leurs VS. leur

[LOGH]

It turned out I can't tell the difference between those two as I was listening to the following sentence and trying to type it: (Il dirige ces animaux vers leur nourriture.) Why is LEURS wrong? The program says I should pay attention to the gender, but I know neither leur nor leurs indicates masculinity or femininity. Ideas???

[Remy]

"leur" is a determiner (possessive adjective) that agrees in number with the noun to which it refers.

Since "nourriture" ("food") is a mass noun (i.e. almost always singular), then you have to write "leur" (singular form).

With a plural, you have to use the plural form.

ex: "Ce sont leurs chaussures". ("These are their shoes").

[christian]

Pay attention to the number of the thing being possessed. If it's singular, use "leur" and if it's plural, use "leurs". "nourriture" is singular, hence you need to use "leur".

[LOGH]

oh right. That point eluded me. Thank you Remy and christian.