Possessive Adjectvives and
Pronouns
Possession is generally indicated by one of three methods in French:
1. By être à + noun (or disjunctive
pronoun) or appartenir à + noun (or disjunctive pronoun):
-
Ce livre est à moi! That book is mine!
-
Ce caniche appartient à Louise. That poodle
belongs to Louise.
2. By possessive
adjectives, the forms of which agree in number and, when the forms
allow, in gender with the object they modify, cf.:
-
J'ai perdu mes clés. I have lost my
keys.
-
Ils viennent dans leur voiture. They are coming
in their car.
-
J'ai fait la connaissance de tes grands-parents. I
met your grandparents.
3. By possessive
pronouns, the forms of which agree in number and, when the forms allow,
in gender with the noun they replace, cf.:
-
J'ai mes préférences, et elle a les siennes.
I have my likes, and she has hers.
-
J'espère que vous pourrez être des nôtres samedi
soir.
I hope you will be able to join us [be one of
us] this Saturday evening.
-
J'aime bien notre maison, mais franchement, j'envie la leur!
I like our house, but frankly, I am jealous of
theirs!
Watch for the idiomatic expression faire des siennes to
act up, to pull its old tricks, cf.:
-
Le moteur a calé! Cette voiture fait encore des siennes!
The motor has stalled! This car is acting up
again!
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