The French pronouns for "mine" are le mien (masculine singular) and la mienne (feminine singular), which agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
In French, possessive pronouns indicate ownership and must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to. Unlike English, where "mine" remains constant, French offers different forms depending on whether the item being possessed is masculine or feminine, and singular or plural.
Understanding French Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace a noun that has already been mentioned, avoiding repetition and indicating possession. The specific form you use depends on the gender and number of the object being possessed, not the gender of the possessor.
Here's a breakdown of common French possessive pronouns, including the forms for "mine":
| Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| le mien | la mienne | les miens | les miennes | mine |
| le tien | la tienne | les tiens | les tiennes | yours (informal) |
| le sien | la sienne | les siens | les siennes | his/hers/one's |
| le nôtre | la nôtre | les nôtres | les nôtres | ours |
| le vôtre | la vôtre | les vôtres | les vôtres | yours (formal/pl.) |
| le leur | la leur | les leurs | les leurs | theirs |
How to Use "Le Mien" and "La Mienne"
To correctly use the French pronoun for "mine," consider the noun it replaces:
- Le mien is used when the noun being replaced is masculine and singular.
- Example: "Ce livre est le mien." (This book is mine.) - Livre (book) is masculine.
- La mienne is used when the noun being replaced is feminine and singular.
- Example: "Cette voiture est la mienne." (This car is mine.) - Voiture (car) is feminine.
For plural possessions, the forms would be les miens (masculine plural) and les miennes (feminine plural).
- Example: "Ces stylos sont les miens." (These pens are mine.) - Stylos (pens) is masculine plural.
- Example: "Ces clés sont les miennes." (These keys are mine.) - Clés (keys) is feminine plural.
Understanding the gender and number of nouns is crucial for accurate use of French possessive pronouns.
