The words they, there and there are commonly confused because they are homophones, meaning they sound similar.
The difference between there, their and they’re:
Their: /ˈθɛər/
‘Their’ is a possessive adjective that refers to ownership or belonging to a group.
Examples:
- Their car is blue.
- The students carry their books with them.
- They did their job well.
- I visited their friends.
- Their team won the match.
There: /ˈðɛər/
‘There’ is an adverb indicating location, direction, or existence. It introduces a sentence or clause.
Examples:
- There is a party tonight.
- There she is!
- There is the food court.
- The book is there on the table.
- There is a sale at the store.
They’re: /ˈθɛər/
‘They’re’ is a contraction of ‘they are’ used instead of ‘they are’ in informal writing or speech.
Examples:
- They’re coming to the party.
- They’re arriving soon.
- They’re mismatched
- They’re going to love this.
- I think they’re here already.
Correct usage of their, there and they’re:
1. Their car is parked there. (possessive adjective + adverb)
2. They're going there for dinner. (contraction + adverb)
3. Put their books over there. (possessive adjective + adverb)
4. There are many people there. (adverb + adverb)
5. They're happy with their new home. (contraction + possessive adjective)
How to avoid ‘their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re mistakes:
Follow these tips to avoid the confusion:
Understand the meanings:
- Learn the definition of each word.
- Recognize content clues.
Writing:
- Proofread carefully.
- Replace ‘they’re’ with ‘they are’ to avoid confusion.
- Use ‘their’ for possession and ‘there’ for location.
- Slow down when writing.
Speaking:
- Enunciate clearly and carefully.
- Pause before speaking to choose the correct word.
- Practice speaking slowly.
Practice:
- Do a lot of exercises like Filling blanks and identifying correct words.
- Practice online quizzes.
- Practice word puzzles and crosswords.
Mindfulness:
- Be aware of homophones
- Double-check usage.
- Ask for clarification.
FAQ's
Their: possessive adjective, There: adverb (location/direction), They're: contraction (they are).
No, each has a distinct meaning and usage.
Use "their" for possession (e.g., "Their car is red").
Yes, "theirs" is the possessive pronoun form of "their".
Yes, "there" can indicate existence (e.g., "There are many options") or presence.
While informal, "they're" is commonly used in formal writing; however, "they are" may be preferred.
Yes, "they're" is exclusively a contraction of "they are".
Similar pronunciation and spelling lead to confusion.
Practice, learn context, and seek resources.
Create flashcards, practice regularly, and focus on context.
Commonly Confused Words: Their, There, and They’re