pronunciation note: The determiner is pronounced (hɪz). The pronoun is pronounced (hɪz).His is a third person singular possessive determiner. His is also a possessive pronoun.
1. determiner
You use his to indicate that something belongs or relates to a man, boy, or male animal.
Brian splashed water on his face, then brushed his teeth.
He spent a large part of his career in Hollywood.
The past 10 years have been the happiest and most fulfilling of his life.
The dog let his head thump on the floor again.
His is also a possessive pronoun.
He had taken advice, but the decision was his.
Anna reached out her hand to him and clasped his.
2. determiner
In written English, his is sometimes used to refer to a person without saying whether that person is a man or a woman. Many people prefer to use 'his or her' or 'their' as an alternative to 'his'.
Formerly, the relations between a teacher and his pupils were dominated by fear onthe part of the pupils.
Everyone should receive a fair price for the product of his labour.
His is also a possessive pronoun.
The student going to art or drama school will be very enthusiastic about furthereducation. His is not a narrow mind, but one eager to grasp every facet of anythinghe studies.
3. possessive determiner
In some religions, His is used to refer to God.
...humble faith in God, and trust in His Church.
His is also a possessive pronoun.
In what way do you feel called to serve God as a clergyman? Is it your way, or His?
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarPossessive pronounsPossessive pronouns are used when you want to indicate who owns or is associated withan item. All those books are hers. Those suitcases are ours. Are ... Read more
his in British English
(hɪz, unstressed ɪz)
determiner
1.
a.
of, belonging to, or associated with him
his own fault
his knee
I don't like his being out so late
b.
as pronoun
his is on the left
that book is his
2. his and hers
pronoun
3. of his
Word origin
Old English his, genitive of hēhe1 and of hitit
his in American English
(hɪz)
pronoun
1.
that or those belonging to him
the possessive form of he1
possessive pronominal adjective
2.
of, belonging to, made by, or done by him
also used before some formal titles
His Grace, His Highness
Word origin
ME < OE, gen. masc. & neut. of he
Examples of 'his' in a sentence
his
They also took his details and said they would report him to their managers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In his apartment officers also found a collection of air mattresses apparently stolen from the crime scenes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But also suggestions that his squad is not as strong as others may think.
The Sun (2017)
He's a fiercely loyal person to his family and friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This dish uses his salmon and it's my way of staying in touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He isn't supposed to be able to use his stomach muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Each person involved brings his or her own past experiences and personal history into the equation.
Carpenter, Anne & Johnson, Geoffrey Why am I Afraid to Grieve (1994)
Two of his predecessors have also been busy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She has also improved his dress sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It also confirms his reputation as the lawyer of choice for major financial groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His efforts have also been hampered by the downturn.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His love of junk food was transferred to the person who received his heart during a transplant operation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is his life 's work in many ways and this is a big shock to him.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The intensity of his possessive attention is unchanged, but its quality is dramatically transformed.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
His side 's character is being tested and they are coming up short.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Everybody is a singular pronoun and requires a singular possessive pronoun: his or her.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Dressing up in his wife 's clothes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Did he go back to see his family 's house?
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
He used his serenity as others have used anger, he used beauty where others have used power.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The company maintains and restores historic structures, and it relies on each person doing his or her task exactly as specified.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
To make matters worse, he is a policeman and used his job to find out my ex's contact details.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
his
British English: his /hɪz; ɪz/ DETERMINER
You use his to say that something belongs to a man or a boy.
He showed me his new football.
American English: his
Arabic: خَاصَّتُهُ
Brazilian Portuguese: dele
Chinese: 他的
Croatian: njegov
Czech: jeho
Danish: sin to be used in certain grammar constructions
Dutch: zijn
European Spanish: su él
Finnish: hänen miespuolinen
French: son possession
German: sein
Greek: δικός του
Italian: suo
Japanese: 彼の
Korean: 그의
Norwegian: hans
Polish: jego
European Portuguese: dele
Romanian: al lui
Russian: его
Latin American Spanish: su
Swedish: hans
Thai: ของเขา
Turkish: onunki erkek
Ukrainian: його
Vietnamese: của anh ấy
British English: his /hɪz; ɪz/ PRONOUN
You use his to say that something belongs to a man or a boy.
He listened to the advice, but the decision was his.
American English: his
Arabic: ضَمِيرُ الغَائِبُ الـمُتَّصِلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: seu
Chinese: 他的
Croatian: njegov
Czech: jeho
Danish: hans
Dutch: zijn
European Spanish: suyo él
Finnish: hänen miespuolinen
French: le sien
German: sein
Greek: δικός του
Italian: il suo
Japanese: 彼のもの
Korean: 그의 것
Norwegian: hans
Polish: jego
European Portuguese: seu
Romanian: el
Russian: его
Latin American Spanish: suyo
Swedish: hans
Thai: ของเขาผู้ชาย
Turkish: onun erkek
Ukrainian: його
Vietnamese: thứ của anh ấy
All related terms of 'his'
bahuvrihi
a class of compound words consisting of two elements the first of which is a specific feature of the second
binghi
an Aboriginal person
of his
belonging to or associated with him
his/her
his or her
his/hers
his or hers
his nibs
a mock title used of someone in authority
his and hers
(of paired objects) for a man and woman respectively
nob
If you refer to a group of people as the nobs , you mean they are rich or come from a much higher social class than you do.
one for his nob
the call made with this jack , scoring one point
what's-his-name
a boy or man whose name is unknown , temporarily forgotten , or deliberately overlooked
every dog has his day
something good or lucky happens to everyone at one time or another
give the devil his due
to acknowledge the talent or the success of an opponent or unpleasant person
Your Excellency His Excellency Her Excellency
You use expressions such as Your Excellency or Her Excellency when you are addressing or referring to officials of very high rank, for example ambassadors or governors .
all the world and his wife
a large group of people of various kinds
beard the lion in his den
to approach a feared or influential person, esp in order to ask a favour
sweep someone off his feet
to inspire strong and immediate enthusiasm , love, etc. in someone
take someone at his word
to take someone's words literally or seriously and, often, act accordingly
clear your debts
A debt is a sum of money that you owe someone.
a man/woman of his/her word
If you refer to someone as a man of his word or a woman of her word , you mean that they always keep their promises and can be relied on.
give a person his or her due
to give or allow a person what is deserved or right
give someone his or her head
to allow a person greater freedom or responsibility
express your opinion
Your opinion about something is what you think or believe about it.
voice your opinion
Your opinion about something is what you think or believe about it.
all his or her geese are swans
he or she constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing
an Englishman's home is his castle
said to mean that people have the right to do what they want in their own home , and that other people or the state have no right to interfere in people's private lives
put someone in his or her place
to humble someone who is arrogant , conceited , forward, etc
take someone at his or her word
to assume that someone means, or will do, what he or she says
consider your options
An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives .
a fool and his money are soon parted
said to mean that it is easy to persuade someone who is not sensible to spend their money on worthless things
bring someone to his or her knees
to force someone into submission
man (or woman) of his (or her) word
a person who keeps his (or her) promises
put someone through his or her paces
to test the ability of someone
send someone about his or her business
to dismiss or get rid of someone
walk a person off his or her feet
to make someone walk so fast or far that he or she is exhausted
his or her bark is worse than his or her bite
he or she is bad-tempered but harmless
a man of his years/a woman of her years
You can say a man of his years or a woman of her years to refer to that person's age in relation to something else you are talking about.
leave someone to his or her own devices
to leave someone alone to do as he or she wishes
meet someone on his or her own ground
to meet someone according to terms he or she has laid down himself or herself
pay someone back in his or her own coin
to treat a person in the way that he or she has treated others
everyone has their price
said to mean that everyone can be persuaded to do something dishonest or immoral , if they are offered a large enough amount of money
give someone a dose of his or her own medicine
to repay or punish a person for an injury by use of the offender's own methods
make someone turn (over) in his (or her) grave
to be or do something that would have shocked or distressed someone now dead
Chinese translation of 'his'
his
(hɪz)
adj
(of man, boy) 他的 (tā de)
(of animal) 它的 (tā de)
⇒ The dog is having his dinner.狗正在吃晚餐。 (Gǒu zhèngzài chī wǎncān.)
pron
(of man, boy) 他的 (tā de)
(of male animal) 它的 (tā de)
⇒ Which bowl is his?哪个食盆是它的？ (Nǎge shípén shì tā de?)
his face was very red他的脸(臉)很红(紅) (tā de liǎn hěn hóng)
these are his这(這)些是他的 (zhèxiē shì tā de)
a friend of his他的一个(個)朋友 (tā de yī gè péngyou)
All related terms of 'his'
these are his
这(這)些是他的 zhèxiē shì tā de
his jaw dropped
他大吃一惊(驚) tā dà chī yī jīng
my/his anatomy
( body ) 我/他的身体(體) wǒ/tā de shēntǐ
your/his honour
( Law ) 阁(閣)下 géxià
a friend of his
他的一个(個)朋友 tā de yī gè péngyou
against his will
违(違)背他的意愿(願) wéibèi tā de yìyuàn
at his insistence
经(經)他坚(堅)决(決)要求 jīng tā jiānjué yāoqiú
for my/his part
就我/他来(來)说(說) jiù wǒ/tā lái shuō
His/Your Highness
殿下 diànxià
on my/his behalf
代表我/他 dàibiǎo wǒ/tā
he's in his fifties
他50多岁(歲) tā wǔshí duō suì
his alcoholic father
他那嗜酒成瘾(癮)的父亲(親) tā nà shì jiǔ chéng yǐn de fùqīn
his claim to fame
他出名的来(來)由 tā chūmíng de láiyóu
his eyes misted over
他泪(淚)眼模糊 tā lèiyǎn móhu
his fall from grace
他的不得势(勢) tā de bù déshì
his hair is thinning
他的头(頭)发(髮)变(變)得稀疏了 tā de tóufa biàn de xīshū le
his name escapes me
我想不起他的名字 wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ tāde míngzì
she's half his age
她的年龄(齡)是他的一半 tā de niánlíng shì tā de yībàn
Your/His/Her Majesty
陛下 bìxià
a letter to his wife
给(給)他妻子的一封信 gěi tā qīzi de yī fēng xìn
his likes and dislikes
他的好恶(惡) tā de hàowù
I asked him his name
我问(問)他叫什么(麼) wǒ wèn tā jiào shénme
in his capacity as ...
以他作为(為) ... 的身份 yǐ tā zuòwéi ... de shēnfèn
in his/her own right
依靠他/她自身的能力 yīkào tā/tā zìshēn de nénglì
it went to his head
( alcohol ) 喝得他晕(暈)头(頭)转(轉)向 hē de tā yūn tóu zhuàn xiàng
to his/my annoyance ...
让(讓)他/我烦(煩)恼(惱)的是 ... ràng tā/wǒ fánnǎo de shì ...
all the time/his life
始终(終)/他的整个(個)一生 shǐzhōng/tāde zhěnggè yīshēng
by his/her own admission
据(據)他/她自己承认(認) jù tā/tā zìjǐ chéngrèn
he scrambled to his feet
他腾(騰)地站起来(來) tā téng de zhàn qǐlái
he's mature for his age
对(對)他的年龄(齡)而言他算是成熟的 duì tā de niánlíng ér yán tā suànshì chéngshú de
he's only doing his job
他只是在履行职(職)责(責) tā zhǐshì zài lǚxíng zhízé
his face was very red
他的脸(臉)很红(紅) tā de liǎn hěn hóng
his hunger for adventure
他想冒险(險)的强(強)烈愿(願)望 tā xiǎng màoxiǎn de qiángliè yuànwàng
his personal/working life
他的个(個)人/工作生活 tāde gèrén/gōngzuò shēnghuó
his/her accustomed response
他/她的习(習)惯(慣)反应(應) tā/tā de xíguàn fǎnyìng
through his good offices
( frm ) 通过(過)他的斡旋 tōngguò tā de wòxuán
he hid his face in his hands
他用手遮住自己的脸(臉) tā yòng shǒu zhēzhù zìjǐ de liǎn
he doesn't mince (his) words
他直言不讳(諱) tā zhíyán bù huì
his legs gave beneath him
他腿软(軟)了 tā tuǐ ruǎn le
his school/university career
他的学(學)校/大学(學)生涯 tā de xuéxiào/dàxué shēngyá
it cost him his life/job
这(這)让(讓)他付出了生命/失去工作的代价(價) zhè ràng tā fùchūle shēngmìng/shīqù gōngzuò de dàijià
it's to his credit that ...
他值得赞(讚)扬(揚)的是 ... tā zhídé zànyáng de shì ...
much of the time/his life
大多数(數)时(時)间(間)/他人生的大部分 dàduōshù shíjiān/tā rénshēng de dàbùfen