their
their — determiner
1. owned by or connected with a group that was mentioned before — the group may inc
owned by or connected with a group that was mentioned before — the group may include people, animals, or objects that the speaker and listener already know about.
The children picked up their bags and walked to the bus.
their + noun: physical possession
Salma and Reuben sold their old sofa and bought a smaller one.
The Watanabe family decorated their house with paper lanterns every spring.
The cats finished their food and went outside to play in the garden.
文法句型
their + noun
用法筆記
This is the most common use of 'their'. The noun that follows 'their' can be a physical object, a family member, a body part, or an abstract thing belonging to the group.
常見錯誤
2. used instead of 'his' or 'her' when talking about one person whose gender is not
used instead of 'his' or 'her' when talking about one person whose gender is not known, not stated, or not important — for example, if a student forgot their book, you do not know if the student is a boy or a girl, so you say 'their'.
Someone left their umbrella in the classroom after the meeting.
their + noun: singular they with 'someone'
If a customer is unhappy, please listen to their complaint carefully.
Each student must hand in their homework by Friday morning.
Noor wants to bring their cousin to the party — I hope that is OK with you.
- his or her
formal and wordy alternative; 'their' is now preferred in most contexts
文法句型
their + noun (referring to one person)
用法筆記
This use of 'their' with a singular meaning is now standard in both spoken and written English. It is preferred over the older 'his or her' because it is shorter and more inclusive. The verb that follows the subject stays plural even when the meaning is singular: 'Someone left their bag' (not 'leaves').
常見錯誤
their — adjective
1. showing that some people or things are the ones that perform or experience an ac
showing that some people or things are the ones that perform or experience an action — used before nouns that name an action, feeling, or state rather than a physical object.
The team celebrated their victory with a parade through the city centre.
their + action noun: 'their victory' (they won)
Asher and Élise were shocked by their sudden dismissal from the committee.
The prisoners accepted their punishment and did not protest further.
Folake admired their generosity in giving so much money to the local library.
The company's reputation fell after their failure to fix the safety problems.
文法句型
their + action noun
用法筆記
This sense differs from the determiner sense 'GROUP POSSESSION' because the noun that follows is typically an action word (victory, dismissal, punishment) rather than a physical object. The group is the doer or receiver of the action, not just the owner of a thing.
2. used before an action noun or state noun to refer to one person without saying i
used before an action noun or state noun to refer to one person without saying if the person is male or female — for example, 'Why would anyone risk their safety?' could refer to a man, a woman, or a non-binary person.
Why would anyone risk their safety for a stranger?
their + abstract noun: singular they
The nurse asked each patient about their medical history before the operation.
Nobody wants to admit their mistake in front of a large group of people.
Brooke's cousin works as a musician — I went to hear their band play last Saturday.
If a driver is lost, ask them about their destination before giving directions.
- his or her
more formal and less common; 'their' is preferred in modern English
文法句型
their + noun (singular referent)
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with the determiner sense 'SINGULAR THEY' but is used with abstract or action nouns (safety, history, mistake) rather than physical objects. It is now standard in formal writing, including academic and professional contexts.