{"id":178,"date":"2024-02-23T13:21:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T18:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/frenchoer1\/?post_type=chapter&p=178"},"modified":"2024-02-23T13:22:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T18:22:02","slug":"3-8-structure-adjectifs-possessifs-et-preposition-de","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/frenchoer1\/chapter\/3-8-structure-adjectifs-possessifs-et-preposition-de\/","title":{"raw":"3.8: Structure - Adjectifs possessifs et pr\u00e9position de","rendered":"3.8: Structure – Adjectifs possessifs et pr\u00e9position de"},"content":{"raw":"

In this section, you will learn how to express possession.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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<\/span>

Media Alternative<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n

<\/span>

On \u00e9tudie !<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

There are several ways to talk about ownership and possession in French:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

(a) The first way is to use the preposition de<\/strong> to express possession or association, as follows:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

le fr\u00e8re de<\/strong> Michel (the brother of Michel)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

We use this structure less frequently in English and may sound awkward or archaic (see examples below). In French, however, it is used all the time and sounds normal:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

the friend of John (L'ami de John<\/strong>)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

the house of Janet (La maison de Janet<\/strong>)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

the king of the mountain (Le roi de la montagne<\/strong>)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In this context, de<\/strong> roughly translates to the English -'s<\/strong> (as in John's car).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

le fr\u00e8re de<\/strong> Michel (Michel's brother)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

le voisin de<\/strong> M. Rastier (Mr. Rastier's neighbor)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

les \u0153uvres de<\/strong> Maupassant (Maupassant\u2019s works)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

When the preposition de<\/strong> is followed by the definite articles le<\/strong> and les<\/strong>, they contract to du<\/strong> and des<\/strong>, respectively:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

de + le \u2794 du <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

les livres du<\/strong> professeur (= The books of the<\/strong> professor = The professor's books)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

de + les \u2794 des<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

les livres des<\/strong> \u00e9tudiants (= The books of the<\/strong> students = The students' books.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

There is no contraction when de<\/strong> is followed by la<\/strong> or l'<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

La s\u0153ur de <\/strong>l'<\/strong>ami de Frank ( = The sister of the<\/strong> friend of Frank =Frank's sister's friend<\/p>\r\n\r\n

La couleur de la<\/strong> voiture ( = The color of the<\/strong> car = The color of the car)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

(b) Another way to show possession is with possessive adjectives (les adjectifs possessifs<\/strong>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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