Possessive Adjective OUR — When and How to Use It
Quick Answer
Use our to show that something belongs to you and other people together — your group, your family, your team. Say our house, our team, our idea.
Example: Our house is small but cosy. (The house belongs to me and the people I live with.)
OUR in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how our works:
- Our team won the match. (The team belongs to us.)
- Our teacher is very kind. (The teacher belongs to our class.)
- This is our first time here. (The visit is shared between us.)
When to Use OUR
Use our when the owner is you and at least one other person. It replaces “we” + ownership: “We have a car” → “Our car.”
- Things you share with others: “Our flat is on the third floor.”
- Your family or team: “Our mother is sick today.”
- Shared experiences: “Our trip was amazing.”
- Your country, school, company: “Our country is beautiful.”
Easy way to remember: We → our. If the owner is more than one person and you are part of the group, use “our.”
The Rule in One Line: Use our for things that belong to you and other people together.
Real-Life Examples With OUR
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- Our house has three bedrooms. (Belongs to me and my family.)
- Our teacher gave us homework. (Belongs to my class.)
- Our football team won 2-1. (The team I support.)
- Our dog is called Max. (The dog belongs to my family.)
- Our flight is at 6 p.m. (Belongs to me and my travel companions.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With OUR
The most common mix-up is between “our” (belongs to us) and “are” (the verb “to be” for plural subjects). They sound very similar but mean very different things.
Using are instead of our
✗ This is are house.
✓ This is our house.
Using we instead of our
✗ We car is in the garage.
✓ Our car is in the garage.
Using us instead of our
✗ Us family lives in Manchester.
✓ Our family lives in Manchester.
How to remember: We own things → our things. “Are” is a verb (“we are happy”), “our” is an owner (“our happiness”).
Common “our” sentences: our house, our family, our team, our country, our teacher, our friends.
Test Yourself: OUR
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ house has a small garden.
2. _______ team won the championship.
3. _______ teacher is very patient.
4. We love _______ new flat.
5. _______ flight leaves at 7 a.m.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned our — the word for everything you and your group own together. Family, team, country, ideas, decisions — all of it can be “our.”
But now picture two people you are not part of — your neighbours, a couple in a film, the players on the other team. Their things are not “my” or “your” or “our.” There is one more word, and it is the trickiest one of all because it sounds exactly like two other English words.
Next lesson: Possessive Adjective THEIR — When and How to Use It
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
