Il faut faire son lit

Question

Why is it not il faut faire ton or votre lit, rather than son

Laura K Lawless · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Jennifer,
Il faut is an impersonal expression, so when talking about making one's bed in general, you need son. If you were telling a specific person to make their bed, you'd use ton or votre.
Il faut faire son lit. = You (as in everyone/people) must make his (one's) bed.
Il faut faire ton lit. = You (specifically) must make your bed.

Ron Thomas · Answer

Bonsoir Jennifer,
I think that we have a possessive pronoun issue here.  
ton --> your
votre -->  your (formal or plural)
SON --> his
This lessons concerns the shortcut to avoid the use of the subjunctive.  Using le subjonctif one would say:
Il faut QU'il (elle) fasse son lit. --> It is necessary that he makes his bed.

I hope this helps.

Jennifer Cole · Answer

Thank you both.  The question came in the quiz and the translation I think was you must make your bed , which sounds as if it is directed at a specific person, hence my question.  I think the problem is English uses ‘one’ in theory, but in ptactice much more rarely than in French and you then can be ambiguous, is it an impersonal usage or not.

helen whelan · Answer

Laura, would you also say this in the subjunctive?: "Il faut que tu fasses ton lit"
Il faut faire ton lit. = You (specifically) must make your bed.
Is there any difference in the way these are used?

Laura K Lawless · Answer

Yes, you can use the subjunctive, that makes it a stronger, more specific command.

helen whelan · Answer

Wow! Thank you!

Jennifer Cole · Answer

My thanks too.  Some light dawning

Jennifer Cole · Answer

My thanks too.  Some light dawning