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.
Tip
If you can’t decide whether to spell it there, their or they’re, then remember that their and they’re only have one meaning.

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?”)

Examples: Their in a sentence
Their new album is out on Friday.

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.

Examples: They’re in a sentence
Do you know where they’re from?

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.

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Tom Challenger, BA

Tom holds a teaching diploma and is an experienced English language teacher, teacher trainer, and translator. He has taught university courses and worked as a teacher trainer on Cambridge CELTA courses.