Learn Hardcore French: Paul aime son séjour près de la maison.

In French, possessive adjectives agree in gender (and number) with the noun that follows them—not with the owner. Since séjour is masculine, son is the correct form even though Paul is male. This rule applies regardless of the possessor’s gender.

What is the function of près de la maison in this sentence?

Près de la maison is a prepositional phrase that describes location. It tells us where Paul’s stay (séjour) takes place. The phrase literally means “near the house,” with la maison using the definite article to refer to a specific house.

What tense and form is the verb aime in, and what does it indicate?

The verb aime is in the present tense, third person singular, of the verb aimer. It indicates that Paul currently loves or enjoys his stay. Although aimer can mean both “to love” and “to like” depending on context, here it conveys a strong positive feeling.

How is the sentence structured in terms of word order?

The sentence follows a typical French word order: subject (Paul) + verb (aime) + object (son séjour), followed by an additional location phrase (près de la maison). This clear structure helps convey the main idea first and then adds context.

Can séjour be translated interchangeably as “vacation” or “trip,” and what does it exactly mean here?

Séjour generally means a period of staying somewhere—it can refer to a vacation, a visit, or even a temporary residence. While in English you might choose “stay,” “trip,” or “vacation” based on context, in this sentence it implies that Paul enjoys the period he’s spending near the house. The exact translation might vary slightly, but the emphasis is on the duration and experience of staying at a particular place.

Does the sentence imply that the house mentioned (la maison) belongs to Paul?

Not necessarily. La maison is introduced with the definite article la, which simply marks it as a specific house known by context. There’s no possessive adjective linking it to Paul in this sentence, so it does not automatically imply ownership—it just situates his stay near that specific house.