TKG English Learner's Dictionary

his

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

hispronoun

American /hɪz/ British /hɪz/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. the thing or things belonging to or connected with a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

    His used alone, without a following noun, is the independent possessive: this book is his. The same spelling, his, is also the possessive determiner that goes directly before a noun (his book), a separate entry. Unlike her, which becomes hers when used alone, his keeps the same spelling in both uses.

    Compare hers

Word family

Usage

His is the only common English independent possessive that keeps the same spelling as the possessive determiner: compare his book / this book is his with her book / this book is hers, and my book / this book is mine.

Common mistakes

This book is he. This book is his.
Without a following noun, use the independent possessive his, not the subject form he.

See also his (the same spelling used before a noun: his book); he; him

For translators

Grammar trap English marks the independent possessive with its own form in most pronouns (mine, hers, ours), but his keeps the same form whether or not a noun follows it; many languages use one possessive form throughout.

hisdeterminer

American /hɪz/ British /hɪz/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. belonging to a man or boybelonging to or connected with a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

    His goes directly before a noun and does not change for a plural noun: his book, his books. The same spelling, his, is also used alone, without a following noun, to mean the thing belonging to him (this book is his); that independent use is a separate entry.

    Compare their

Word family

Usage

His never changes for number: his book, his books. Unlike her, which becomes hers when used alone, his keeps the same spelling in both uses: This is his book and This book is his.

Common mistakes

his books is on the table his books are on the table
His does not affect the verb; the verb agrees with the noun that follows it, here the plural books.

See also her; his (the same spelling used alone, without a following noun: this is his)

For translators

Grammar trap His stays the same before a singular or plural noun; it does not agree with the noun's own gender or number, unlike the possessive forms of many other languages.