our
our
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "our" is /aʊər/.
/aʊ/
/ər/
Word Form Variations
"Our" is a possessive determiner (also sometimes called a possessive adjective) and a possessive pronoun. It does not have singular or plural forms in the same way nouns or regular verbs do. Its form remains "our" regardless of the number of items possessed or the number of possessors (as long as the possessors are "we").
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. Possessive Determiner
Definition: Belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people. It indicates shared ownership or connection.
Synonyms: collective, shared, common
Antonyms: your (singular), his, hers, its, their, my
Example: "This is our house."
II. Possessive Pronoun
Definition: Refers to something belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people, used without a following noun.
Synonyms: ours (when used as a pronoun)
Antonyms: yours (singular), his, hers, its, theirs, mine
Example: "The decision is entirely our responsibility." (Here, "our" acts as a possessive pronoun, though it's often analyzed as a determiner modifying an implied noun when used predicatively without a noun following it directly.)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, April 1859) - This example highlights the collective "our" referring to a shared human experience.
Newspapers:
"Our correspondent reports from the scene that the negotiations are progressing." (The Guardian)
"The Mayor stated, 'We must prioritize the safety of our citizens.'" (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"As a community, it's vital that we protect our natural resources for future generations." (National Geographic online)
"In our latest article, we delve into the complexities of artificial intelligence." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "This is our moment. We can't let them take it from us." (From the film Avengers: Endgame, April 2019)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Our house, in the middle of our street." (Madness, "Our House," November 1982)
Television Show: "Tonight on Our Planet, we explore the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest." (Netflix series Our Planet, April 2019)
Video Game: "Welcome, traveler. Our quest begins now." (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"We need to work together to improve our local schools." (Statement by a community organizer)
"That's our team! They played brilliantly today." (Fan cheering at a sports event)
"It's important that we listen to our elders." (Common advice given in conversations, Ongoing)
10 Quotes Using Our
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." (Thomas A. Edison)
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." (Albert Einstein)
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." (Walt Disney)
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." (Aristotle Onassis)
"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." (Dalai Lama)
"We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think." (Swami Vivekananda)
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." (John F. Kennedy)
"This world of ours... must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect." (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
"The future of humanity is in our hands." (14th Dalai Lama)
Etymology
The word "our" has a long history, tracing back to the very early roots of the English language.
Essentially, "our" means "belonging to us." It came from the Old English word "ūre" or "ūser," which had the same meaning. This Old English word itself evolved from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, where the word was something like "unseraz," also meaning "of us" or "our."
If we go back even further in time, linguists believe it came from a very ancient language called Proto-Indo-European, from a root word like "n̥-s-ero-" which conveyed the idea of "our." This shows that the concept of "our" (something belonging to a group including the speaker) has been around for a very, very long time in the family of languages that English belongs to.
The first known uses of "our" in written English date back to the Old English period, which is before the 12th century (so, before the year 1100s). At that time, its meaning was consistent with what we understand today: showing possession or relationship to the group "we."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Our
Our daily bread: A phrase referring to the food or sustenance needed for daily living, often with a spiritual or basic necessity connotation.
Our house is your house: A welcoming expression, inviting someone to feel at home and comfortable.
Our little secret: Something known only to a specific small group of people, to be kept confidential.
Our kind of people: Refers to individuals who share similar values, interests, or backgrounds as oneself and one's group.
Our ways parted: An idiom meaning that people who were once together or involved in something have gone in separate directions or ended their association.
Our paths crossed: To meet someone, often unexpectedly or coincidentally.
In our midst: Among us, or present within our group.
To our dismay: Expressing disappointment or distress felt by a group.
At our leisure: When we have free time and are not rushed.
Our neck of the woods: A colloquial term referring to one's local area or neighborhood.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of our from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
