Cool MateHers vs Theirs
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hers
Top 2,000 (common)A2pronoun
Theirs
Top 2,000 (common)B1pronoun
| Hers | Theirs | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɜːz//ɜːz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɜːrz//ɜːrz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðeəz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðerz/"]/ |
| Meaning | belonging to her | belonging to them |
| Example | His eyes met hers. | Theirs are the children with very fair hair. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | hers is the best, this book is hers, the decision was hers | this is theirs, belong to theirs, theirs is better |
| Antonyms | his, mine, ours, theirs | ours, mine, yours |
| Common mistakes | Using 'her' instead of 'hers' when possession is highlighted., Confusing 'hers' with 'his' or 'its'., Incorrectly applying 'hers' in plural contexts. | 'Theirs' is often confused with 'their's' which is incorrect., 'Theirs' may be misused when referring to singular nouns., Some learners forget to use 'theirs' as the possessive form in comparisons. |
| Usage notes | Use 'hers' to indicate possession when the owner is female. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it when it's unclear what is being possessed. | Use 'theirs' to indicate possession by a group of people. It's neutral and works in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in very formal writing where more specific phrases might be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Hers vs Theirs
What's the difference between Hers and Theirs?
Hers: belonging to her Theirs: belonging to them
Which is more advanced: Hers and Theirs?
Theirs is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hers and Theirs the same CEFR level?
Hers: A2, Theirs: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hers and Theirs?
Hers: pronoun, Theirs: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Hers: His eyes met hers. Theirs: Theirs are the children with very fair hair.
Can I use Hers and Theirs interchangeably?
Not always. Hers and Theirs are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.