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André
Could you please correct me in the sentences below?
Hi.
I really have doubts on possessive pronouns. In the sentences below, which one is the most correct?
1) Oracle closing the doors and Microsoft opening yours.
or
2) Oracle closing the doors and Microsoft openning theirs.
Thanks in advance.
Apr 18, 2015 4:30 AM
Answers · 3
1
"theirs" is correct. Don't forget the form of the present continuous:
"Oracle are / is closing their doors and Microsoft are / is opening theirs."
A company can be referred to as a singular or plural entity.
"I am closing my doors and he is closing his"
"We are closing our doors and you are closing yours".
There is a little oddity in the language when it comes to "its"
"Brazil is selling its coffee beans but Argentina is not selling theirs".
Applying the same rule, it should really be "its" in both cases but "its" doesn't feel right and so we then use the word "theirs" to agree with "coffee beans" instead of "Argentina". I don't know the reason for this and I didn't realise it before. So thanks for the question.
April 18, 2015
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André
Language Skills
English, Portuguese
Learning Language
English
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