their

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determiner British English pronunciation: their

/ðeə(r)/

Their is used as a possessive determiner (followed by a noun), being a possessive form of they.

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Get It Right!

1
belonging to or relating to a particular group of people or things that have already been mentioned or when it is obvious which ones you are referring to
Workers are afraid that they will lose their jobs.
She has made a study of chemical fertilizers and their effect on the environment.
of their own:
They have children of their own.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of their
2
mainly spoken used instead of 'his or her', especially when you are referring back to a word such as 'everyone', 'someone', or 'anyone'. Many people consider this use incorrect
Everyone has their own way of doing things.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of their
See also they

Get It Right!: their

Get it right: their

Don't confuse their (the possessive form of 'they') and there (a pronoun and adverb). These two words sound exactly the same.

✗ In a democracy, people have the power to decide there own future.

✓ In a democracy, people have the power to decide their own future.

✗ Most women didn't work and were dependent on there husbands.

✓ Most women didn't work and were dependent on their husbands.

This is the British English definition of their. View American English definition of their.

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