"There", "their", and "they're" - what's the difference?
Three different words, same sound:"Put it over there." (location)"There is a problem." (introducing)"It's their car.""Their opinion matters.""They're coming tonight." = They are coming."They're not sure yet."Can you say "they are"? → they'reDoes it show ownership? → theirIs it a place or intr...
Three different words, same sound
- "Put it over there." (location)
- "There is a problem." (introducing)
- "It's their car."
- "Their opinion matters."
- "They're coming tonight." = They are coming.
- "They're not sure yet."
Quick tests
- Can you say "they are"? → they're
- Does it show ownership? → their
- Is it a place or introducing? → there
Memory tricks
- "There" contains "here" - both are places
- "Their" contains "heir" - an heir inherits (possesses) things
- "They're" has an apostrophe showing letters are missing
The truth
This is one of the most common written errors in English, including among native speakers. Spell-checkers often miss it because all three are real words.
What's the difference between "There" and "their"?
Three different words, same sound:"Put it over there." (location)"There is a problem." (introducing)"It's their car.""Their opinion matters.""They're coming tonight." = They are coming."They're not sure yet."Can you say "they are"? → they'reDoes it show ownership? → theirIs it a place or intr...
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