Their vs There vs They’re: What’s the Difference?

Their vs there vs they’re is one of the most common sources of confusion in English. These three words sound exactly the same when spoken, but they have completely different meanings and uses.

The easiest way to remember the difference is:

• Their shows possession or ownership.
• There refers to a place or introduces something.
• They’re is a contraction of they are.

For example:

• Their house is beautiful.
• Put the books over there.
• They’re coming to dinner tonight.

Understanding the difference between their, there, and they’re will help you avoid one of the most common grammar mistakes in English.

Their vs There vs They’re: Quick Answer

Here is the simple rule:

Their = possession

Example:
Their car is parked outside.

There = place or position

Example:
The car is over there.

They’re = they are

Example:
They’re buying a new car.

Although these words sound alike, they cannot normally be used interchangeably.

What Does Their Mean?

Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with certain people or, increasingly in standard English, a person referred to with singular they.

Examples:

• The students completed their homework.
• Sarah and John sold their house.
• The players put on their uniforms.
• Someone left their phone on the table.

In each example, their shows possession or association.

Examples of Their in Sentences

• The children cleaned their rooms.
• My neighbors are selling their car.
• The employees received their salaries.
• Everyone should bring their identification.
• The dogs were eating their food.

A useful question is:

Does something belong to someone?

If the answer is yes, their may be the correct choice.

Also read this: NA Meaning in Text: What Does NA Mean in Texting and Social Media?

What Does There Mean?

There is commonly used to refer to a place, location, or position.

For example:

• Your keys are over there.
• We went there last week.
• Please put the chair there.

It can also be used to introduce a sentence.

Examples:

• There is a problem.
• There are five students in the room.
• There will be a meeting tomorrow.

So, there does not always mean a physical place. It can also be used to state that something exists or happens.

Examples of There in Sentences

• The supermarket is over there.
• I have never been there before.
• There is some milk in the refrigerator.
• There are several options available.
• We will meet you there at 6 p.m.

What Does They’re Mean?

They’re is simply a contraction of they are.

The apostrophe replaces the missing letter in the two-word phrase.

They are → They’re

For example:

• They’re happy.

This means:

• They are happy.

Another example:

• They’re going to school.

You can expand it to:

• They are going to school.

If you can replace they’re with they are and the sentence still makes sense, you are using the correct word.

Examples of They’re in Sentences

• They’re arriving tomorrow.
• They’re studying for the exam.
• They’re very excited about the trip.
• I think they’re ready.
• They’re planning to buy a house.

In every example, they’re can be replaced with they are.

Their vs There vs They’re: Examples

Compare these three sentences:

• Their dog is friendly.
• The dog is sitting over there.
• They’re taking the dog for a walk.

Each word sounds the same but serves a different purpose.

Another example:

• Their children attend this school.
• The school is over there.
• They’re picking up the children now.

These examples demonstrate why context is important when choosing between their, there, and they’re.

How to Remember Their, There, and They’re

A few simple tricks can make these words much easier to remember.

Remember “Their” for Ownership

The word their contains the word heir.

An heir is someone who inherits or owns something.

You can use this connection to remember that their relates to possession.

Example:

• It is their property.

Remember “There” for Place

The word there contains here.

Both here and there refer to places.

For example:

• Put it here.
• Put it there.

This is one of the easiest ways to remember the spelling of there.

Remember “They’re” Means “They Are”

Look at the apostrophe.

They’re = they are

Whenever you are unsure, replace they’re with they are.

Example:

• They’re playing football.

Test:

• They are playing football.

The sentence still makes sense, so they’re is correct.

Their or There?

A common mistake is confusing their and there.

Remember:

Their indicates possession.

Example:

• That is their house.

There refers to a location or introduces the existence of something.

Example:

• Their house is over there.

Compare:

• Their bags are on the table.
• Put the bags over there.

Their or They’re?

Use their when showing possession.

Example:

• Their teacher is very helpful.

Use they’re when you mean they are.

Example:

• They’re studying English.

A simple test is to replace the word with they are.

Incorrect:

• They are teacher is helpful.

Because this does not make sense, you need their:

• Their teacher is helpful.

Correct:

• They’re studying English.
• They are studying English.

Both sentences make sense.

There or They’re?

Use there when referring to a place or when introducing something.

Examples:

• Look over there.
• There are two people waiting.

Use they’re when you mean they are.

Examples:

• They’re waiting outside.
• They’re ready to leave.

Again, try replacing they’re with they are.

If the sentence still makes sense, use they’re.

Common Mistakes With Their, There, and They’re

These homophones are frequently mixed up in informal writing.

Incorrect:

Their going to the store.

Correct:

They’re going to the store.

Why?

Because the sentence means:

They are going to the store.

Another example:

Incorrect:

The books are over their.

Correct:

The books are over there.

In this case, the sentence refers to a location.

Another common mistake is:

Incorrect:

They forgot there homework.

Correct:

They forgot their homework.

The homework belongs to them, so their is correct.

Is “Their” Singular or Plural?

Traditionally, their was mainly associated with plural subjects.

Example:

• The students finished their work.

However, their is also widely used with singular they, especially when a person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when a person uses they/them pronouns.

For example:

• Someone forgot their wallet.
• Every student should bring their notebook.

Singular they and their are established features of modern English.

Their, There, and They’re in One Sentence

You can even use all three words correctly in the same sentence.

For example:

They’re going over there to pick up their bags.

Breaking it down:

• They’re = they are
• There = location
• Their = possession

Another example:

They’re leaving their car over there.

Again:

• They’re means they are.
• Their shows who owns the car.
• There tells us where the car will be.

Practice Examples

Choose the correct word: their, there, or they’re.

1. _____ going to visit us tomorrow.
2. The students forgot _____ books.
3. Please leave the package over _____.
4. _____ are many reasons to study English.
5. I think _____ waiting outside.

Answers

1. They’re going to visit us tomorrow.
2. The students forgot their books.
3. Please leave the package over there.
4. There are many reasons to study English.
5. I think they’re waiting outside.

Also read this: NK Meaning in Text: What It Means in Messages and Social Media

Frequently Asked Questions

Their vs There vs They’re: Final Summary

Understanding their vs there vs they’re becomes much easier when you remember the purpose of each word.

Their = shows possession
There = refers to a place or introduces something
They’re = means they are

Remember this example:

They’re putting their bags over there.

If you can remember that sentence, you can quickly identify the difference between all three words.

The next time you are unsure whether to use their, there, or they’re, ask yourself whether you are talking about ownership, a place, or “they are.” That simple check can help you choose the correct word every time.