Cool MateOurs vs Ourselves
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ours
Top 1,000 (very common)B1pronoun
Ourselves
Top 1,000 (very common)A2pronoun
| Ours | Ourselves | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɑːz//ˈaʊəz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɑːrz//ˈaʊərz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɑːˈselvz//ˌaʊəˈselvz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɑːrˈselvz//ˌaʊərˈselvz/"]/ |
| Meaning | belonging to us | We (people) by our own action or choices. |
| Example | Their house is very similar to ours, but ours is bigger. | We shouldn't blame ourselves for what happened. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | ours is the best, this house is ours, ours by right | find ourselves, believe in ourselves, challenge ourselves, enjoy ourselves, remind ourselves |
| Antonyms | theirs, yours, hers, his | themselves, yourself, himself, herself |
| Common mistakes | Using 'ours' for singular nouns instead of plural., Confusing 'ours' with 'our's' (incorrect possessive form). | Using 'ourself' instead of 'ourselves'., Confusing with 'themselves' or 'yourself' when speaking about a different group., Incorrect subject-verb agreement, e.g., 'We saw ourselves' instead of 'Us saw ourselves.' |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'ourselves' when referring back to a group including the speaker. It's more common in reflective or self-referential contexts. Avoid in overly formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Ours vs Ourselves
What's the difference between Ours and Ourselves?
Ours: belonging to us Ourselves: We (people) by our own action or choices.
Which is more advanced: Ours and Ourselves?
Ours is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Ours and Ourselves the same CEFR level?
Ours: B1, Ourselves: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Ours and Ourselves?
Ours: pronoun, Ourselves: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Ours: Their house is very similar to ours, but ours is bigger. Ourselves: We shouldn't blame ourselves for what happened.
Can I use Ours and Ourselves interchangeably?
Not always. Ours and Ourselves 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.