ihs
A1Universal
Definition
Meaning
A possessive determiner and pronoun indicating that something belongs to or is associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
Used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with a person or animal of unspecified sex (in traditional grammar, but increasingly replaced by 'their' for gender-neutral use). Can also be used in formal titles (e.g., His Majesty).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a possessive form of the masculine singular pronoun 'he'. In modern usage, there is a strong trend toward using 'their' as a singular gender-neutral possessive, making 'his' specifically masculine in most contemporary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core usage. Both varieties are undergoing the same shift toward gender-neutral 'their'.
Connotations
Neutral. May carry connotations of traditional gender assignment if used to refer to a person of unspecified gender.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive determiner] + NOUN (His car broke down)[possessive pronoun] as subject/object (That book is his)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “His and Hers (matching items for a couple)”
- “to each his own (everyone has their own preferences)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard in formal correspondence when the recipient's gender is known (e.g., 'Please confirm his appointment').
Academic
Used with caution; style guides often recommend 'their' for singular indefinite referents to avoid gender bias.
Everyday
Very common in all possessive contexts relating to a known male.
Technical
Standard possessive form in programming (e.g., 'his object reference') and documentation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- It's his responsibility.
- I've met his brother.
American English
- That's his problem.
- His new truck is impressive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is his bag.
- His name is Tom.
- He is eating his lunch.
- He forgot his passport at home.
- His opinion on the matter was very clear.
- The dog wagged his tail.
- The author develops his argument in the third chapter.
- He was criticised for his handling of the crisis.
- His being late caused a major delay.
- The artist is renowned for his pioneering use of light.
- His refusal to comply was seen as an act of defiance.
- One must consider the consequences of his actions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIS has an 'S' for 'belongS to him'.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS PROXIMITY (His coat = the coat close to/associated with him).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian uses its possessive pronoun 'его' for both 'his' and 'its' without distinction.
- Russian does not use articles, so learners may omit 'his' where it is required (e.g., 'He took * coat' instead of 'He took his coat').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'he's' (contraction of 'he is/has') instead of 'his'.
- Using 'him' as a possessive (e.g., 'That is him book' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'his' correctly as a possessive pronoun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, no. 'His' is specifically masculine. For a person of unspecified or non-binary gender, 'their' is the standard singular possessive pronoun in modern English.
As a determiner, it comes before a noun (his car). As a pronoun, it stands alone without a noun (That car is his).
Yes, this is a correct double possessive construction, equivalent to 'one of his friends'.
To avoid specifying gender when it is unknown, irrelevant, or when referring to a non-binary individual. This use of singular 'they/their' is widely accepted in both formal and informal English.