leur vs leurs
"leur" as a personal pronoun (before a verb) is invariable: "je leur ai dit". "leur/leurs" as a possessive determiner agrees in number with the noun it accompanies: "leur maison" (one), "leurs enfants" (several).
Examples
Je leur ai dit bonjour.
Key word(s): leur
Pronoun before the verb "ai dit", invariable.
Ils ont pris leurs manteaux.
Key word(s): leurs
Possessive before "manteaux" (plural), so "leurs".
Elle leur a écrit une lettre.
Key word(s): leur
Pronoun before "a écrit", invariable.
Leur maison est grande.
Key word(s): leur
Possessive before "maison" (singular), so "leur".
Je leur donne leurs cahiers.
Key word(s): leur, leurs
"Leur" as a pronoun (before "donne") + "leurs" as a possessive (before "cahiers", plural).
Common mistakes
- Writing "je leurs ai dit" (adding an -s to the pronoun).
- Writing "leur enfants" when there are several children.
- Confusing the pronoun and the possessive in the same sentence.
Test yourself
Je ___ parle.
___ chaussures sont mouillées.
On ___ a donné ___ cadeaux.
Tips to remember
- Before a verb, it is always "leur" without -s.
- Before a noun, check whether the noun is singular or plural.
- Replace with "lui": if it works, it is the pronoun (invariable).
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