yours
- 01 A1 Beginner
the thing or things that belong to you.
the possessive pronoun used to replace a noun phrase 'your + noun'.
Simple“I found a red umbrella under the table; is it yours?”
In context“If the blue coat is mine, then the one hanging by the door must be yours, as no one else was in the house.”
PitfallIs this book your's? Is this book yours?Possessive pronouns like 'yours', 'hers', and 'ours' never take an apostrophe.
Antonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
a polite way to end a letter or email before you sign your name.
a conventional formulaic closing in correspondence, typically followed by a signature.
Simple“She ended the formal email with 'Yours sincerely' and her full name.”
In context“The solicitor concluded the legal notice with 'Yours faithfully', adhering to the traditional protocol for recipients whose names are unknown.”
UsageCommonly appears in fixed phrases like 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
your house or the place where you live.
an elliptical reference to the addressee's place of residence or household.
Simple“We should have dinner at yours next time so I can see your new kitchen.”
In context“Since my apartment is currently being renovated, we decided it would be more practical to meet at yours for the study session.”
Synonymsyour placeyour home
From Middle English youres, ȝoures, attested since the 1300s. Equivalent to your + -s (compare -'s); formed by analogy to his. Displaced yourn in standard speech.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.