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Grammar 1 min read Published January 2025

"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.

Frequently asked

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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