In French, Leurs primarily means 'their'.
Understanding "Leurs" as a Possessive Adjective
Leurs functions as a possessive adjective in the French language. It is used to indicate possession or belonging when the possessors are multiple (i.e., "they" or "them"), and the object(s) being possessed are also multiple. It directly translates to "their" in English. For instance, if you are referring to multiple items that belong to a group of people, "leurs" is the appropriate term.
Grammatical Rules and Usage
Unlike its singular counterpart, "leur" (which can mean "their" for a singular possessed item, or "to them" as an indirect object pronoun), leurs is exclusively used when both the possessors and the possessed items are plural. It must agree in number with the noun it modifies, meaning the thing being possessed.
Agreement with Nouns
The form leurs does not change based on the gender of the noun it modifies, only its number. It is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.
- Leurs livres (Their books) – livres is a plural masculine noun, so leurs is used.
- Leurs maisons (Their houses) – maisons is a plural feminine noun, so leurs is used.
Distinguishing "Leurs" from Similar French Words
French contains several words that are phonetically or morphologically related to "leurs" but have distinct grammatical functions and meanings. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate communication.
| French Word | Meaning / Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Leurs | Possessive adjective (plural possessors, plural items) | Ce sont leurs voitures. (These are their cars.) |
| Leur | Possessive adjective (plural possessors, singular item) | C'est leur voiture. (This is their car.) |
| Leur | Indirect object pronoun (to them) | Je leur parle. (I speak to them.) |
| Le leur / La leur | Possessive pronoun (theirs - singular item) | Cette voiture est la leur. (This car is theirs.) |
| Les leurs | Possessive pronoun (theirs - plural items) | Ces voitures sont les leurs. (These cars are theirs.) |
Practical Examples of "Leurs" in Context
Here are some common examples illustrating the use of leurs in French sentences:
- Ils ont oublié leurs clés. (They forgot their keys.)
- Elles aiment leurs enfants. (They love their children.)
- Les élèves ont rendu leurs devoirs. (The students handed in their homework.)
- Les arbres perdent leurs feuilles en automne. (The trees lose their leaves in autumn.)
