Their, There, They’re
The Three Words
These words sound the same but mean different things.
Their - Possession
“Their” shows ownership. It means “belonging to them.”
Examples
- Their car is red. (The car belongs to them.)
- I love their house. (The house belongs to them.)
- Their children are playing. (The children belong to them.)
- Where are their keys? (The keys belong to them.)
Quick Check
Replace with “our” or “his/her.” If it still makes sense, use “their.”
- ✓ Their dog is cute. → Our dog is cute. ✓
There - Place/Existence
“There” refers to a place or is used with “is/are” to say something exists.
Place
- Put it over there. (in that location)
- I’ve never been there. (to that place)
- There it is! (in that location)
Existence
- There is a problem. (A problem exists.)
- There are three cats. (Three cats exist.)
- Is there any milk? (Does milk exist?)
Quick Check
Replace with “here.” If it makes sense for location, use “there.”
- ✓ Put it over there. → Put it over here. ✓
They’re - Contraction
“They’re” = “they are”
Examples
- They’re coming tomorrow. (They are coming.)
- I think they’re happy. (They are happy.)
- They’re not ready yet. (They are not ready.)
- They’re my friends. (They are my friends.)
Quick Check
Replace with “they are.” If it makes sense, use “they’re.”
- ✓ They’re late. → They are late. ✓
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| their | possession | Their house is big. |
| there | place/exists | The book is over there. |
| they’re | they are | They’re coming. |
All Three in One Sentence
They’re putting their bags over there. (They are putting the bags belonging to them in that place.)
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| There coming. | They’re coming. |
| Put it over their. | Put it over there. |
| Theyre car is red. | Their car is red. |
| There always late. | They’re always late. |
Homophones like their/there/they’re are a leading source of written errors. A quick trick: there contains here — use it for places. They’re = they are (try the expansion test). Their = belonging to them.