their */*/*/

their */*/*/
UK [ðeə(r)] / US [ðer] determiner
Summary:

Their is used as a possessive determiner (followed by a noun), being a possessive form of they.
Get it right: their:
Don't confuse their (the possessive form of "they") and there (a pronoun and adverb). These two words sound exactly the same.
Wrong: In a democracy, people have the power to decide there own future.
Right: In a democracy, people have the power to decide their own future.
Wrong: Most women didn't work and were dependent on there husbands.
Right: Most women didn't work and were dependent on their husbands.
1) belonging to or relating to a particular group of people or things that have already been mentioned or when it is obvious which ones you are referring to

Workers are afraid that they will lose their jobs.

She has made a study of chemical fertilizers and their effect on the environment.

of their own:

They have children of their own.

2) mainly spoken used instead of "his or her", especially when you are referring back to a word such as "everyone", "someone", or "anyone". Many people consider this use incorrect

Everyone has their own way of doing things.

See:
they

English dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • their — [ ðer ] determiner *** Their is used as a possessive determiner (followed by a noun), being a possessive form of they. 1. ) belonging to or relating to a particular group of people or things that have already been mentioned or when it is obvious… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • their — W1S1 [ðə strong ðeə $ ðər strong ðer] determiner [possessive form of they ] [Date: 1100 1200; : Old Norse; Origin: theirra theirs ] 1.) belonging to or connected with people or things that have already been mentioned ▪ They washed their faces and …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Their — Their, pron. & a. [OE. thair, fr. Icel. [thorn]eirra, [thorn]eira, of them, but properly gen. pl. of the definite article; akin to AS. [eth][=a]ra, [eth][=ae]ra, gen. pl. of the definite article, or fr. AS. [eth][=ae]ra, influenced by the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • their — their·selves; their; …   English syllables

  • their — c.1200, from O.N. þierra, gen. of þeir they (see THEY (Cf. they)). Replaced O.E. hiera. Use with singular objects, scorned by grammarians, is attested from c.1300. Theirs (c.1300) is a double possessive. Alternative form theirn (1836) is attested …   Etymology dictionary

  • their — [[t]ðeə(r)[/t]] ♦ (Their is the third person plural possessive determiner.) 1) DET POSS You use their to indicate that something belongs or relates to the group of people, animals, or things that you are talking about. Janis and Kurt have… …   English dictionary

  • their — /dhair/; unstressed /dheuhr/, pron. 1. a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome. 2. (used after an indefinite singular antecedent in… …   Universalium

  • their — possessive determiner 1》 belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified. 2》 belonging to or associated with a person of unspecified sex (used in place of either ‘his’ or ‘his or her’). 3》 (Their)… …   English new terms dictionary

  • their — adjective Etymology: Middle English, from their, pronoun, from Old Norse theirra, genitive plural demonstrative & personal pronoun; akin to Old English thæt that Date: 13th century 1. of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • their — [[t]ðɛər[/t]] unstressed [[t]ðər[/t]] pron. 1) fun a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens[/ex] 2) fun (used after an indefinite singular antecedent in place of… …   From formal English to slang

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