them leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "them leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the action of a group of people departing or going away. Example: "I was surprised by them leaving so early in the evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There's no sign of them leaving.

The New Yorker

We have no sighting of them leaving.

The Guardian

Them leaving the sport is a danger, obviously.

Independent

They recruit them leaving the older, sicker seniors in Medicare.

The New York Times

Roughly chop them, leaving some of the pieces quite large.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She describes them leaving her father as a "liberation".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The reality of them leaving is hard to digest emotionally".

The Guardian - Film

Eventually, in six years or so, the coral will completely overtake them, leaving only suggestive shapes.

The New York Times

They then put up a huge number of barriers to them leaving [hospital].

Independent

"I have caught them leaving the park with coolers full of fish and turtles," she said.

The New York Times

How am I going to stop them leaving the lot?" she asked the officer.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "them leaving", ensure the context clearly indicates who "them" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For better clarity, you might consider replacing "them" with the specific group or individuals.

Common error

Avoid unclear pronoun references. Ensure "them" is explicitly defined or easily understood from the context. For example, instead of "I saw them leaving", specify "I saw the students leaving" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "them leaving" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun within a sentence. This phrase can serve as the subject, object, or complement, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "them leaving" is a grammatically sound and common gerund phrase used to describe the act of a group departing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. While versatile across contexts, it's crucial to ensure clarity by explicitly defining "them" to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "their departure" or "they are exiting" can provide varied phrasing. With its frequent appearance in news and media, mastering its usage enhances clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their departure

Replaces the gerund phrase with a noun phrase using the possessive pronoun and noun form of the verb.

their exit

Replaces the gerund phrase with a noun phrase emphasizing the act of exiting.

them exiting

Uses a gerund form of exit. Slightly less common but conveys the same meaning.

them departing

Similar to "them exiting", using "departing" as the gerund.

they are exiting

Changes the phrase to a present continuous tense, focusing on the action in progress.

they are departing

Substitutes "leaving" with the synonym "departing", maintaining the present continuous tense.

when they leave

Transforms the phrase into a clause, specifying a time or condition.

as they left

Transforms the phrase into a past tense clause, focusing on a completed action.

they go away

Uses a simpler verb phrase to express the same idea.

they withdraw

Uses a more formal verb to indicate departure or removal.

FAQs

How can I use "them leaving" in a sentence?

You can use "them leaving" as a noun phrase acting as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example: "The reality of them leaving is hard to digest emotionally."

What are some alternatives to using "them leaving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "their departure", "they are exiting", or "they are departing".

Is "them leaving" grammatically correct?

Yes, "them leaving" is grammatically correct. "Them" functions as a pronoun, and "leaving" is a gerund, together forming a gerund phrase that can act as a noun.

What's the difference between "them leaving" and "they leaving"?

"Them leaving" is correct because "them" functions as the object of the implied verb (similar to "I saw them"). "They leaving" is generally incorrect as "they" is a subject pronoun.