a pair of ours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of ours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to two items or people that belong to the speaker and another person or group. Example: "We have a pair of ours that we always take on vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She could've at least had the courtesy to buy a pair of ours".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A friend of ours passed a pair of teen-age girls trotting home from school and heard one of them utter an incredulous squeak: "You mean….

The New Yorker

By A. B. C. Whipple and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, April 14 , 1945P. 15 A friend of ours passed a pair of teen-age girls trotting home from school and heard one of them utter an incredulous squeak: "You mean your father and mother know you read PM?" View Article By Jia Tolentino By Ceridwen Dovey By Rivka Galchen By David Remnick.

The New Yorker

A pair of friends.

The New Yorker

A pair of shoes?

The New York Times

A pair of defective marriages.

The New Yorker

A pair of Levi's.

The New York Times

A pair of platform shoes.

The New York Times

A pair of tens arrived.

The New Yorker

A pair of boots 26.

The New York Times

Imagine a pair of electrons.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pair of ours" to subtly indicate shared ownership or affiliation, especially when referring to items or abstract qualities like ideas or experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "a pair of ours" excessively in formal writing or professional settings. Opt for more direct and explicit language to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of ours" functions as a possessive determiner phrase, indicating that two specific items or entities belong to a group including the speaker. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a pair of ours" is a grammatically correct possessive phrase used to indicate that two items or individuals belong to a group including the speaker. Ludwig AI indicates that its frequency is rare but usable. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, such as news or general writing. Related phrases like "some of our own" or "a couple that's ours" can offer similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis. When writing, be mindful of overusing it in highly formal settings to maintain clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple that's ours

Uses "that's ours" to explicitly state ownership, similar to the original phrase.

two items that are ours

Directly states that two items belong to the speaker and others.

a set belonging to us

Rephrases the idea of possession using "belonging to us" instead of the possessive pronoun "ours".

a matching pair of ours

Adds the element of 'matching' to the pair, indicating a specific characteristic they share.

some of our own

Emphasizes ownership using "of our own", implying a sense of possession or creation.

a share of our pairs

Indicates that the pair is one of many that the speaker and others own.

a duo from our collection

Implies that the pair is part of a larger collection that the speaker and others possess.

a brace we possess

Uses more formal language ("brace" and "possess") to indicate ownership of a pair.

a duplicate owned by us

Specifically refers to a duplicate item that belongs to the speaker and others.

part of what we have

Indicates that the pair is a portion of the total possessions of the speaker and others

FAQs

How can I use "a pair of ours" in a sentence?

You can use "a pair of ours" to refer to two items or people that belong to you and another person or group. For example: "We have "a pair of ours" that we always take on vacation."

What can I say instead of "a pair of ours"?

You can use alternatives like "some of our own", "a couple that's ours", or "a set belonging to us" depending on the context.

Is "a pair of ours" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a pair of ours" is grammatically correct. It uses the possessive pronoun "ours" to indicate ownership of a pair of items or individuals.

When is it appropriate to use "a pair of ours"?

"A pair of ours" is appropriate when you want to indicate that a specific pair belongs to a group that includes you. It works well in informal conversation or writing where subtle indication of shared ownership is desired.