Their vs There vs They're: The Complete Guide

Three Words, Three Different Meanings—Explained Simply

Quick Answer

They're = "they are" (contraction). Their = possession (belonging to them). There = location or existence.

Example: They're putting their coats over there.

When to Use "They're"

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

  • They're coming to the party. → They are coming. ✓
  • They're not ready yet. → They are not ready. ✓
  • They're the best team. → They are the best team. ✓
  • They're always late. → They are always late. ✓
  • They're going to love this. → They are going to love this. ✓

When to Use "Their"

Their is a possessive pronoun—it shows that something belongs to "them."

  • Their car is parked outside. → The car belongs to them. ✓
  • Their house is beautiful. → The house belongs to them. ✓
  • I like their idea. → The idea belongs to them. ✓
  • Is that their dog? → Does the dog belong to them? ✓
  • Their names are on the list. → The names belong to them. ✓

Memory trick: "Their" contains "heir"—someone who inherits/owns things.

When to Use "There"

There indicates location or existence.

  • Put it over there. → Location ✓
  • There are many options. → Existence ✓
  • I've been there before. → Location ✓
  • There is a problem. → Existence ✓
  • Look over there! → Location ✓

Memory trick: "There" contains "here"—both relate to place/location.

Comparison Chart

Word Definition Trick to Remember Example Sentence
They're Contraction of "they are" Replace with "they are" to test "They're ready." (They are)
Their Possessive (belonging to them) Contains "heir" = ownership "That's their house."
There Location or existence Contains "here" = place "Put it over there."

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

❌ Incorrect:

"Their going to the party."

✓ Correct:

"They're going to the party."

Why? This means "They are going"—use the contraction "they're."
❌ Incorrect:

"Put it over they're."

✓ Correct:

"Put it over there."

Why? We're indicating a location—use "there."
❌ Incorrect:

"There house is big."

✓ Correct:

"Their house is big."

Why? The house belongs to them—possessive "their."
❌ Incorrect:

"They're are many options."

✓ Correct:

"There are many options."

Why? "There are" indicates existence—use "there."
❌ Incorrect:

"Is that there car?"

✓ Correct:

"Is that their car?"

Why? We're asking about possession—whose car?—use "their."

Quick Tips

💡 They're Test

Replace with "they are." If it works, use "they're."

📍 There = Here

"There" contains "here"—both relate to place/location.

👥 Their = Heir

"Their" contains "heir"—both relate to belonging/ownership.

✅ Process of Elimination

Test "they are" first. If not, check if it's about possession. If neither, it's "there."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a sentence have all three words?

Yes! "They're putting their coats over there." Each word has a different function in this sentence.

What about "there's"?

"There's" is a contraction of "there is" (e.g., "There's a problem"). Note: Avoid using "there's" with plural nouns—say "there are many" not "there's many."

Is "thier" ever correct?

No. "Thier" is always a misspelling. The correct spelling is "their" (i before e). This is one of the most common spelling errors in English.

Can "their" be singular?

Yes! Singular "they/their" is now widely accepted for gender-neutral usage: "Someone left their umbrella." This is grammatically correct in modern English.

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