On a apporté chacun ________ provisions.

Question

The suggested answer is "nos", and my answer "ses" was marked wrong. I understand the underlying rule. However, in this case it feels really odd to say "chacun nos provisions"... Is this really natural in French? Is "chacun ses provisions" really wrong in this particular phrase?

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Diego, 
The difference in meaning is between -
On apporte chacun ses provisions = Each brings his own provisions
On apporte chacun nos provisions = We all bring our own provisions
Hope this helps!

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hi, 
Yes, you could say -

On apporte tous nos propres provisions = We all bring our own provisions.

Bonne Continuation !

Chris Wirt · Answer

On a apporté chacun ses provisions. -- We each brought his provisions. His, as in someone else's.

Anne Davies · Answer

On apporte chacun nos provisions Help, I thought chacun was an indefinite usage that would trigger "ses" provisions. Could you also say "On apporte tous nos propres provisions" for "we all bring our own provisions" ?

Patrick Kirk · Answer

Hi, I used "ses" instead of "nos" on this one as well because somewhere (I can't find where right now) is the following:

Use the possessive adjectives son / sa / ses when you are using an indefinite pronoun, such as everyone, nobody (personne / tout le monde / chacun / il faut) e.g.

Chacun a son billet?

Does everyone have their ticket?

Can someone please clarify?

Thanks!

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hi Patrick, 
Because the English was -
'We each brought our reserves' 
we favour 'nos'.
But you are correct with 'chacun' on its own  -
Chacun a son billet ? = Does everyone have their ticket?
The 'on' makes things a bit more difficult as it stands for 'nous'.