Grammar enthusiasts often encounter challenges, and understanding the plural of ‘their’ is one such hurdle. The Chicago Manual of Style, a guiding resource for writers, offers clarity on such nuances. Pronoun usage, a concept deeply explored by linguists like Noam Chomsky, impacts sentence structure and meaning; avoiding incorrect plural of their variations strengthens your writing. For those seeking interactive learning, educational platforms such as Grammarly provide practical exercises; mastering the plural of their improves your writing’s clarity, something valued across many English-speaking countries.
Unlock Grammar Secrets: The Plural of ‘Their’ is… Not What You Think!
The word "their" is a possessive pronoun. Understanding its function is key to understanding why it doesn’t have a plural form in the traditional sense. This explanation will explore the function of "their," common mistakes, and related grammatical concepts.
Understanding "Their" as a Possessive Pronoun
"Their" indicates possession by multiple people or things. It functions similarly to possessive adjectives like "my," "your," "his," "her," and "its," but applies to a group.
Key Characteristics of "Their":
- Indicates Ownership: Shows that something belongs to a group.
- Plural Subject: The subject performing the action or owning the item must be plural.
- No Plural Form: "Their" already indicates plurality, so it does not require a further plural form.
Why "Their" Doesn’t Need a Plural Form
The concept of plurality is already embedded within the pronoun "their." Imagine wanting to say that two groups each own something. The correct way to phrase this is not by making "their" plural, but by adjusting the surrounding sentence structure.
Examples Illustrating Correct Usage:
- Incorrect: "The students left theirs books on the desk."
- Correct: "The students left their books on the desk." (One group of students)
- Correct (Addressing multiple groups): "Each group of students left their books on the desk." (Multiple groups, each with their own books.)
- Correct (Rephrased): "The students’ books were left on the desk." (Using the possessive plural of "student" instead.)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Confusion can arise when trying to express the idea of multiple groups possessing multiple things.
Addressing the Confusion:
- The Issue: Trying to make "their" plural arises from a desire to emphasize the multiple groups involved.
- The Solution: Rephrase the sentence for clarity. Consider using phrases like "each group’s," or clarifying that separate groups are being discussed.
Examples of Misuse and Correction:
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence (Option 1) | Correct Sentence (Option 2) |
|---|---|---|
| The teams celebrated theirs wins. | The teams celebrated their wins. | Each team celebrated their win. |
| The clubs displayed theirs banners. | The clubs displayed their banners. | Each club displayed their banner. |
Related Grammatical Concepts
Understanding possessive pronouns and the possessive case helps avoid confusion with "their."
Possessive Pronouns vs. Possessive Adjectives:
| Possessive Pronoun (Stands alone) | Possessive Adjective (Modifies a noun) | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Its | My, Your, His, Her, Its |
| Plural | Ours, Yours, Theirs | Our, Your, Their |
Note that "theirs" is the possessive pronoun corresponding to the possessive adjective "their." Like "their," "theirs" does not have a plural. It is already plural in concept.
Possessive Case (Apostrophe-S):
Using the possessive case (apostrophe-s) can sometimes be a clearer way to express possession, especially when dealing with multiple groups. As seen in the example "The students’ books were left on the desk," this construction can sometimes avoid the perceived need to pluralize "their." Remember the rules for possessive case with plural nouns (e.g., students’ vs. student’s).
FAQs: The Plural of "Their" Explained
[This section clarifies some common questions about the tricky concept of whether "their" has a plural form and how best to use it.]
Is there a plural form of "their"?
No, "their" already functions as a plural possessive pronoun. There’s no need to pluralize "their" because it inherently refers to multiple people or things owning something.
When would I use "their"?
Use "their" when you need to show possession or belonging by more than one person or thing. For example, "The students submitted their assignments." Here, "their" refers to the assignments belonging to multiple students.
What’s the difference between "there," "their," and "they’re"?
"There" indicates a place or existence (e.g., "over there"). "Their" shows possession (e.g., "their car"). "They’re" is a contraction of "they are" (e.g., "They’re going to the park").
If "their" is already plural, why does it sometimes sound strange with singular antecedents?
Sometimes using "their" with a singular antecedent (like "everyone") sounds awkward. While grammatically acceptable in many contexts as a gender-neutral pronoun, consider rephrasing the sentence to avoid it if it sounds unclear or unnatural. For example, instead of "Every student should bring their own lunch," you could say "All students should bring their own lunches" or "Each student should bring their own lunch."
So, now you’re practically an expert on the plural of their, right? Go forth and conquer those sentences! We hope this cleared things up for you. Happy writing!