friends of your

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "friends of your" is not correct in English.
It should be "friends of yours" to indicate possession. Example: "I met some friends of yours at the party last night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Friends of friends of your second cousin's neighbor's mail carrier somehow get your mobile number.

The Washington Post

But there is one crucial add-on: you can share your travel plans with friends of your choice.

The New York Times

Home-town nemeses, lunatic exes, friends of your parents: Mark Zuckerberg would like you to reconnect with them all.

The Guardian - Tech

"Don't you have friends of your own?" "Who's this loser who wants us to come round for dinner?

The Guardian - Books

Use promoted posts to reach people who are already friends of your followers, or who have identified an interest in your cause.

The Guardian

"What Enron apparently wanted to do was to control the outside partnerships, so you put your people or friends of your people in charge," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

From: A Friend of Your Country.

The New York Times

My son was a good friend of your son.

The New York Times

Noeleen was a friend of your mother's".

The New Yorker

'They' are the friend of your boyfriend's cousin's best friend's sister: fictional.

Independent

You go to the friend of your friend.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct possessive form "friends of yours" or simply "your friends".

Common error

Avoid using "friends of your"; instead, choose either the simple possessive adjective "your friends" or the possessive pronoun "friends of yours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "friends of your" functions as an incorrect possessive phrase. It attempts to identify a group of people who are in a friendship relationship with the person being addressed. Ludwig indicates that the correct forms are either "your friends" or "friends of yours".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

29%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "friends of your" appears frequently, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig points out that the correct alternatives are "your friends" or "friends of yours". The phrase is used across various contexts, but primarily in news, media, and informal settings. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, always opt for the correct possessive forms. The high frequency of this error suggests a common misunderstanding of possessive pronouns, making awareness and correction essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

your friends

This is a direct and grammatically correct way to refer to someone's friends.

friends of yours

This is the grammatically correct possessive form.

your own friends

Emphasizes that the friends belong specifically to the person being addressed.

friends that you have

More descriptive, specifying the friends that the person possesses.

the friends you mentioned

Refers to specific friends that have already been discussed.

friends belonging to you

A more formal way to express possession of friends.

friends associated with you

Highlights the connection between the person and their friends.

people you are friends with

Focuses on the reciprocal relationship of friendship.

your acquaintances

A broader term that includes people known to someone, but not necessarily close friends.

your social circle

Refers to the group of people a person interacts with socially.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "friends of your"?

The correct way to express this idea is to say "your friends" or "friends of yours". The phrase "friends of your" is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "your friends" versus "friends of yours"?

"Your friends" is generally more common and can be used in most situations. "Friends of yours" is used when you want to emphasize that they are specifically friends of yours, often in contrast to someone else's friends or other people.

What's the difference between "your friend" and "a friend of yours"?

"Your friend" refers to a specific friend that you both know or have already discussed. "A friend of yours" refers to one friend among the larger group of all your friends.

Is it ever correct to say "friends of your"?

No, the phrase "friends of your" is not grammatically correct in standard English. Always use "your friends" or "friends of yours".