The word "their" is a possessive pronoun that is used to show possession or ownership. It is used in place of a noun to refer to something that belongs to someone or something. For example, if we say "John and Mary lost their keys," the word "their" is used to show that the keys belong to John and Mary.
One important thing to keep in mind when using "their" is that it is a plural pronoun. This means that it should only be used to refer to a group of people or things. For example, it would be correct to say "The students turned in their homework," because we are referring to a group of students. However, it would be incorrect to say "Everyone turned in their homework," because "everyone" is singular and "their" is plural. In this case, we would need to use the singular pronoun "his or her" instead: "Everyone turned in his or her homework."
Another common mistake people make when using "their" is using it to refer to a singular noun. For example, it would be incorrect to say "The student turned in their homework," because "student" is singular and "their" is plural. In this case, we would need to use the singular pronoun "his or her" instead: "The student turned in his or her homework."
It's also important to be mindful of the gender of the noun that "their" is referring to. If the noun is gender-neutral or the gender is unknown, we can use "their" to refer to it. For example, we could say "The cat sat on its bed, but the dog preferred to sleep on their bed." However, if the noun is specifically masculine or feminine, we should use the appropriate pronoun. For example, if we are talking about a group of men, we would say "The men turned in their homework," but if we are talking about a group of women, we would say "The women turned in their homework."
In conclusion, it is important to use "their" correctly in order to avoid confusion and ensure clear and accurate communication. Remember to only use it to refer to a group of people or things, and be mindful of the gender of the noun it is referring to. By following these guidelines, you can use "their" correctly and effectively in your writing and speaking.
pronouns
Shafer, The Courier-Journal, 2 June 2017 Fidel Castro slowly faded from view, becoming even less coherent, before dying at home in November, as his brother slowly rolled back their revolution. I go there to Paris every summer. It also tends to sound formal, causing many people to shy away from it in speech and in less formal writing. Retrieved 22 October 2015. But there are problems with this view.
"His" or "Her" vs. "Their" in the English Grammar
Nevertheless, singular they has long been part of the English language, and there are various posts on they must never occur with a singular antecedent There is no shortage of usage "experts" who advise against it, as the other answers in the question should make clear though these days their reasoning tends away from a simple "it's wrong" towards something more defensive—"some people will think it's wrong, so avoid it". Awesome one, I hope this article answered your question. What does that mean? Retrieved 7 October 2017. Here is a table to show you the different Possessive adjectives and Possessive pronouns. It is assumed that Jane knows where there is. Many English speakers believe that using the plural pronouns they, them, themselves, and their in gender-neutral singular constructions is incorrect. A vague direction, and you might assume the speaker is pointing.
they / their (singular)
Theirs is a pronoun. What's the forcemeat in Jonathan Harker's journal? This approach is conventional now, so it is the safest choice in writing for school or work, but it is not a permanent solution. This allowance is necessary to cover the English language's lack of a singular gender-free pronoun that can be used for people. What Are Possessive Pronouns? Retrieved 9 April 2022. Insofar as anything is right or wrong in grammar, 'their' is wrong here, and 'her' is right. In practice, their and theirs are basically equivalent in meaning, and you can use either one according to how you wish to word your sentence. He or she must sit on the front row during the ceremony.
Political correctness
Treating "their" and "they" as singular is widely acceptable. But despite them, use of singular they occurs at all levels of the language, both spoken and written, informal and formal. The global age state and society beyond modernity 1sted. My neighbor said she's been unshriven for years, but I think her skin looks quite shriveled. In all inflected languages I know, where masculine and feminine are conjointly qualified by the same adjective, the adjective must be in the masculine form as in Handsel and Gretel are lost - Handsel et Gretel sont perdus - not perdues. I saw the word in William Makepeace Thackeray's book Vanity Fair.
