Their, there, and they’re sound the same, but they mean different things.
Use their for possession, there for place or existence, and they’re when you mean they are.
Correct:
- Their dog is friendly.
- The dog is over there.
- They’re walking the dog.
The easiest rule is this: their belongs, there points, and they’re means they are.
Quick Answer
Use their when something belongs to people, animals, a group, or a person referred to as they.
Example:
- Their car is parked outside.
Use there when pointing to a place or saying something exists.
Examples:
- The car is parked over there.
- There is a car outside.
Use they’re when you mean they are.
Example:
- They’re parking the car now.
Quick comparison:
| Word | Main Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| their | possession | Their house is blue. |
| there | place or existence | There is a house nearby. |
| they’re | they are | They’re moving tomorrow. |
Why People Confuse Them
Their, there, and they’re are homophones.
Homophones sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
When spoken, the three words sound alike. In writing, the spelling changes the meaning.
Compare:
- Their bikes are outside.
- The bikes are outside there.
- They’re riding their bikes.
Each word sounds the same, but each word does a different job.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Something belongs to them | their | It shows possession. |
| A place or location | there | It points to where something is. |
| Something exists | there | It works with is or are. |
| You mean they are | they’re | It is a contraction. |
| You can replace it with they are | they’re | The sentence still makes sense. |
| You can replace it with here | there | Both words can point to location. |
Meaning And Usage Difference
Their shows ownership or connection.
Examples:
- The students forgot their notebooks.
- The neighbors cleaned their yard.
- The team changed their schedule.
- Someone left their phone in the office.
In each sentence, something belongs to someone or is connected to someone.
There can point to a place.
Examples:
- Put the boxes over there.
- We went there after dinner.
- The restroom is down there.
- I left my backpack there yesterday.
There can also introduce something that exists or happens.
Examples:
- There is a meeting at noon.
- There are three messages in your inbox.
- There was a problem with the order.
- There will be a short delay.
They’re is a contraction of they are.
Examples:
- They’re ready to leave.
- They’re working late.
- They’re not home yet.
- They’re planning a surprise.
If you can replace the word with they are, use they’re.
Tone, Context, And Grammar
Their is a possessive word. It comes before a noun.
Examples:
- their house
- their teacher
- their plans
- their opinion
- their dog
Their can refer to more than one person.
Example:
- The kids packed their lunches.
It can also refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, unspecified, or not important.
Example:
- Someone left their jacket in the hallway.
There can work as a place word.
Examples:
- Stand there.
- We sat there.
- The keys are there.
There can also begin sentences with there is, there are, there was, or there were.
Examples:
- There is one seat left.
- There are two seats left.
- There was a loud noise outside.
- There were several options.
They’re is more conversational than they are because it is a contraction.
Casual:
- They’re coming soon.
More formal or emphasized:
- They are coming soon.
Both are correct. The full form often sounds more formal or more forceful.
Which One Should You Use?
Use their if the sentence is about ownership.
Test:
- Can you replace it with belonging to them?
Example:
- Their keys are on the counter.
Meaning:
- The keys belonging to them are on the counter.
Use there if the sentence points to a place.
Test:
- Can you replace it with here and still have a place idea?
Example:
- The keys are there.
Place test:
- The keys are here.
Use there if the sentence introduces existence.
Examples:
- There is a package at the door.
- There are cookies in the kitchen.
Use they’re if the sentence means they are.
Test:
- Can you replace it with they are?
Example:
- They’re on the way.
Expanded:
- They are on the way.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
Use there, not their, when introducing something.
Incorrect:
- Their is a package at the door.
Correct:
- There is a package at the door.
Use their, not there, when showing possession.
Incorrect:
- The kids packed there lunches.
Correct:
- The kids packed their lunches.
Use they’re, not their, when the sentence means they are.
Incorrect:
- Their going to be late.
Correct:
- They’re going to be late.
Use their, not they’re, before a noun that belongs to someone.
Incorrect:
- I like they’re new apartment.
Correct:
- I like their new apartment.
Use there, not they’re, for a place.
Incorrect:
- Put the bags over they’re.
Correct:
- Put the bags over there.
Common Mistakes And Quick Fixes
Using Their Instead Of There
Incorrect:
- Their are snacks in the kitchen.
Correct:
- There are snacks in the kitchen.
The sentence introduces something that exists.
Using There Instead Of Their
Incorrect:
- The students raised there hands.
Correct:
- The students raised their hands.
The hands belong to the students.
Using Their Instead Of They’re
Incorrect:
- Their waiting outside.
Correct:
- They’re waiting outside.
The sentence means they are waiting outside.
Using They’re Instead Of Their
Incorrect:
- I borrowed they’re laptop.
Correct:
- I borrowed their laptop.
The laptop belongs to them.
Using There Instead Of They’re
Incorrect:
- There going to call us later.
Correct:
- They’re going to call us later.
The sentence means they are going to call us later.
Forgetting The Apostrophe In They’re
Incorrect:
- Theyre ready.
Correct:
- They’re ready.
The apostrophe shows that letters are missing from they are.
Everyday Examples
Their In Sentences
- Their team won the game.
- Their parents are waiting outside.
- The employees updated their passwords.
- Someone left their water bottle on the desk.
- The dogs wagged their tails.
- The students turned in their essays.
There In Sentences
- The gym is over there.
- I saw your backpack there.
- There is a new café near the office.
- There are two missed calls on your phone.
- We stayed there for three nights.
- There was a mistake in the report.
They’re In Sentences
- They’re celebrating after the game.
- They’re working from home today.
- They’re not ready yet.
- They’re planning to arrive at six.
- They’re asking for an update.
- They’re going to send the file later.
All Three In One Sentence
- Their parents are waiting there, and they’re ready to leave.
- There are snacks in their bag, but they’re saving them for later.
- I saw their bikes over there, so I think they’re nearby.
- They’re moving their boxes over there.
- There is a problem with their order, and they’re calling support.
Synonyms Or Closest Alternatives
Closest alternatives for their:
- belonging to them
- owned by them
- connected to them
Example:
- Their house is blue.
- The house belonging to them is blue.
Closest alternatives for there:
- in that place
- at that place
- that location
Example:
- Wait there.
- Wait in that place.
Closest alternative for they’re:
- they are
Example:
- They’re ready.
- They are ready.
These alternatives are mainly tests. They are not always the smoothest replacements in real sentences.
Quick Memory Fix Or Rule Of Thumb
Use these three memory tricks:
Their has heir inside it. An heir receives something, so their shows ownership.
There has here inside it. Both words can point to a place.
They’re has an apostrophe because it is short for they are.
Quick check:
- Their = belongs to them
- There = place or existence
- They’re = they are
If they are fits, use they’re.
If the word shows ownership, use their.
If the word points to a place or introduces something, use there.
FAQs
What is the difference between their, there, and they’re?
Their shows possession.
There points to a place or introduces something that exists.
They’re means they are.
Examples:
- Their dog is friendly.
- The dog is over there.
- They’re walking the dog.
When should I use their?
Use their when something belongs to people, animals, a group, or a person referred to as they.
Example:
- The students opened their books.
The books belong to the students.
When should I use there?
Use there for a place or to introduce something.
Examples:
- Sit over there.
- There is a message for you.
The first sentence points to a place. The second says something exists.
When should I use they’re?
Use they’re when you mean they are.
Example:
- They’re leaving soon.
Expanded:
- They are leaving soon.
If they are does not fit, do not use they’re.
Are their, there, and they’re pronounced the same?
Yes. In standard speech, their, there, and they’re are usually pronounced the same.
That is why they are easy to confuse in writing.
Is their only plural?
No. Their can refer to more than one person, but it can also refer to one person when using singular they.
Example:
- Someone forgot their phone.
This is common when the person is unknown, unspecified, or referred to with they.
Is there’s the same as theirs?
No. There’s means there is or there has.
Example:
- There’s a package outside.
Theirs means something belongs to them.
Example:
- That package is theirs.
Is it their going or they’re going?
The correct phrase is they’re going.
Correct:
- They’re going to the store.
Expanded:
- They are going to the store.
Is it there are or their are?
The correct phrase is there are.
Correct:
- There are three chairs in the room.
Use there to introduce something that exists.
What is the easiest way to remember their, there, and they’re?
Remember this:
- Their = belongs to them
- There = place or existence
- They’re = they are
The fastest test is they’re = they are. If they are does not fit, choose their or there based on meaning.
Conclusion
Use their for possession, there for place or existence, and they’re for they are.
These words sound the same, but they do different jobs in writing.
The simplest memory rule is this: their belongs, there points, and they’re means they are.
