There vs Their vs They’re: Clear Meanings and Examples

There, their, and they’re sound alike, but they have completely different grammatical jobs.

• Use there when referring to a place or introducing the existence of something. Use their to show that something belongs or relates to certain people, animals, or things. Use they’re as the contraction of they are.

• Put the package over there.
• The students submitted their assignments.
• They’re waiting outside.

These words are homophones: they usually have the same pronunciation but different spellings and meanings. Because a spelling checker may not catch the wrong choice, writers must use the sentence’s meaning to select the correct form.

Quick Answer

The difference is simple:

• There refers to a place or introduces something that exists: There is a problem.
• Their shows possession or association: Their car is outside.
• They’re means they are: They’re ready to leave.

Cambridge and Merriam-Webster support these core distinctions. Cambridge Grammar, Merriam-Webster

Use this sentence to see all three together:

They’re taking their children over there.

It means:

They are taking the children who belong to them to that place.

Is It Their or There?

Their and there are different words. Their shows possession, as in They brought their dog. There refers to a place or introduces something, as in The dog is over there or There is a problem. A simple trick is to remember that their contains heir, a person who can inherit something.

How Do You Remember the Three There’s?

The three commonly confused words are there, their, and they’re:

• There = a place or introduces something: The keys are over there.
• Their = shows possession: That is their house.
• They’re = contraction of they are: They’re coming soon.

Try replacing they’re with they are. If the sentence still makes sense, they’re is correct.

Why Do People Say “There” Instead of “Their”?

People sometimes pronounce there and their so similarly that they confuse the two in speech or writing. In many varieties of English, the words can sound identical or nearly identical. The correct spelling depends on the meaning: use their for possession and there for a place or other grammatical uses.

Why People Confuse Them

People confuse these words mainly because they sound alike in everyday speech. When someone says “their,” you cannot always identify the spelling from pronunciation alone.

The three forms also appear frequently in ordinary writing. A writer may know the difference but still type the wrong one while working quickly.

However, each word has a separate job:

Word	Grammatical Role	Basic Meaning	Example
There	Adverb or introductory word	In that place; something exists	The keys are there.
Their	Possessive determiner	Belonging or relating to them	Their keys are missing.
They’re	Contraction	They are	They’re looking for the keys.

Instead of choosing by sound, examine what the sentence needs: a place, possession, or the words they are.

What Does There Mean?

There commonly refers to a place, position, point, or situation. It often answers the question “Where?”

• Your phone is over there.
• We went there after lunch.
• Please put the chairs there.
• She has lived there for five years.

A useful memory trick is that there contains here. Both words relate to location:

• Here means this place.
• There means that place.

There For A Physical Place

Use there when referring to a real location:

• The grocery store is right there.
• We left the car over there.
• Have you ever been there?
• Please wait there until I return.

There For An Abstract Point Or Situation

A location does not always need to be physical. There can also refer to a point in a conversation, process, or situation:

• I disagree with you there.
• Let’s stop there for today.
• The discussion became confusing from there.
• You can take the project from there.

There Is And There Are

Use there to introduce the existence or presence of someone or something:

• There is a message for you.
• There are three messages for you.
• There was a problem with the order.
• There were several problems with the order.
• There will be enough food for everyone.

The noun after the verb normally determines whether the verb should be singular or plural:

• There is one chair.
• There are four chairs.
• There was one delay.
• There were several delays.

In casual speech, people sometimes say sentences such as “There’s two options.” In careful writing, use there are with a plural noun:

There are two options.

There In Questions

There also appears in questions about existence or availability:

• Is there enough time?
• Are there any seats available?
• Was there a meeting yesterday?
• Were there any complaints?
• Will there be a test tomorrow?

In these examples, there does not show possession and cannot be replaced with their or they’re.

What Does Their Mean?

Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that a noun belongs or relates to the people, animals, or things represented by they.

• The students opened their books.
• The dogs wagged their tails.
• The companies announced their results.
• My neighbors sold their house.

Their normally comes before a noun:

• Their car
• Their family
• Their decision
• Their responsibilities
• Their ideas

Ask, “Whose thing is this?” If the answer is “It belongs or relates to them,” use their.

Their Does Not Always Mean Legal Ownership

Possession in grammar includes more than owning an object. Their can show a relationship, characteristic, action, responsibility, or experience:

• The children raised their hands.
• The players celebrated their victory.
• The trees lost their leaves.
• The employees finished their work.
• The visitors shared their opinions.

The players do not own a victory in the same way they own shoes. Still, the victory relates to them, so their is correct.

Their With Singular They

Their can also refer to one person when that person’s gender is unknown, unspecified, or represented by they/them pronouns:

• Someone left their jacket.
• Every applicant should bring their identification.
• Taylor said their appointment starts at noon.

This use of singular their is established in modern standard English. Merriam-Webster

Their Versus Theirs

Their and theirs both express possession, but they appear in different structures.

Use their before a noun:

That is their car.

Use theirs without a following noun:

That car is theirs.

Incorrect:

That is theirs car.

Correct:

That is their car.

Also correct:

That car is theirs.

What Does They’re Mean?

They’re is a contraction of they are. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a.

• They are → they’re

Examples:

• They’re coming to dinner.
• They’re excited about the trip.
• I think they’re at home.
• They’re two of my closest friends.
• The shoes are expensive, but they’re comfortable.

They’re can refer to people, animals, or things:

• The students are ready. They’re waiting outside.
• The puppies are hungry. They’re barking.
• These phones are affordable, and they’re reliable.

Use The Expansion Test

Replace they’re with they are. If the expanded sentence makes sense, they’re is correct.

Original:

They’re planning a party.

Test:

They are planning a party.

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

Incorrect:

We visited they’re house.

Test:

We visited they are house.

The expanded sentence does not make sense. Because the house belongs to them, use their:

We visited their house.

When Not To Use They’re

Do not use they’re when you mean they were, they have, or they will.

• They’re = they are
• They’ve = they have
• They’ll = they will

Incorrect:

They’re finished the project.

Correct:

They’ve finished the project.

Also correct with a different meaning:

They’re finished with the project.

In the second version, they’re expands naturally to they are.

Tone, Context, And Formality

There and their work in every level of English, from casual conversations to formal academic and professional writing.

They’re is standard, but contractions can create a more conversational tone:

Formal or neutral:

They are responsible for submitting their reports.

More conversational:

They’re responsible for submitting their reports.

Both versions are grammatically correct. However, some highly formal documents may avoid contractions. In those cases, write they are instead of they’re.

The choice between there, their, and they’re is not a question of formality. Writers must choose the form that provides the intended meaning.

Which One Should You Use?

Use this three-step test:

Use There For A Place Or Existence

Ask:

• Does the word identify a place?
• Does it introduce something that exists?
• Could there contrast with here?

If yes, use there:

Your bag is over there.

There is a bag on the table.

Use Their Before Something Related To Them

Ask:

• Does something belong or relate to them?
• Does a noun come immediately after the word?
• Could I say “the ___ belonging to them”?

If yes, use their:

Their bag is on the table.

Use They’re When You Mean They Are

Replace the word with they are. If the sentence still works, use they’re:

They’re carrying the bag.

They are carrying the bag.

When One Choice Sounds Wrong

Using there instead of their removes the possessive meaning:

Incorrect:

The students forgot there books.

Correct:

The students forgot their books.

Using their instead of there creates a location error:

Incorrect:

Put the books over their.

Correct:

Put the books over there.

Using they’re instead of their produces the words they are in a place where the sentence needs possession:

Incorrect:

The students forgot they’re books.

Expansion:

The students forgot they are books.

Correct:

The students forgot their books.

Finally, using their instead of they’re leaves the sentence without a proper verb:

Incorrect:

Their going to the library.

Correct:

They’re going to the library.

Common Mistakes And Quick Fixes

There Going To Arrive Soon

Incorrect:

There going to arrive soon.

Correct:

They’re going to arrive soon.

Reason: The sentence means they are going.

They’re House Is Nearby

Incorrect:

They’re house is nearby.

Correct:

Their house is nearby.

Reason: The house belongs or relates to them.

Their Is No Reason To Worry

Incorrect:

Their is no reason to worry.

Correct:

There is no reason to worry.

Reason: The sentence introduces the existence of a reason.

The Keys Are Over They’re

Incorrect:

The keys are over they’re.

Correct:

The keys are over there.

Reason: The sentence refers to a location.

There Children Are Outside

Incorrect:

There children are outside.

Correct:

Their children are outside.

Reason: The children relate to the people being discussed.

They’re Car Broke Down Over Their

Incorrect:

They’re car broke down over their.

Correct:

Their car broke down over there.

Reason: Their shows possession, while there identifies the place.

Easy Memory Tricks

There Contains Here

Both there and here refer to places:

The package is there, not here.

Their Contains Heir

An heir receives or owns something. This connection can help you remember that their relates to possession.

It is their property.

The words are not identical in meaning, but the spelling connection provides a useful reminder.

They’re Has An Apostrophe

The apostrophe shows that letters are missing:

They’re = they are

If you cannot replace the word with they are, do not use they’re.

Use One Complete Reminder Sentence

They’re bringing their dog over there.

• They’re = they are
• Their = belonging to them
• There = that place

Everyday Examples

Examples With There

Your shoes are over there.

We stayed there for two nights.

There is coffee in the kitchen.

There are several ways to solve the problem.

Is there anything I can do?

The conversation ended there.

We can continue from there tomorrow.

There were no empty seats.

I have never been there before.

Place the package there.

Examples With Their

The children packed their lunches.

Our neighbors painted their house.

The players wore their new uniforms.

The company changed its policies after employees shared their concerns.

Each student should check their email.

The birds returned to their nests.

The customers received their refunds.

My friends brought their own chairs.

The dogs chased their tails.

The authors signed their books.

Examples With They’re

They’re waiting in the car.

I think they’re ready.

They’re planning to move next month.

The cookies look delicious, but they’re still hot.

They’re two of the best players on the team.

We know they’re working hard.

They’re going to call us later.

If they’re available, invite them.

They’re responsible for locking the door.

The children said they’re hungry.

Examples Using All Three

They’re leaving their bags over there.

Their parents said they’re already there.

There is a chance they’re bringing their children.

They’re going there to collect their order.

Their car is parked there because they’re visiting us.

When they’re finished, they can put their equipment there.

There are several reasons why they’re changing their plans.

They’re proud because their team won over there.

Dictionary-Style Word Details

Verb

• There: Not a verb. It commonly functions as an adverb or introduces a clause about existence.
• Their: Not a verb. It is a possessive determiner.
• They’re: A contraction containing the pronoun they and the verb are.

Example:

They’re working there with their manager.

Noun

• There: It can occasionally function as a noun meaning a place or point, as in “from there.”
• Their: Not a noun. It comes before a noun to show possession or association.
• They’re: Not a noun. It is the contraction of they are.

Synonyms

Exact synonyms do not fit all uses because these words serve grammatical functions.

There, when referring to a location:

• In that place
• At that location
• At that point

Their:

No exact general synonym exists. Depending on the context, writers may recast it as belonging to them.

They’re:

The exact expanded form is they are.

Example Sentences

There:

We left the package there.

There are two packages outside.

Their:

The neighbors collected their packages.

The students explained their ideas.

They’re:

They’re collecting the packages now.

They’re ready to explain their ideas.

Word History

The three words developed from different grammatical sources even though their pronunciations eventually became similar.

There has a long connection with place and position. Their developed as the possessive form associated with they. They’re appeared later as a contracted form of they are.

Their shared pronunciation does not indicate a shared meaning.

Phrases Containing

There:

• Over there
• Out there
• There is
• There are
• There you go
• Here and there
• From there
• Then and there
• Been there, done that
• Neither here nor there

Their:

• Their own
• Their way
• Their best
• Their decision
• Their responsibility
• Their point of view
• Their fair share
• On their behalf

They’re:

• They’re ready
• They’re coming
• They’re going
• They’re here
• They’re there
• They’re working
• They’re expected to
• They’re supposed to

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Use there for a place, position, or the existence of something:

There is a restaurant over there.

• Use their when something belongs or relates to people, animals, or things:

Their restaurant opens at noon.

Use they’re whenever you can replace it with they are:

They’re opening the restaurant now.

• The quickest test is to check the sentence’s meaning. If you need a place, choose there. If you need possession, choose their. If you mean they are, choose they’re.