Are or Our?

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Are or Our?

What is the difference between "are" and "our"?
  • "Are" is like "am" and "is." For example:
    • I am angry.
    • She is a good pilot.
    • We are happy.
    (The words "are," "am," and "is" are all forms of the verb "to be" in the present tense.)
  • "Our" means "belonging to us." It is like "my," "your," and "his." For example:
    • I like my teacher.
    • Take your medicine.
    • This is our problem.
    (These words are called possessive determiners.)
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More about "Are"

"Are" is from the verb "to be." Here is a table showing where "are" fits among the other verbs "to be" in the simple present tense:
PronounPersonVerb "To Be" in the Simple Present Tense
IFirst person singularam
YouSecond person singularare
He/She/ItThird person singularis
WeFirst person pluralare
YouSecond person pluralare
TheyThird person plural are

Examples Sentences with "Are"

Here are some example sentences with "are":
  • They are looking forward to Christmas.
  • When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That's relativity. (Physicist Albert Einstein)
  • Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese. (Filmmaker Luis Bunuel)

More about "Our"

"Our" means "belonging to us." "Our" is a possessive determiner. Here is a table showing where "our" fits among the other possessive determiners:
PronounPersonPossessive Determiner
IFirst person singularmy
YouSecond person singularyour
He/She/ItThird person singularhis/her/its
WeFirst person pluralour
YouSecond person pluralyour
TheyThird person plural their

Examples Sentences with "Our"

Here are some example sentences with "our":
  • This is our dog.
  • We love even when our love is not requited. (Philosopher Mortimer Adler)
  • All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. (Entrepreneur Walt Disney)
Interactive Exercise
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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are verbs? What is the simple present tense? What are possessive adjectives? What are possessive pronouns? List of easily confused words