We usually use “its” when we are referring to a singular company but there are certain situations when we use their with “company”.
Read on to discover when you should use “its” and ” when you should see “their”.
Its or Their with the word Company?
Understanding the Use of Possessive Adjectives with Company
When referring to a company, it can be confusing whether to use “its” or “their” as a possessive adjective. The correct usage depends on whether you are referring to the company as a singular entity or as a group of individuals. A company is considered a collective noun, which means it represents a collection of related things or people operating as a group. When referring to a company as a singular entity, it is appropriate to use “its” as a possessive adjective. For example, “The company announced its new product line today.” On the other hand, when referring to a company as a group of individuals, it is appropriate to use “their” as a possessive adjective. For example, “The employees of the company were all given their own laptops.”
Examples of Using Its or Their with Company
Here are some examples to help clarify the usage of “its” and “their” with the word “company”:
- If you are referring to a company as a singular entity, use “its” as a possessive adjective. For example, “The company is known for its innovative products.”
- If you are referring to a group of individuals within a company, use “their” as a possessive adjective. For example, “The employees of the company were all given their own laptops.”
- When referring to a company name, it is always best to use the singular form. For example, “Microsoft has released its latest operating system.”
- It is important to note that the usage of “its” and “their” with the word “company” can vary depending on the dialect of English being used. In American English, the singular form is typically used, while in British English, the plural form is more common.
Remember to use “its” when referring to a company as a singular entity, and “their” when referring to a group of individuals within a company. This will help ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing Its and Their with Company
One common mistake people make when using possessive adjectives with the word “company” is confusing “its” and “their.” As we learned earlier, “its” is used when referring to a singular noun, while “their” is used when referring to a plural noun.
Since “company” is often treated as a singular noun, “its” is the more common choice. However, if you are referring to multiple companies, then “their” would be the correct choice.
Other Common Mistakes with Possessive Adjectives
Another mistake people make is using an apostrophe with possessive adjectives. Remember, possessive adjectives already indicate ownership, so there is no need for an apostrophe.
For example, instead of writing “the company’s profits,” you should write “the company profits.”
It’s also important to make sure you are using the correct possessive adjective for the noun you are referring to. For example, “its” is used for singular nouns, while “their” is used for plural nouns.
Finally, be sure to pay attention to the gender of the noun you are referring to. For example, “his” is used for masculine nouns, while “her” is used for feminine nouns.
Using Possessive Adjectives in English
What are Possessive Adjectives?
When you want to show possession of something, you can use a possessive adjective. Possessive adjectives are words that describe who owns or has something. In English, the most common possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.
Examples of Possessive Adjectives
Let’s take the word “company” as an example. When you want to show possession of a company, you can use either “its” or “their.” Here are some examples:
- The company will issue its annual report next month.
- The employees are proud of their company.
In American English, “company” is treated as a singular noun, so you would use “its” to show possession. In British English, “company” is treated as a collective noun, so you could use either “its” or “their” to show possession. Other examples of possessive adjectives include:
- I lost my keys.
- Is this your book?
- She loves her cat.
- The car lost its tire.
- We are proud of our team.
- They are happy with their new house.
Remember, when using possessive adjectives, they should be placed before the noun they are describing.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know when to use “its” or “their” when referring to a company! Remember, when referring to a company, you can use either “its” or “their” because a company is a collective noun. However, it’s more common to use “its” because “company” typically takes on a singular pronoun form.
It’s important to note that in American English, a company takes a singular verb form and singular pronoun, while in British English, a company takes a plural verb form and plural pronoun. So, depending on where you are, you may hear different usages.
When using possessive adjectives, such as “its” or “their,” it’s important to understand the context in which they are being used. Possessive adjectives show ownership, so think about what you are trying to convey. Are you referring to something that belongs to a single company, or to multiple companies? This will help you determine whether to use “company’s,” “companies,” or “companies’.”
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