Cool MateOur vs Ours
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Our
High-frequency chunkA1determiner
Ours
Top 1,000 (very common)B1pronoun
| Our | Ours | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɑː(r)//ˈaʊə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɑːr//ˈaʊər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɑːz//ˈaʊəz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɑːrz//ˈaʊərz/"]/ |
| Meaning | belonging to us | belonging to us |
| Example | our daughter/dog/house | Their house is very similar to ours, but ours is bigger. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | determiner | pronoun |
| Collocations | our family, our team, our country | ours is the best, this house is ours, ours by right |
| Antonyms | your, their, my | theirs, yours, hers, his |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'are' in some spoken contexts., Omitting it in contractions like 'we're' instead of 'we are'. | Using 'ours' for singular nouns instead of plural., Confusing 'ours' with 'our's' (incorrect possessive form). |
| Usage notes | Used to show that something belongs to a group that includes the speaker. It's appropriate in most contexts, both spoken and written. Avoid using in very formal writing where other possessive forms might be preferred. | Use 'ours' to show possession when referring to a group including the speaker. Avoid using it to refer to singular items; use 'my' or 'your' instead. |
Frequently asked questions: Our vs Ours
What's the difference between Our and Ours?
Our: belonging to us Ours: belonging to us
Which is more advanced: Our and Ours?
Ours is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Our and Ours the same CEFR level?
Our: A1, Ours: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Our and Ours?
Our: determiner, Ours: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Our: our daughter/dog/house Ours: Their house is very similar to ours, but ours is bigger.
Can I use Our and Ours interchangeably?
Not always. Our and Ours 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.