Common mistakes
There, their, or they're: place, possession, or they are?
There, their, and they're sound alike. How do you choose the spelling when you write?
The three spellings have the same sound. This lesson gives you a quick way to choose the one that fits the sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
there, their, or they're THAIR
The short answer
Use there for a place or in there is. Use their before something that belongs to them, and use they're when they are fits.
They're putting their bags over there.
Why it works: The first word expands to they are. The next word comes before bags, and the last word names a place.
3 more examples
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leaving home
They're leaving for the train station right now.
Use they're when you can replace it with they are.
Not this:
Theirleaving for the train station right now. What changes: Their cannot do the job of they are before leaving. -
after class
The students forgot their notebooks in class.
Use their before notebooks to show that the notebooks belong to the students.
Not this:The students forgot
therenotebooks in class. What changes: There would point to a place instead of naming the owners of the notebooks. -
giving directions
Look over there by the red door.
Use there when you point to a place.
Not this:Look over
they'reby the red door. What changes: They're would add they are where the sentence only needs a place.
Quick check
Put the keys over ___ on the shelf. Which spelling names the place?
Answer: there
Show the answer
Answer: there
Over there points to the place where the keys should go.
Read the full guide
Look at what comes next
The problem: I know the sound, but I do not know what spelling the sentence needs.
Start with the word after the blank. A noun is a strong clue. In the students left ___ coats, coats needs a word that says who owns them.
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Put the box over there.
Why it works: The speaker points to a place.
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They brought their dog.
Why it works: The dog belongs to them. Their comes before dog.
-
They're very happy today.
Why it works: You can say they are very happy today.
-
Not this:
Their going to the shop now.Say: They're going to the shop now.
Try the longer form. You can say they are going to the shop, so write they're.
Your turn
The students left ___ coats by the door. Which spelling shows that the coats belong to the students?
Answer: their
Show the answer
Answer: their
Their comes before coats and shows who owns them.
Use the two-word test
The problem: I hear one sound in a film and write the first spelling I remember.
The sound alone cannot tell you the spelling. Pause and test the sentence in your head. If they're can become they are, that is the spelling you need.
- Elena
Aren't Tom and Lisa coming?
- Marcus
Yes, they're walking from their office right now.
- Elena
Great, we've saved those chairs over there.
Your turn
Complete the sentence with the contraction for they are.
Answer: I've phoned our friends, and they're waiting outside for us.
Show the answer
Answer: they're
They're is short for they are, which fits before waiting outside.
Theirs already shows ownership
The problem: I can see their and there's, but I do not know why theirs has no apostrophe.
An apostrophe can show that letters are missing, as in there's for there is. Theirs already means belonging to them, so it does not need an apostrophe.
Short for there is or there has.
There's a good bakery down the road.
Shows ownership when no noun comes after it.
That blue jacket on the chair is theirs.
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Not this:
That car is their's.Say: That car is theirs.
Theirs already shows ownership. Write theirs without an apostrophe.
Your turn
Choose the word that means belonging to them without a noun after it.
Answer: theirs
Show the answer
Answer: theirs
Theirs means belonging to them and has no apostrophe.
Before you go
Remember this
Before you write they're, test whether they are fits the sentence. If it does not, choose there or their by meaning.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "There, their, or they're: place, possession, or they are?"
How do I choose between their and they're?
Use their before a noun to show ownership. Use they're when you can replace it with they are. The words can sound the same, so check the words around them before you write.
Their apartment is near the park.
They're meeting us after work.
When do I use there?
Use there for a place, as in over there. You also use it in sentences that say something exists, such as there is a problem or there are two seats left.
Leave your umbrella there.
There are two messages for you.
What is the difference between their and theirs?
Both words show ownership. Use their before a noun. Use theirs when the noun is already clear and does not need to follow the word.
Their answer was correct.
That answer was theirs.
Is their's ever correct?
No. Write theirs without an apostrophe. The word already shows ownership. Apostrophes in words such as there's show missing letters, not ownership.
The red backpacks are theirs.
There's a spare chair by the window.
Why do there, their, and they're sound the same?
They are homophones: different words with the same pronunciation. English spelling keeps their different meanings visible, so use the sentence to decide which spelling belongs there.
Their new office is over there.
They're ready for the meeting.
Questions & comments
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