Mon Ma Mes Ton Ta Tes Son Sa Ses übungen

Understanding possessive adjectives (Possessivbegleiter) like mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses in French is crucial for expressing ownership and relationships. These words indicate who or what something belongs to. This guide provides a clear explanation of these adjectives and offers exercises to help you master their use.

Basic Concepts of French Possessive Adjectives

Unlike English, where possessive adjectives are primarily determined by the possessor (e.g., *my*, *your*, *his*, *her*), French possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the possessed noun. This means the object being possessed determines which possessive adjective you use, not the person who owns it. Consider these core rules:

Gender Agreement: French nouns are either masculine or feminine. The possessive adjective must match the gender of the noun it modifies.
Number Agreement: If the noun is singular, the possessive adjective will be singular. If the noun is plural, the possessive adjective will be plural.
Possessor: The possessor (who owns the item) dictates the base form of the adjective, which then changes based on the gender and number of the possessed item.

Possessor Categories

The possessive adjectives are categorized based on the person who owns the item:

First Person Singular (je - I): mon, ma, mes
Second Person Singular (tu - you, informal): ton, ta, tes
Third Person Singular (il/elle/on - he/she/one): son, sa, ses

Detailed Breakdown

Let's break down each set of possessive adjectives:

Mon, Ma, Mes (My)

Mon: Used before a masculine singular noun.
Example: Mon livre (My book)
Ma: Used before a feminine singular noun, except when the feminine noun begins with a vowel or silent 'h'.
Example: Ma voiture (My car)
Mes: Used before plural nouns (masculine or feminine).
Example: Mes amis (My friends - masculine), Mes sœurs (My sisters - feminine)

Important Exception: To avoid the awkward sound of two vowels next to each other (a hiatus), *mon* is used before feminine singular nouns that begin with a vowel or silent 'h'.

Mon amie (My friend - feminine), Mon histoire (My story), Mon hôtel (My hotel)

Ton, Ta, Tes (Your - informal)

Ton: Used before a masculine singular noun.
Example: Ton frère (Your brother)
Ta: Used before a feminine singular noun, except when the feminine noun begins with a vowel or silent 'h'.
Example: Ta maison (Your house)
Tes: Used before plural nouns (masculine or feminine).
Example: Tes parents (Your parents - masculine), Tes chaussures (Your shoes - feminine)

Important Exception: Similar to *mon*, *ton* is used before feminine singular nouns that begin with a vowel or silent 'h'.

Ton idée (Your idea), Ton adresse (Your address)

Son, Sa, Ses (His/Her/Its/One's)

Son: Used before a masculine singular noun.
Example: Son chat (His/Her cat)
Sa: Used before a feminine singular noun, except when the feminine noun begins with a vowel or silent 'h'.
Example: Sa fille (His/Her daughter)
Ses: Used before plural nouns (masculine or feminine).
Example: Ses enfants (His/Her children - masculine), Ses fleurs (His/Her flowers - feminine)

Important Exception: Again, *son* is used before feminine singular nouns that begin with a vowel or silent 'h'.

Son école (His/Her school), Son orange (His/Her orange)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting gender agreement: Always identify the gender of the noun before choosing the possessive adjective. Use a dictionary if you are unsure.
Ignoring the vowel rule: Remember to use mon, ton, and son before feminine nouns starting with a vowel or silent 'h'.
Confusing *son/sa/ses* with *leur/leurs* (their): *Son/sa/ses* refers to the possessions of a singular third person (he/she/it/one), while *leur/leurs* refers to the possessions of a plural third person (they).

Übungen (Exercises)

Practice is key to mastering these possessive adjectives. Complete the following sentences with the correct possessive adjective (mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses).

Je cherche _______ livre. (livre - book, masculine)
Tu aimes _______ voiture. (voiture - car, feminine)
Il adore _______ chiens. (chiens - dogs, masculine plural)
Elle déteste _______ idée. (idée - idea, feminine)
J'ai perdu _______ clé. (clé - key, feminine)
Tu vois _______ amis. (amis - friends, masculine plural)
Il mange _______ pomme. (pomme - apple, feminine)
Elle lit _______ journal. (journal - newspaper, masculine)
J'aime _______ chats. (chats - cats, masculine plural)
Tu admires _______ actrice. (actrice - actress, feminine)
Il a trouvé _______ parapluie. (parapluie - umbrella, masculine)
Elle écoute _______ chanson préférée. (chanson préférée - favorite song, feminine)
J'ai oublié _______ devoirs. (devoirs - homework, masculine plural)
Tu portes _______ robe. (robe - dress, feminine)
Il regarde _______ télévision. (télévision - television, feminine)
Elle utilise _______ ordinateur. (ordinateur - computer, masculine)
Je nettoie _______ appartement. (appartement - apartment, masculine)
Tu vends _______ moto. (moto - motorcycle, feminine)
Il visite _______ parents. (parents - parents, masculine plural)
Elle prend _______ douche. (douche - shower, feminine)

Answers

Advanced Practice

Try translating these sentences into French, paying close attention to the possessive adjectives:

I like my new house.
Do you like your job? (informal)
He lost his wallet.
She loves her children.
I have forgotten my keys.
You like your new car. (informal)
He found his book.
She is reading her newspaper.
I'm cleaning my room.
You are selling your bicycle. (informal)

Possible Answers

J'aime ma nouvelle maison.
Est-ce que tu aimes ton travail?
Il a perdu son portefeuille.
Elle adore ses enfants.
J'ai oublié mes clés.
Tu aimes ta nouvelle voiture.
Il a trouvé son livre.
Elle lit son journal.
Je nettoie ma chambre.
Tu vends ton vélo.

By consistently practicing with exercises and paying attention to gender and number agreement, you will become more confident and accurate in using mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses in French.