Their
Definitions and Meaning in English
- A possessive form of “they,” used to indicate ownership or association by a group of people or things.
- Used to refer to something belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or implied.
History and Origin
The word “their” is derived from Old English þēra, a genitive plural form of the pronoun þē, meaning “they.” It has been used for many centuries to indicate possession or association, evolving through the Middle English period to its modern form. The word “their” is part of the larger set of possessive pronouns, such as “my,” “your,” and “his,” and is used when referring to more than one person or thing.
Detailed Explanation
“Their” is primarily a possessive adjective, which means it is used to show that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people or things. It is commonly used before a noun to indicate ownership, such as in “their house” or “their opinions.” In modern English, “their” is also used as a gender-neutral possessive pronoun to refer to a single person whose gender is unknown or unspecified, reflecting more inclusive language use.
Example Sentences
- The children brought their toys to the park.
- Their house is located on the corner of the street.
- They were proud of their achievements.
- Each student must complete their assignment by the deadline.
- The teachers shared their knowledge with the students.
- Their ideas helped improve the project significantly.
- The team celebrated their victory after the match.
- We saw their car parked outside.
- The animals went back to their shelter at dusk.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- His – A possessive form used for singular masculine ownership.
- Her – A possessive form used for singular feminine ownership.
- Its – A possessive form used for singular neuter ownership.
- Our – A possessive form used for ownership by the speaker and others.
- Your – A possessive form used for ownership by the person being addressed.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Possession – The state of owning or having something, often related to the use of “their.”
- Belonging – Something that is owned by someone, often referenced with “their.”
- Ownership – The state or fact of owning something, connected to the possessive use of “their.”
- Group – A number of people or things, often implied by the use of “their.”
- Plural – The grammatical form used to indicate more than one, which aligns with the use of “their” in reference to more than one person or thing.
More Matches with Short Explanation
- Theirs – The possessive pronoun form, indicating something belonging to them.
- Them – The object form of the pronoun “they,” often used in sentences where “their” indicates possession.
- They – The subject form of the pronoun used to refer to a group or person, related to the possessive “their.”
- Themselves – A reflexive form of “they,” referring back to the people or things in the sentence.
- We – A subject pronoun for the speaker and others, often paired with possessive forms like “our” and contrasted with “their.”
Antonyms
- My
- Your
- His
- Her
- Its