There, Their, They’re | Difference, Meaning & Examples
Although they are pronounced in the same way, there, their and they’re have different meanings.
- There is often used with “is”/“are” to state that something exists.
- Their is a possessive adjective (like “my,” “your,” “her” etc.).
- They’re is a contraction of “they are.”
Examples: There in a sentence | Examples: Their in a sentence | Examples: They’re in a sentence |
---|---|---|
Is there any paper in the printer?
The book is over there. |
Did they all remember their passports?
Their coffee is the best in town. |
They’re all such talented musicians.
They’re from all over the world. |
How to use there
There is a very common word in English. It is used in many different ways.
Part of speech | Use | Examples |
---|---|---|
Pronoun | To say something exists or does not exist | There’s no problem with his computer. |
However, there remains a shortage of qualified workers. | ||
Adverb | To indicate a location | I left it on the table over there. |
Can you see it? There it is. Next to the tree. | ||
To refer to a place already mentioned | I used to live quite near there. | |
Interjection | To communicate satisfaction, encouragement, agitation etc. | There! All finished. |
There, I told you that you could do it. | ||
There, are you happy now? | ||
Adjective | To give emphasis | Yes, that one there. That’s right. |
To express dependability | She was there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to. | |
Noun | To mean “that point or position” | You introduce us, and I’ll take it from there. |
So, ask yourself:
- Is the meaning possessive (e.g., “their pen”)?
- Can you substitute it with “they are”?
If the answer to both of these questions is “no,” then the correct spelling is there.
Their: possessive adjective
Their is used before a noun in the same way as the other possessive adjectives “my,” “your,” “her,” “his,” “its,” “our,” and “whose.”
It corresponds to the pronoun “they” (e.g., “Do they live here? Is that their house?”)
Why is their room so much bigger than ours!
Although classified as plural in many grammars, their is often used in modern English with a singular meaning if the gender of a person is irrelevant or unknown (e.g., “I think the customer left their bag behind”).
Many academic styles such as APA Style now endorse the use of singular they and their.
They’re: contraction of they are
“They are” is frequently contracted (shortened) to they’re, particularly in speech and informal styles of writing.
Contractions should generally be avoided in formal writing such as academic writing.
I like your new shoes. They’re so stylish!
Frequently asked questions about there, their, and they're
- What does there mean?
-
The word there is used in a variety of different ways. It’s sometimes confused with their and they’re, but they have distinct meanings and spellings.
It is often used as a pronoun with “is”/“are” to say something exists or does not exist (e.g., “Is there a post office near here?”).
It is also frequently used as an adverb to indicate location (e.g., “Please put it down over there on the table”) or to refer to a place already mentioned (e.g., “Have you ever been there before?”).
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use “there,” “their,” and “they’re” correctly.
- What does they’re mean?
-
They’re is a contraction (short form) of “they are.”
It’s sometimes confused with their and there, but they have distinct meanings and spellings.