car, but mine is faster.)
    • “Cette maison est la sienne.” (This house is his/hers.)
  2. Plural Possessive Pronouns:
    • “Les clés sont les tiennes.” (The keys are yours.)
    • “Ce sont nos chats. Où sont les vôtres?” (These are our cats. Where are yours?)
    • “Ces vélos sont les leurs.” (These bikes are theirs.)
  3. Possessive Pronouns Showing Relationships:
    • “Est-ce que c’est ton sac ou le mien?” (Is that your bag or mine?)
    • “Ce livre est le nôtre, nous l’avons acheté ensemble.” (This book is ours, we bought it together.)
    • “Elle est la vôtre, vous devez la récupérer.” (She’s yours, you need to pick her up.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • Thing

    ByFast French

    In French, there are several words used to refer to “thing.” Each has its nuances and specific contexts where it’s most appropriate. Here’s a guide to the different French words for “thing.” Chose The most common word for “thing” is une chose. It is used broadly and can refer to just about any object or…

  • manger sur le pouce

    ByFast French

    The French saying “manger sur le pouce” translates literally as “to eat on the thumb.” Figuratively, however, it means “to eat quickly,” “to eat rapidly,” or “to eat hastily.” It dates back to the 19th century. People like factory workers and soldiers often ate on the spot, with one hand holding a piece of bread…

  • détendre

    ByFast French

    The French Verb “Détendre”: Unraveling Layers of Relaxation The French verb “détendre” means “to relax,” “to loosen,” “to untighten,” “to release” or even “to entertain.” It also has a reflexive version, “se détendre,” which also means “to relax” or “to slacken.” Etymology:“Détendre” comes from the Latin words, “de” (down from) and “tendere” (to stretch). Usage:…

  • venir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “venir” means “to come.” It is one of the most frequently used verbs in the French language. Present Tense (Présent) Future Tense (Futur Simple) Passé Composé In the passé composé, the verb “venir” uses “être” as the auxiliary verb, and the past participle “venu” agrees in gender and number with the subject.

  • prévenir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “prévenir” means “to prevent” or “to warn.” It also means “to let [someone] know,” “to avert,” “to advise,” “to inform,” “to guard against,” “to notify” and “to forewarn.” Examples Etymology The word “prévenir” comes from the Latin verb “praeventire,” composed of “prae” (before) and “eventire” (to come).