"There" vs "Their" vs "They're": Meaning and Memory Trick
There vs their vs they're — three homophones, three meanings, and a simple trick to never confuse them again.
“there,” “their,” and “they’re” sound identical. They are spelled differently and mean completely different things. This trio causes more errors than almost any other set of words in English.
Contraction of “they are”:
They’re coming to dinner. (= They are coming)
I think they’re happy. (= they are happy)
Test: Replace with “they are.” If it works → they’re.
Shows that something belongs to “them”:
Their house is beautiful.
The students forgot their homework.
Their idea was brilliant.
Test: Does it show ownership? If yes → their.
Two uses:
Place: “Put it there.” “Over there.” “She went there yesterday.”
Existential (no real meaning, just introduces a sentence): “There is a problem.” “There are many options.” “There was a fire.”
Test: If it’s not “they are” and not possession → there.
- They’re has an apostrophe → contraction → “they are”
- Their contains “heir” → inheritance → possession
- There contains “here” → both are about place
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Their coming soon. | They’re coming soon. |
| There house is big. | Their house is big. |
| They’re is a problem. | There is a problem. |
| Their happy. | They’re happy. |
| There going to win. | They’re going to win. |
- _____ going to the market.
- _____ are many reasons to study hard.
- The children love _____ new school.
- Put the bag over _____.
- I think _____ right.
- They’re (= They are)
- There (existential)
- their (possessive)
- there (place)
- they’re (= they are)
- They’re = they are (contraction)
- Their = belonging to them (possession)
- There = place or “there is/are” (existential)
- Memory: they’re → apostrophe → contraction; their → heir → possession; there → here → place