Word
hers
US/ˈhɝz/
UK/hˈɜːz/
Definitions
01belonging to her
A2 · Elementary
pron. the thing or things that belong to a woman, girl, or female animal.
pron. the possessive absolute form of the third-person singular feminine pronoun; it stands alone as a noun phrase.
“I found a pair of glasses on the table, and I think they are hers.”
“While the red coat on the rack is mine, the elegant wool one draped over the chair is definitely hers.”
Usage
This pronoun is used without a following noun; compare with the possessive adjective 'her' which must precede a noun.
Pitfall
The blue car is her's.
The blue car is hers.
Possessive pronouns like 'hers', 'ours', and 'yours' never take an apostrophe.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse 'her' (adjective) and 'hers' (pronoun). Remind them that 'hers' replaces the noun entirely: 'It is her book' vs 'It is hers'.
Antonyms
02her home
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
pron. a way to talk about a woman's house or apartment.
pron. an informal elliptical construction referring to the residence or home of a female person.
“We are going over to hers for dinner and a movie tonight.”
“After the concert ended, the group decided to head back to hers to continue the celebration in a more private setting.”
Usage
Usually follows a preposition like 'at' or 'to'.
Teaching tip
This is common in spoken English but should be avoided in formal writing where 'her house' or 'her home' is preferred.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English hires, heres, hers, attested since the 1300s. Equivalent to her + -s (compare -'s).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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