The Possessive Pronoun "Their"

What Is "Their"?

"Their" is a possessive pronoun used in English to indicate ownership. It is the plural form of the word "his," "her," and "its," and is used to refer to something that belongs to or is associated with the antecedent plural noun.

Usage of "Their"

The pronoun "their" can be used in various contexts. Here are some of the most common applications:

• To Indicate Ownership: "The students have completed their assignments." This usage denotes that the assignments belong to the students.
• To Replace Gendered Pronouns: In an increasingly inclusive society, "their" is often used as a singular pronoun to refer to individuals who identify outside the traditional gender binary. Example: "Someone left their umbrella." Here, it is not specified whether "someone" is male or female.
• In Indefinite Constructs: "Every person should have their say." This demonstrates how "their" can effectively reference singular indefinite pronouns like "every" or "anyone."

Grammatical Rules

Here are some key grammatical rules associated with "their":

• Agreement with Plural Nouns: "Their" should always be used with plural nouns or when referring to a collective noun. For instance, "The team acknowledged their victory."
• Subject and Object Forms: "Their" is the possessive form, while "they" is the subject form and "them" is the object form. Example: "They love their pets, and we admire them."

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is confusing "their" with "there" and "they're." To clarify:

• Their: Possessive form ("their car").
• There: Refers to a place ("over there").
• They’re: Contraction of "they are" ("they're going").

Interesting Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the usage of "their":

• Throughout history, "their" has evolved from an Old Norse term "þeirra," highlighting the linguistic influence between languages.
• The use of "their" as a singular pronoun is recognized by major style guides, including the APA and Chicago Manual of Style, to promote inclusivity.
• In literature, popular authors have used "their" in a singular context to challenge societal norms and enhance character representation.