The Possessive

To show ownership with a proper noun:

The preposition "de" is used to indicate possession with a proper noun, similar to "of" or "'s" in English. The structure is: Possessed object + de + Possessor

• C'est le livre de Pierre.
This is Pierre's book = This is the book of Pierre.
• C'est la maison de Paul.
This is Paul's house = This is the house of Paul.
• Je vais à l'Université de Paris.
I go to the University of Paris.
To show ownership with a common noun:

If the possessor is a common noun, you have to use a determiner.
Don't forget that de + le/la/les/l' may contract:

de + le → du (le livre du garçon → the book of the boy)

de + les → des (le livre des enfants → the book of the children)

de la and de l’ do not contract.

• J'aime la couleur du mur et la couleur de vos meubles.
I like the colour of the wall and the colour of your furniture.
• La table de la cuisine est aussi très jolie.
The kitchen's table is also very nice.
• Les jouets de ces enfants sont nombreux.
These children's toys are numerous.
• Le début de l'histoire est intéressant.
The beginning of the story is interesting.
Common pitfall: type or content VS ownership:

With a common noun, you may find "de" followed by a noun without a determiner. This means that whatever you are talking about belongs to a certain type/category, or has a certain content. It is not expressing ownership. Compare:

• Un sac de voyage (type) ---- le sac du voisin (ownership)
A travel bag (type) ---- the neighbour's bag (possession)
• Un bouteille de vin (contenu) ---- la bouteille de mon fils (ownership)
A bottle of wine (content) ---- the bottle of my son (possession)

To describe to whom something belongs:

Adjectives describe nouns, so they have to be used with a noun. Possessive adjectives are placed before a noun to describe to whom something belongs. Like any adjective, they agree in gender and number with the object owned, not the owner.

• C'est mon père.
That's my father.
• C'est ma mère.
That's your mother.
• C'est mes parents.
That's my parents.
• Je connais son frère et sa soeur.
I know his/her brother and his/her sister.
• Je connais ses frères et soeurs.
I know his/her siblings.
Modification:

Before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or mute ‘h’, use "mon, ton, son" instead of "ma, ta, sa" for easier pronunciation.

• Mon amie est drôle.
My (female) friend is funny.
• Son histoire est triste.
His/her story is sad.
• Ton attitude est inappropriée.
Your attitude is inappropriate.
Emphasizing and clarifying "his/her":

For emphasis, or to clarify if the object possessed is "his" or "her" object, you can use the preposition à + stressed pronoun "moi, toi, lui/elle, nous, vous, eux/elles".

• Son prénom à lui c'est Dominique, et son prénom à elle c'est Frédérique.
His firstname is Dominique, and her firstname is Frédérique.
• Ça c'est mon petit bébé à moi !
That's my little baby!

To indicate ownership:

Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetitions, so unlike adjectives they can stand alone in the sentence. Possessive pronouns replace nouns used with a possessive adjectives.

• Ton chien est intelligent. Le mien aussi ! (= Mon chien aussi !)
Your dog is smart. So is mine! (= so is my dog!)
• Mon téléphone est noir. Le tien aussi ? (= Ton téléphone aussi ?)
My phone is black. Is yours too? (= is your phone [black] too?)
• Ton stylo est sur la table, et le sien aussi. (= son stylo aussi.)
Your pen is on the table, and so is his. (= and so is his pen.)
• Votre fils va à l'école, comme le nôtre. (= comme notre fils.)
Your son goes to school, like ours. (=like our son.)
Agreement:

Like any pronoun, possessive pronouns must agree in gender and number with the thing owned. Also, don't forget the circumflex accent above "le nôtre/les nôtres" and "le vôtre/les vôtres".

• Mon chien s'appelle Toto, et le tien ? (= et ton chien ?)
My dog is called Toto, and yours? (= and your dog?)
• Mes chiens sont gentils, et les tiens ? (= et tes chiens ?)
My dogs are nice, and yours? (= and your dogs?)
• Ma valise est petite, et la tienne ? (= et ta valise ?)
My suitcase is small, and yours? (= and your suitcase?)
• Mes valises sont lourdes, et les tiennes ? (= et tes valises ?)
My suitcases are heavy, and yours? (= and your suitcases?)

The Possessive

1.

Possession with "de"

2.

Possessive adjectives

3.

Possessive pronouns

The
Possessive