Common mistakes with mon/ma/mes, ton/ta/tes and son/sa/ses (French Possessive Adjectives)

In French, the agreement of the possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her) doesn't work the same way as in English. Indeed, in French, possessive adjectives agree with the possession, as well as with the owner.

How to use possessive adjectives in French

Look at these three examples:

In English, we will use my because the owner here is me, (first person).

In French, we will also use the first person, but it only determines the first part of the adjective, so it could still be mon, ma or mes.

Then you need to look at the possession:

- In the first case, stylo is masculine, therefore we will use mon.

- In the second case, chaussures is plural, therefore we will use mes.

- In the last case, voiture is feminine, therefore we will use ma.

Now look at these three examples:

In English, we will use your because the owner here is you, (second person).

In French, we will also use the second person, but it only determines the first part of the adjective, so it could still be ton, ta or tes.

Then you need to look at the possession:

- In the first case, chapeau is masculine, therefore we will use ton.

- In the second case, collants is plural, therefore we will use tes.

- In the last case, robe is feminine, therefore we will use ta.

And finally look at these three examples:

In English, we will use his or her because Annie, the owner here, is a third person (not I nor you), and it will be the feminine her because Annie (the 'owner') is a woman.

In French, we will also use the third person, but it only determines the first part of the adjective, so it could be son, sa or ses.

Then you need to look at the possession:

- In the first case, père is masculine, therefore we will use son.

- In the second case, livres is plural, therefore we will use ses.

- In the last case, mère is feminine, therefore we will use sa.

Here are more examples:

See also the simpler lesson Mon, ma, mes; ton, ta, tes; son, sa, ses = my; your; his / her in French (French possessive adjectives)

and also "Ma" becomes "mon" with feminine nouns starting with a vowel or mute h (French Possessive Adjectives) and Using son/sa/ses to express possession with personne/tout le monde/chacun/il faut (French Possessive Adjectives)