Theirs vs Their
What’s the difference between them?
Theirs
Meaning:
possessive pronoun; belongs to them.
Examples:
1. The house was not theirs, but their neighbors'.
2. The siblings each had their own favorite toys, but they always shared theirs with each other during playtime.
3. Her house was bigger than theirs.
Their
Meaning:
possessive adjective; used to indicate possession or belonging to people previously mentioned.
Examples:
1. Their house is painted yellow.
2. They gave their dog a bath.
3. They are proud of their accomplishments.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Theirs
1. Their property
2. Their belonging
3. Their possession
4. Their portion
5. Their legacy
1. Ours
2. Mine
3. Not theirs
4. Not theirs to share
5. Belonging to someone else
Their
1. Their own
2. Theirselves
3. Possession
4. Theirs
5. Belonging
1. Ours
2. Ourselves
3. Them
4. Themselves
5. Opposite
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Theirs", "Their".
1. Theirs is a possessive pronoun. It comes alone and doesn't modify a noun.
2. Their is a possessive adjective. It always comes before noun.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
'Their' is a possessive adjective indicating ownership. Use it to show that something belongs to a group of people or things.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
'Theirs' is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership as well. It's used when you want to emphasize collective possession.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, they don't. 'Their' is pronounced as thair, while 'theirs' is pronounced as thairz.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
A common mistake is using 'their' when indicating collective possession. 'Theirs' specifically refers to something owned collectively by a group. Always consider the number of owners.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The Smiths brought __________ own picnic basket to the park.
2. John and Sarah are known for __________ hospitality; they always make guests feel welcome.
3. The team celebrated __________ victory with cheers and high-fives.
4. The children forgot __________ backpacks at the school playground.
5. The cozy cabin nestled in the mountains is __________, providing a perfect escape.
6. The Jones family is proud of __________ new car; its a shiny red convertible.
1. The Smiths brought their own picnic basket to the park.
Explanation: Their is a possessive adjective, indicating that the picnic basket belongs to the Smiths.
2. John and Sarah are known for their hospitality; they always make guests feel welcome.
Explanation: Their is a possessive adjective, describing the hospitality belonging to John and Sarah.
3. The team celebrated their victory with cheers and high-fives.
Explanation: Their is a possessive adjective, indicating that the victory belongs to the team.
4. The children forgot their backpacks at the school playground.
Explanation: Their is a possessive adjective, showing that the backpacks belong to the children.
5. The cozy cabin nestled in the mountains is theirs, providing a perfect escape.
Explanation: Theirs is a possessive pronoun, indicating ownership of the cozy cabin by someone (possibly mentioned earlier).
6. The Jones family is proud of their new car; its a shiny red convertible.
Explanation: Their is a possessive adjective, expressing the pride of the Jones family in their new car.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.