Are and our are near homophones, but they are actually completely different parts of speech.
Are and our are easy words to mix up if you aren’t familiar with the English language. Now that you’ve read this article, you’ll always know whether to choose our or are in your writing. You can remember that are is a verb since it is often used as a helping, or auxiliary, verb, and are and auxiliary both begin with the letter A. It is the present tense of the verb to be, which means to exist or engage in something.
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- While “our” and “are” sound very similar, these two words have completely different meanings.
- The word “our” conveys possession, belonging, or association and finds use in a wide range of contexts.
- You can also use it with plural subjects or pronouns that indicate there is more than one of something.
- Dialectal and obsolete or archaic forms are in italics.
- You can use it with the pronoun “you” or when talking directly to a subject.
Knowing when to use “our” vs. “are” can save you an embarrassing grammar mistake and empower you to write with confidence. “Our” is a possessive pronoun indicating something belongs to the speaker and others. In standard English, “our” rhymes with “hour” and is pronounced with a diphthong sound. In casual speech, it is often pronounced as a single-syllable sound, resembling “are.” The word also expresses collective association with groups, entities, or organizations, reinforcing unity or shared interests.
Noun
As such, it is incredibly common in English, since it can be used on its own or as an auxiliary verb. “Ourself” is archaic but occasionally used formally or poetically for collective entities. In broader contexts, “our” is used to represent ideas, emotions, or items that pertain to a community or collective to which the speaker belongs. The word “our” conveys possession, belonging, or association and finds use in a wide range of contexts. Below are its primary definitions and nuances. There are many homophones in English.
Meaning of “Are”
“Our” functions exclusively as a possessive pronoun in English. It modifies nouns to indicate ownership or association. “Our” is among the most frequently used pronouns in English. Its high frequency stems from its critical role in everyday conversation, written communication, and collective expressions.
- Yes, “our” can indicate shared ownership or association with a group or organization.
- Knowing when to use “our” vs. “are” can save you an embarrassing grammar mistake and empower you to write with confidence.
- “Our” primarily signifies something that belongs to the speaker and one or more other individuals, highlighting inclusivity and shared ownership.
- “Our” functions exclusively as a possessive pronoun in English.
- Now that you’ve read this article, you’ll always know whether to choose our or are in your writing.
Definition of “Our”: Collective Association
It commonly appears in contexts involving family, teamwork, and shared possessions. Our is a first person plural possessive pronoun. It is often employed as an adjective pronoun, where it specifies ownership by a group of which the speaker is a part.
The term “our” is a possessive pronoun used to denote ownership or association between the speaker and others. It plays a pivotal role in establishing relationships and expressing collective ownership in communication. The simplicity and universality of “our” make it one of the most frequently used pronouns in English. It is used in forming the present progressive, again, in second person singular, and in first, second, and third-person plural forms. The following sentences are examples for each of these tenses.
The word “our” is a possessive pronoun that signifies shared ownership or association. Its simplicity and ubiquity make it an essential part of everyday communication. Mastering the usage of “our” enhances clarity and inclusivity in language. Explore more words to deepen your understanding and fluency. A great trick is to remember that “are” and “auxiliary” both start with the letter A.
In contrast, “are” is a form of the irregular verb “to be.” It is in present tense, which means the action is happening right now. You can use it with the pronoun “you” or when talking directly to a subject. You can also use it with plural subjects or pronouns that indicate there is more than one of something. Yes, “our” can indicate shared ownership or association with a group or organization. In this article, I will compare are vs. our, which aren’t exact homophones but sound similar enough to cause confusion.
“Our” primarily signifies something that our current tax v the flat tax v the fair tax belongs to the speaker and one or more other individuals, highlighting inclusivity and shared ownership. Since are and auxiliary both begin with the letter A, you can use this similarity to remember that are is a verb. Are is the second person present singular, and the first, second, and third-person present plural for to be. Now that you know the tricks and definitions, it’s time to test your knowledge. See if you can pick the correct word for these sentences. The answers are at the end of this article.
Homophones are words that sound the same, but mean different things. Words that sound nearly the same are called near homophones. Dialectal and obsolete or archaic forms are in italics.
There are two key differences between “are” and “our” that can help you understand which one to use in any situation. Each one has a trick or hack to help. “Our” is used with a noun, while “ours” stands alone as a possessive pronoun.
Meaning of “Our”
I will use each word in an example sentence to illustrate its proper use. Then, at the end, I will show you a helpful trick to use if you can’t decide whether you mean are or our in your writing. Even though “are” and “our” almost sound the same, they are not interchangeable. That spelling difference is important, however, as you can see in these definitions and the accompanying “are” vs. “our” sentence examples. While “our” and “are” sound very similar, these two words have completely different meanings.