There, their, and they’re sound alike, but they do different jobs in a sentence. Choosing the wrong one can change your message or make a sentence grammatically incorrect.
The good news is that each form has a clear purpose. There usually refers to a place or introduces a statement about something that exists. Their shows possession. They’re is the contraction of they are.
For example:
- Put your shoes over there.
- The students brought their notebooks.
- They’re waiting outside.
All three forms are correct in their own contexts. The key is to understand what your sentence needs.
Quick Answer
Use this simple rule to choose the right word:
- There: Refers to a place or introduces a statement about existence.
- Their: Shows that something belongs to or is associated with someone.
- They’re: Means they are.
Consider this sentence:
“They’re bringing their coats over there.”
Each word serves a different purpose. They’re means “they are,” their refers to the coats, and there indicates a destination.
What Is Correct?
All three forms are correct English words. None is automatically better than the others. The correct choice depends on the meaning and grammatical structure of the sentence.
| Form or Pattern | Best Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| There | Location or existence | Identifies a place or introduces something that exists |
| Their | Possession or association | Connects people with something belonging or relating to them |
| They’re | They are | Combines a subject and a verb into a contraction |
Examples:
- “Your package is over there.” — The word identifies a location.
- “Their package arrived today.” — The word indicates whose package it is.
- “They’re picking up the package.” — The word means “they are picking it up.”
The sentence determines which form belongs in the blank.
The Core Grammar Rule
The central rule is to identify the grammatical job the word performs.
There can function as an adverb of place, as in “We stayed there,” or introduce a statement about existence, as in “There is a problem.”
Their is a possessive determiner used before a noun or noun phrase. In “Their car is outside,” it identifies whose car is being discussed. It can also refer to one person when singular they is appropriate.
They’re is a contraction formed from they and are. It works when those two words fit the sentence.
Compare these examples:
- There are three emails in your inbox.
- Their emails arrived this morning.
- They’re checking their inbox now.
Notice that there can introduce a sentence even when it does not identify a physical location. That is an important part of the rule.
When Each Form Is Correct
When To Use There
Use there when referring to a place:
- I’ll meet you there after work.
- The keys are right there on the counter.
- We drove there early Saturday morning.
Use it also to introduce a statement about existence or availability:
- There is a parking space near the entrance.
- There are two appointments available tomorrow.
- There seems to be a problem with the printer.
In these sentences, there introduces what exists or what is happening.
When To Use Their
Use their to show possession or association:
- The neighbors painted their front door.
- The employees attended their annual meeting.
- The children packed their lunches.
The word can also refer to one person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant:
- Someone left their phone on the bus.
- Each applicant should submit their form.
- Jordan said they’re bringing their own lunch.
In the last example, they’re means “they are,” while their refers to the lunch associated with Jordan.
When To Use They’re
Use they’re whenever they are fits the sentence without changing its intended meaning:
- They’re leaving at six.
- They’re excited about the new apartment.
- They’re planning a weekend trip.
- I think they’re ready for the presentation.
Try expanding the contraction:
“They’re ready” becomes “They are ready.”
The sentence remains grammatical and keeps the same basic meaning. That confirms the choice.
When It Is Incorrect or Less Natural
The wrong form creates an error when it does not perform the required grammatical job.
Incorrect: “Their going to the movies tonight.”
Correct: “They’re going to the movies tonight.”
The sentence needs a subject and a verb, so they are is the intended meaning.
Incorrect: “The kids left they’re shoes upstairs.”
Correct: “The kids left their shoes upstairs.”
The sentence needs a possessive determiner before shoes.
Incorrect: “I’ll leave the package over their.”
Correct: “I’ll leave the package over there.”
The sentence refers to a location.
A different kind of mistake occurs in sentences such as “They’re are three tickets left.” The intended construction is “There are three tickets left.” Using they’re would incorrectly introduce “they are.”
Not every sentence with there refers to a location. Replacing it with they are just because the sentence contains a verb can lead to errors.
Meaning, Structure, or Emphasis Differences
These words differ in grammatical function, not merely in spelling.
There can point to a place or introduce an existence statement. For example, “There is a meeting at noon” announces that a meeting exists or is scheduled.
Their identifies a relationship or possession. In “Their meeting starts at noon,” the word connects the meeting to the people being discussed.
They’re expresses they are. In “They’re meeting at noon,” the contraction tells us what the people are doing.
These differences affect the whole sentence:
- There is a new manager in the office.
- Their new manager starts Monday.
- They’re meeting the new manager Monday.
Although the three forms sound alike in ordinary speech, their grammatical roles are different. Readers rely on the written form and surrounding context to understand the intended message.
Real-World Examples
Here are examples from everyday situations in the United States.
At school
- The students put their backpacks beside their desks.
- They’re preparing for the science presentation.
- There is a study group in the library.
At work
- Their manager scheduled a team meeting.
- They’re joining the meeting after lunch.
- There are several open seats in the conference room.
While traveling
- Our hotel is over there, across from the station.
- They’re waiting near their rental car.
- Their flight leaves at 8 p.m.
In text messages
- “They’re almost here!”
- “I left your charger over there.”
- “Their house is around the corner.”
All three in one sentence
“They’re taking their groceries over there.”
This sentence is a useful reminder: they’re means “they are,” their identifies the groceries associated with them, and there identifies the destination.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake: Using Their Instead of They’re
Incorrect: “Their coming to dinner.”
Correct: “They’re coming to dinner.”
Quick fix: Replace the word with they are. If the sentence still works, use they’re.
Mistake: Using They’re To Show Possession
Incorrect: “They’re dog is barking.”
Correct: “Their dog is barking.”
Quick fix: Ask “Whose dog?” If the answer is “their dog,” use their.
Mistake: Using Their To Refer To a Place
Incorrect: “Put the groceries over their.”
Correct: “Put the groceries over there.”
Quick fix: If the word identifies where something is or goes, use there.
Mistake: Assuming There Always Means a Place
Incorrect: “They’re is a reason to wait.”
Correct: “There is a reason to wait.”
Quick fix: When a sentence introduces something that exists, check whether there is or there are is the appropriate construction.
Mistake: Treating Singular Their as Always Incorrect
Incorrect rule: “Their can only refer to multiple people.”
Better understanding: Their can refer to a group or to one person when singular they is appropriate.
Example: “Taylor forgot their jacket.”
The sentence is acceptable when their refers to Taylor using singular they.
Grammar Rule Details
Rule
Use there for place or existence, their for possession or association, and they’re as a contraction of they are. Their pronunciation may be identical, but their grammatical functions differ.
Correct Usage
- “There are fresh towels in the bathroom.”
- “Their towels are on the shelf.”
- “They’re using the towels now.”
Each form is correct because it performs the required function.
Incorrect or Less Natural Usage
- “Their are fresh towels.” — Incorrect because the sentence needs there are to introduce what exists.
- “They’re towels are clean.” — Incorrect because possession requires their.
- “The towels are over they’re.” — Incorrect because the location word is there.
In formal writing, use the full phrase they are instead of they’re if the required style calls for avoiding contractions. This is a style choice, not a claim that the contraction is inherently ungrammatical.
Examples
- There is a message for you.
- Their message arrived yesterday.
- They’re sending another message.
- Is there enough food for everyone?
- Each guest can bring their own drink.
- They’re going to bring extra food.
Common Mistakes
The most reliable correction method is to test the intended meaning rather than rely on how the word sounds.
If the word means they are, use they’re. If it indicates whose item or responsibility is being discussed, use their. If it refers to a location or introduces an existence statement, use there.
Exceptions
There are no special exceptions that change the central distinction. However, their can refer to one person as well as multiple people, and there can introduce an existence statement rather than refer to a physical location.
These are legitimate uses, not exceptions to the basic rule.
Quick Test
Fill in each blank with there, their, or they’re.
- ______ going to bring ______ chairs over ______.
- ______ is a new restaurant near the office.
- The students forgot ______ homework.
Answers:
- They’re going to bring their chairs over there.
- There is a new restaurant near the office.
- The students forgot their homework.
Remember: they are = they’re; possession = their; place or existence = there.
Usage Notes
In everyday American English, all three forms are common. They are not interchangeable in standard written sentences.
Singular their is accepted in contemporary English when referring to a person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or expressed through singular they. The intended reference should still be clear from context.
Contractions such as they’re are natural in conversations, emails, messages, and many other kinds of writing. Whether to expand them depends on the style and formality of the text.
FAQs
What Is the Difference Between There, Their, and They’re?
There refers to a place or introduces a statement about existence. Their indicates possession or association. They’re means they are. The sentence’s meaning and structure determine which form is correct.
How Do I Know When To Use They’re?
Replace they’re with they are. If the sentence remains grammatical and expresses the intended meaning, they’re is the correct choice. For example, “They’re ready” means “They are ready.”
Can Their Refer to One Person?
Yes. Singular their is widely accepted when referring to someone whose gender is unknown or irrelevant, or when that person uses singular they. For example, “Someone left their water bottle here.”
Is There Always Used for a Place?
No. There can refer to a place, as in “Wait there,” or introduce a statement about existence, as in “There are three options.” The second use does not identify a physical location.
Which Word Is Correct in the Sentence “_____ Going Home”?
Use they’re: “They’re going home.” The intended sentence means “They are going home.” Their would indicate possession, and there would not supply the required subject and verb.
What Is the Easiest Way To Remember All Three?
Use three short questions: Does it mean “they are”? Choose they’re. Does it show whose something is? Choose their. Does it refer to a place or introduce something that exists? Choose there.
Conclusion
Choosing between there, their, and they’re becomes much easier when you focus on what the sentence means.
Use there for a place or an existence statement, their for possession or association, and they’re when you mean they are. Remember that their can refer to one person as well as a group.
Before finishing a sentence, check the word’s role instead of relying on pronunciation. This simple habit will help you write clearer, more accurate American English.
