Les adjectifs possessifs is a class of commonly used words referred to as "possessive adjectives". In French, their role is essential. They are used much more often than a similar group of words in Russian grammar.
Difference of concepts
Possessive adjectives in French correspond to possessive pronouns in Russian. They express the belonging of an object to a certain person: mine, ours, theirs. Like adjectives, they agree with the main word (noun) in gender, number, and case.
Unlike Russian pronouns, adjectifs possessifs ignore the owner's gender, focusing on the object of attraction. The gender of the noun is important, which is said: Marie / Paul ferme son livre. In Russian, possessive pronouns in the first and second person singular behave in the same way: your choice is your road. As you can see from the example, the generic is important for the pronouna sign of the word after it, and not the subject of attraction. In the plural, the distinction disappears because there is no division into masculine and feminine.
There are also possessive adjectives in Russian, but they mean other words under this category. They also express the belonging of an object to a certain person, but they call it, that is, they are formed from a noun, including from a proper name: grandmother's house, pansies.
Les Adjectifs possessifs and Pronoms possesifs
Why are pronouns and possessive adjectives separated in French? From the term "pronoun" it can be clearly understood that this is a word that is used "instead of a name." It stands alone, requires the use of the definite article, and is used in a French sentence instead of a noun with a possessive adjective.
Pronouns have their own declension paradigm, different from adjectives. In Russian grammar, these two categories of French are expressed by a class of pronouns. The difference is that the use of pronouns with a noun in Russian sentences is optional, except for some syntactic constructions of the language. The most frequent use of the pronoun "his" as an analogue of adjectifs possessifs: "He took off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair".
Ways to master grammar
Helps you learn French possessive adjectives fastertheir complete declension paradigm for persons and numbers.
| Singulier | Pluriel | |
| Masculin | Féminin | |
| mon | ma | mes |
| ton | ta | tes |
| son | sa | ses |
| notre | nos | |
| votre | vos | |
| leur | leurs | |
With several subjects of action, the possessive pronoun is not differentiated by gender, but only by number. Do not forget that with feminine nouns with an initial h-mute or vowel, a masculine adjective is used: mon arme, ton hache.
The second effective way to quickly remember possessive adjectives in French is exercises. They are of the same type and consist in choosing the desired form of the adjective, which should be put in place of the gap in the sentence. For example:
Vous la connaissez cette jeune femme ? - Oui, c'est … épouse.
Voici la voiture de Derrick. Voici … voiture.
Naturally, the required number of exercises depends on the personal speed of assimilation of information, but the more you do them, the easier it will be to use possessive adjectives in speech. The purpose of such exercises is to bring the knowledge of the grammatical category to automaticity, so that in the future you do not waste time choosing the right form.
The role of possessive adjectives in the language
Possessive adjectives in French are a frequently used unit of grammar, which is also expressed in proverbs and sayings: for example, on prend ses jambes à son cou - this is how they say about someone who is in a hurry.
Knowing the category of possessive adjectives is a necessary condition for successful communication in French, since many syntactic constructions cannot do without this class of words.
