a friend of yours

USAGE SUMMARY

'a friend of yours' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is a friend to the person being addressed, such as in the sentence, "He's a friend of yours, isn't he?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Try doing the exact same search on Google with a friend of yours on your own separate computers.

HuffPost

If in the middle of your conversation, a friend of yours passes by and says "hi", greet back and introduce the shy person to your friend.

WikiHow

But if it is a friend of yours that is liking your crush, you shouldn't be too aggressive.

WikiHow

Imagine a friend of yours says something nasty to another of your friends.

Huffington Post

if your friend likes a friend of yours who you personally know is a bit of a player or compulsive liar it is best to tell them beforehand.

WikiHow

Think about how many times in your life you or a friend of yours casually uttered, "That's insane".

Huffington Post

Ask your friends - Maybe a friend of yours has hired one before and had an excellent experience.

WikiHow

For example, a friend of yours need help for his big presentation, or your neighbor needs a good painting that can be hang in his wall.

WikiHow

Follow Mack Lamoureux on Theyter.

Vice

Suggest date nights between you and your date (if he gets over you) and him with a friend of yours.

WikiHow

A friend of yours that has a Webkinz plushie can visit and spend the night in your cozy little home!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a friend of yours" when you want to casually refer to someone known to the person you are speaking to. It implies familiarity and shared context.

Common error

Avoid using "a friend of you" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive form is "a friend of yours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friend of yours" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a possessive construction. It identifies a person who has a friendship relation with the person being addressed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a friend of yours" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to refer to someone known by the person being addressed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a standard and acceptable expression in various contexts, especially in news, media and informal conversations. While alternatives like ""someone you know"" or ""an acquaintance of yours"" exist, "a friend of yours" remains a direct and widely understood way to inquire about or mention a mutual connection. Remember to use the correct possessive form "yours" and avoid the incorrect "a friend of you".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pal of yours

Replaces "friend" with "pal", suggesting a slightly more informal relationship.

a mutual friend

Indicates a friend shared by both the speaker and the person being addressed.

someone you know

Broadens the relationship to include anyone familiar to the person being addressed.

an acquaintance of yours

Specifies a casual or less intimate relationship than a friend.

someone you're acquainted with

Similar to "an acquaintance", but slightly more verbose.

someone in your social circle

Refers to someone within the person's network of contacts.

a connection of yours

Implies a professional or social link rather than necessarily a close friendship.

a comrade of yours

Suggests a shared activity or allegiance.

one of your associates

More formal, suggesting a business or professional relationship.

a fellow member

Implies membership in the same group or organization.

FAQs

How can I use "a friend of yours" in a sentence?

You can use "a friend of yours" to refer to someone known by the person you're addressing, for example, "Is she "a friend of yours"?"

What are some alternatives to "a friend of yours"?

Alternatives include "someone you know", "an acquaintance of yours", or "a mutual friend" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a friend of you" instead of "a friend of yours"?

No, "a friend of you" is grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive pronoun to use is "yours", making the correct phrase ""a friend of yours"".

When is it appropriate to use "a friend of yours" in conversation?

It's appropriate when you are referencing someone with whom you assume the person you are speaking to has some familiarity. For example, "I heard "a friend of yours" is getting married."