How to use there, their, and they're

Key takeaways:

  • “There” is used for location, position, or existence.

  • “Their” indicates possession.

  • “They’re” is a contraction of "they are."

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

Misusing “there,” “their,” and “they’re” is one of the most common grammar pitfalls. While they sound alike, their meanings differ significantly. “There” refers to a place or existence, “their” is a possessive form indicating ownership, and “they're” is a contraction of “they are.” This article will clarify the differences and provide examples to help you use them correctly.

There vs. Their vs. They're
There vs. Their vs. They're

What does there mean?

The word “there” points to a location or position or introduces the existence of something.

Examples:

  • She left her keys over there. (Location)

  • There is a cat under the table. (Existence)

What does their mean?

“Their” is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership.

Examples:

  • The children packed their lunches.

  • That is their car in the driveway.

What does they’re mean?

“They’re” is a contraction of “they are.” It describes actions or states of being.

Examples:

  • They’re excited to see the new movie.

  • They’re baking cookies for the party.

Quick test

Choose the correct word (there, their, or they’re) for each sentence:

  1. _____ is a beautiful garden behind the house.

  1. _____ dog is barking loudly.

  1. I think _____ planning a surprise party.

  1. Can we sit over _____ by the window?

Common mistakes

Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:

Using their for location

  • Incorrect: Their is a coffee shop nearby.
  • Correct: There is a coffee shop nearby.

Using there for possession

  • Incorrect: That is there dog.
  • Correct: That is their dog.

Mixing up “they’re” with “there”:

  • Incorrect: There going to the park.
  • Correct: They’re going to the park.

Expanding they’re incorrectly

  • Incorrect: They’re house is beautiful.
  • Correct: Their house is beautiful.

There vs. their vs. they're

Word

Meaning

Examples

There

Refers to a location, position, or existence.

"The book is over there." (Location)

Their

Shows possession or ownership.

"It’s their decision to make." (Possession)

They’re

A contraction of "they are."

"They’re going to the store." (They are)

Conclusion

Confusing “there,” “their,” and “they’re” can be frustrating, but with practice and the right tips, you can avoid these mistakes. Use the comparison table as a quick reference, and remember the key rules: there for location, their for possession, and they’re for they are.

Test your understanding: Their vs. there vs. they’re

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between “their” vs. “there” vs. “they're”:

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

The students forgot to bring _____ notebooks to class.

There

I don’t know if _____ coming to the party tonight.

Their

The Smiths love spending weekends at _____ cabin in the mountains.

They’re

We should ask if we can borrow _____ car for the weekend.

Can you tell me if _____ are any available seats at the front?

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Frequently asked questions

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How to use there, their, and they're in a sentence?

There:

  • Indicates a place or position: “There is a book on the table.”
  • Also used to introduce something: “There are many reasons for this decision.”

Their:

  • Shows possession: “This is their house.”

They’re:

  • Contraction of “they are”: They’re going to the park.”

When to use “there” or “their”?

  • There: Use “there” when referring to a place or to introduce something.
  • Their: Use “their” to show possession (belonging to them).

How to use there is and there are?

  • “There is” and “there are” are used to indicate the existence of something. The choice between them depends on whether the noun that follows is singular or plural.

There is:

  • Used with singular nouns and uncountable nouns.

  • Examples:

    • There is a cat on the mat.
    • There is some milk in the fridge.
    • There is no time to waste.

There are:

  • Used with plural nouns.

  • Examples:

    • There are two apples on the table.
    • There are many stars in the sky.
    • There are no chairs in the room.

Contractions:

  • “There is” can be contracted to “there’s.”
    • Example: There’s a cat on the mat.
  • “There are” does not have a common contraction.

Negative forms:

  • “There is not” can be contracted to “there isn’t.”
    • Example: There isn’t any milk in the fridge.
  • “There are not” can be contracted to “there aren’t.”
    • Example: There aren’t any chairs in the room.

Questions:

  • To form questions, invert the order of “there is/are.”
    • Examples:
      • Is there a cat on the mat?
      • Are there two apples on the table?

Additional notes:

  • In informal speech, “there’s” is sometimes used with plural nouns, but this is generally considered grammatically incorrect.
  • “There is/are” can be used in various tenses, such as past (there was/were) and future (there will be).

Is it “they're cute” or “their cute”?

They’re cute: This is the correct form.
They’re is the contraction of “they are.”

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