Its and Their

Question

Which is the correct form to write this sentence:

Heterodimeric interactions of Arabidopsis DHNs AtCOR47, AtERD10, and AtRAB18 with its ortholog OpsDHN1 or

Heterodimeric interactions of Arabidopsis DHNs AtCOR47, AtERD10, and AtRAB18 with their ortholog OpsDHN1

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Sep 20, 2017

Thanks! - Itzell Euríd2321, Sep 20, 2017

I mean would not be used. It is't talking about a thing and not a particular person, "it's" would be used. - rac1, Sep 20, 2017

Answer 1

While it is highly likely that "their" is correct in this situation, keep in mind that "their" or "its" are possessive adjectives and as such which one is used will be determined by the singular or plural nature of the possessor/possessors, not the subject noun.

I have zero idea what each of these terms mean, but if the ortholog OpsDHN1 belongs to Arabidopsis DHNs AtCOR47, AtERD10, and AtRAB18 (as I assume it does) then use the plural possessive adjective "their." If (as I highly doubt, but it is syntactically possible) the ortholog OpsDHN1 belongs to only AtRAB18, then use the singular possessive adjective "its."

thanks jello, nice...I was thinking of "interactions" being plural...it should then be their...however, your reasoning is very logical - 006595c6, Sep 20, 2017

No worries Heidi - there could be a Nobel Prize in this so we'd better make 100% sure Itzell uses the appropriate possessive adjective :) - jellonz, Sep 20, 2017

Answer 2

I'm a native English speaker. Heidi is correct, it has to be plural.

:) - 006595c6, Sep 20, 2017

Answer 3

I actually have a vague idea of what this means, and I am sure that 'their' is correct.

thnks echoline, I was not so sure... - 006595c6, Sep 21, 2017

Answer 4

Heterodimeric interactions of Arabidopsis DHNs AtCOR47, AtERD10, and AtRAB18 with their ortholog OpsDHN1

So, the noun is interactions....it has to be their ortholog.

I had to look up all the words, jesus, this looks very complicated.

Thank you so much! - Itzell Euríd2321, Sep 20, 2017

Answer 5

I am sorry I can't answer this, itzell, we have to wait for a specialist . This is very technical.

No worries :) - Itzell Euríd2321, Sep 20, 2017

Answer 6

Thanks to all of you! this discussion was very useful.

De nada :) - rac1, Sep 21, 2017