They’re, Their, There: Understanding Homophones in English Grammar
Quick Answer
There means a place, or starts a sentence like “there is.” Their means something belongs to them. They’re is short for “they are.”
They all sound the same, but they mean three very different things.
There, Their, and They’re — See the Difference
These three words sound exactly the same when you say them. But look at how different they are in a sentence:
- The shop is over there. (A place — where is it?)
- The children forgot their lunch boxes. (It belongs to them.)
- They’re coming to the party tonight. (They are coming.)
- There are two cats in the garden. (Starting a sentence with “there is/are.”)
Did you see the pattern? One word is about a place. One word shows something belongs to people. And one word is short for “they are.”
| Word | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There | A place, or “there is / there are” | “Look over there.” |
| Their | Belongs to them | “Their house is big.” |
| They’re | Short for “they are” | “They’re happy.” |
When to Use There, Their, and They’re
Use there in two ways:
- To talk about a place: “The keys are over there.” (Where? Over there.)
- To start a sentence with “there is” or “there are”: “There is a problem.” (Something exists.)
Use their to show possession or a relationship with they. It can refer to several people or to one person whose pronoun is they.
- “The students opened their books.” (The books belong to the students.)
- “My neighbours painted their house.” (The house belongs to the neighbours.)
Use they’re when you mean “they are”:
- “They’re late again.” (They are late again.)
- “I think they’re very kind.” (I think they are very kind.)
Easy way to remember: Try replacing the word with “they are.” If the sentence still makes sense, use they’re. If not, ask: does it show who owns something? Use their. Otherwise, it is there.
The Rule in One Line: There = a place. Their = belongs to them. They’re = they are.
Real-Life Examples With There, Their, and They’re
- Put the bags down over there. (A place — where to put the bags.)
- There are three messages on your phone. (Something exists — three messages.)
- My friends changed their plans. (The plans belong to my friends.)
- They’re moving to a new flat next month. (They are moving.)
- The dogs are eating their food, and they’re making a mess over there. (All three in one sentence!)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With There, Their, and They’re
These words can be confused because they sound alike. Check the meaning before choosing the spelling.
✗ Their going to the beach tomorrow.
✓ They’re going to the beach tomorrow.
✗ The kids left they’re toys on the floor.
✓ The kids left their toys on the floor.
✗ Over their, you will find the shop.
✓ Over there, you will find the shop.
How to remember: Always try the “they are” test first. Read the sentence and replace the word with “they are.” If it sounds right, write they’re. If not, check: does something belong to someone? Use their. Everything else is there.
Other confusing word sets like this: who’s/whose, your/you’re, it’s/its.
Test Yourself: There, Their, or They’re?
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. _______ going to the cinema tonight.
2. The children left _______ bags at school.
3. Put the books over _______.
4. I think _______ the best players on the team.
5. _______ are three cats in the garden.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You have practised three different meanings. Write one sentence using each form: there, their and they’re.
Next, compare who’s, which can mean who is or who has, with whose, which asks or shows who something belongs to.
Next lesson: Who’s vs Whose: Understanding Usage with Clear Examples
Source
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.