Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs) Flashcards
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
In what agree the possessive adjectives in French?
In French, the possessive adjectives agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun that follows, i.e., with the item owned.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Name all possessive adjectives.
Singular (one item is owned) Plural (several items are owned)
masc. fem. masc.+fem.
mon ma mes
ton ta tes
son sa ses
notre notre nos votre votre vos leur leur leurs
For phonetic reasons (i.e. to avoid a clash of vowels), the masculine singular forms “mon, ton, son” are used instead of “ma, ta, sa” before a feminine singular noun or adjective beginning with a vowel pr mute “h”.
f.e. mon adresse - ma nouvelle adresse
BUT
“Ma, ta, sa” are used before a feminine noun or adjective beginning with “h aspiré” and before “huitième” and “onzième” + feminine noun.
f.e. ta haine, ma onzième voiture
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
my father
your brother
his (her) pen
mon père
ton frère
son stylo
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
my mother
your sister
his (her) briefcase
ma mère
ta soeursa serviette
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
our teacher
your friend
their son
notre professeur votre amie(e) leur fils (fille)
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
my parents
your friends
his (her) cousins
mes parents
tes amis
ses cousins
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
our children
your clothes
their nephews
nos enfants
vos vêtements
leurs neveux
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
You forgot your camera (your briefcase, your keys)
Tu as oublié ton appareil photo (ta mallette, tes clés)
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Do you have your passport, Sir?
Avez-vous votre passeport, Monsieur?
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Your identity documents please, Madam.
Vos papiers s.v.p., Madame.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Your table is ready, gentlemen.
Votre table est prête, Messieurs.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Bring your toys, children!
Apportez vos jouets, mes enfants!
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
What may be added after the noun to express “his” and “ her” in order to avoid any ambiguity when translating “his” or “her”?
à lui - his
à elle - her
son fils à lui sa fille à lui
son fils à elle sa fille à elle
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
your clock - your old clock
ton horloge - ta vieille horloge
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
his (her) friend - his girlfriend
son amie - sa petite amie
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
your other car - your own car
ton autre voiture - ta propre voiture
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
my idea - my good idea
mon idée - ma bonne idée
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
his loud voice
sa haute voix
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
his eighth wife
sa huitième femme
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
We spoke to them about their children.
Nous leur avons parlé de leurs enfants.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Please fasten your seatbelts.
Veuillez attacher votre ceinture de sécurité.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
What are the uses of the possessive adjectives?
- Contrary to English, the possessive adjective must be replaced before each noun, even if the form is the same.
f. e. ma tante et mon oncle
The French generally uses a singular possessive adjective and a singular noun when there are several owners and several items owned, but each owner possesses only one of the items.
EXCEPT
- if one and the same thing or person is reffered to
f.e. Je te présente mon collègue et cher ami Jean Avenel.
- if two nouns form unit
f.e. Il s’entend bien avec ses frères et soeurs.
- in administrative language
f.e. Écrivez votre nom, prénom et adresse.
2. If the possessor is “on, chacun, quelqu’un, personne, tout le monde”, or another indefinite word, “son, sa” and “ses” are used.
f.e. On doit faire de son mieux.
3. The word “propre” (own) after the possessive adjective reinforces the possession.
f.e. ma propre chambre
4. The possessive adjective can also be emphasized by the addition of “à+disjunctive pronoun.
f.e. C’est ma chambre à moi.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Everyone has his shortcomings.
Chacun (tout le monde) a ses défauts.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
One must keep one’s promises.
Il faut tenir ses promesses.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I saw it with my own eyes.
Je l’ai vu de mes propres yeux.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
These are their problems! (and not our!)
Ce sont leurs problèmes à eux!
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
How one makes one’s bed, one lies in it.
Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
It is best to wash one’s dirty laundry at home.
Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Rome wasn’t built in one day.
Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
The is no accounting for taste. To each his own.
Chacun son goût.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Let’s get back to our subject (after digression).
Revenons à nos moutons.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
my foot! (used to express disbelief)
mon oeil!
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
It’s my (your, his…) turn.
C’est mon (ton, son…) tour.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
That’s not my (your, his…) fault.
Ce n’est pas de ma (ta, sa…) faute.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
That is mot my (your, his…) strong point.
Ce n’est pas mon (ton, son…) fort.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
in my youth, at my time
de mon temps
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
will all my heart
de tout mon coeur
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs) during his (her) lifetime
de son vivant
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Say hello to…for me.
Dites bonjour à…de mon part.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
not to feel well
ne pas être dans son assiette
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I am not feeling well today.
Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette aujourd’hui.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to waste one’s time
perdre son temps
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Don’t waste your time!
Ne perds pas ton temps!
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to do one’s grocery shopping
faire son marché
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to one’s best
faire de son mieux
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Do your best!
Faites de votre mieux!
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to study
faire ses études
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I studied at the Sorbonne.
J’ai fait mes études à la Sorbonne.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to pack
faire ses valises
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Tonight, I have to pack.
Ce soir, je dois faire mes valises.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to be very stupid
être bête comme ses pieds
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to give up guessing (answering a riddle)
donner sa langue au chat
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I give up guesing.
Je donne ma langue au chat.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to make a living
gagner sa vie
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
How do you make a living?
Comment gagnes-tu ta vie?
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
to retire
prendre sa retraite
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I am going to retire in two years.
Je vais prendre ma retraite dans deux ans.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Let me hear from you soon.
Donne(z)-moi bientôt de tes (vos) nouvelles.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
I am happy to hear from you.
Je suis content(e) d’avoir de tes (vos) nouvelles.
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs) Our Lady (=Virgin Mary)
Notre Dame
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
nowadays
de nos jours
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns (les adjectifs possessifs)
Cheers! To your health!
À votre (ta) santé!