Is there a typo ?

Andrew T.C1Kwiziq community member

Is there a typo ?

«Elle vient d'envoyer une lettre à son amie à Londres»

This question tests this lesson but includes the phrase "son amie" -- can that ever be correct?

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

If a noun starts with a vowel, the preceding possessive pronoun always takes the masculine form. This is to avoid the clash of two vowels, as in ma amie.

mon ami -- my (male) friend
mon amie -- my (female) friend
son idée -- her idea (l'ídée is a feminine noun)

 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Andrew, 

You ask "can son amie be correct"

Amie refers to a friend male or female     https://www.wordreference.com/fren/amie

So I say yes! it is correct.

The text is also correct above "envoyer (qch) à (qqn)

Has this answered you query?

Jim

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Andrew, it is always correct - see lesson attached on using possessives followed by vowels or h muet.  https://french.kwiziq.com/my-languages/french/view/132

 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To be clear, the last example from Chris - “son idée’ - can be either ‘his idea’ or ‘her idea’. The possessive does not indicate the gender of the possessor in this situation, so context is needed to determine this.

Andrew T. asked:

Is there a typo ?

«Elle vient d'envoyer une lettre à son amie à Londres»

This question tests this lesson but includes the phrase "son amie" -- can that ever be correct?

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