Their vs There vs They’re: Which One Do You Need?
Their shows possession. There is a place. They’re is short for they are.
They’re leaving their bags over there.
The test that settles it
Expand to they are first. If that fails, ask whether something belongs to them — if it does, their. If neither, it is there.
“___ almost ready” → they are almost ready, so they’re.
“___ car broke down” → the car is theirs, so their.
There contains here — both are places. Their contains heir — and an heir owns something.
Their: possessive
Belonging to them. It always sits in front of a noun.
Their house is on the corner.
The team lost their nerve.
Students should bring their own laptops.
Swap in our. If it works, their is right.
There: place, or a dummy subject
It points at a location, or holds the subject slot in sentences such as there is and there are.
Put it over there.
There is no easy answer.
We went there last summer.
Swap in here. If it works as a place, there is right.
They’re: a contraction
Short for they are, with the apostrophe standing in for the missing a.
They’re waiting outside.
I think they’re closed today.
They’re not going to agree.
Expand it. If they are fits, keep the apostrophe.
Side by side
| Their | There | They’re |
|---|---|---|
| Possessive | Place or dummy subject | Contraction |
| Before a noun | Often after a verb | Before a verb or adjective |
| Swaps with our | Swaps with here | Expands to they are |
| Their keys | Over there | They’re late |
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Their going to be late. | They’re going to be late. | They are going. |
| The books are over their. | The books are over there. | A place. |
| They’re coats are wet. | Their coats are wet. | The coats belong to them. |
| There parents called. | Their parents called. | Possessive. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- ___ waiting for the results.
- Leave the forms over ___.
- ___ office moved last year.
- ___ is a problem with the file.
- I hope ___ not offended.
Show the answers
1. They’re 2. there 3. Their 4. There 5. they’re
Frequently asked
Which is the most common mistake?
Writing their where they’re belongs. The expansion test catches it every time.
Is there’s the same kind of word?
Yes — it contracts there is. It follows the same rule as they’re.
More words people confuse
