Vocabulary
A1–B1
6 min read
Updated 9 June 2026
Quick answer: Their shows possession (their car). There refers to a place (over there) or introduces a sentence (there is). They're is a contraction of they are (they're coming). All three sound the same but have entirely different jobs.
Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Example | Common Use |
|---|
| their | possessive — belonging to them | I love their new house. | "their car", "their decision", singular gender-neutral: "everyone has their opinion" |
| there | adverb of place; or existential pronoun (there is/are) | Put it over there. There is a problem. | "over there", "there is", "there are", "been there" |
| they're | contraction — they are (apostrophe = missing 'a') | They're coming at six. | informal writing and speech; expand to "they are" to verify |
Their — Showing Possession
Their is a possessive determiner. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people (or things). It always comes before a noun.
The students forgot their homework.
The company changed their logo last year.
Everyone has their own opinion.
We visited their office in Manchester.
Memory trick: their contains the word heir — an heir inherits things, so their is about ownership.
There — Place and Existence
There has two main uses:
1. Referring to a place (adverb)
She grew up there.
Put the box over there.
I have never been there before.
2. Introducing a sentence (existential there)
There is a cat on the roof.
There are many reasons to study English.
There was a storm last night.
Memory trick: there contains the word here — both relate to place. "Here and there" = two locations.
They're — Contraction of They Are
They're is a contraction — a shortened form of they are. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a. Whenever you see they're, you can expand it to they are and the sentence should still make sense.
They're working on the project. (= They are working)
I think they're ready. (= they are ready)
They're not going to the party. (= They are not going)
Memory trick: they're = they are. If you can substitute they are and the sentence makes sense, use they're.
All Three in One Paragraph
My neighbours just bought a new car. Their old one broke down last month. Now they're much happier because there is a good parking space right outside their house, and they're lucky to have it. I wish I could park there too!
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using there for possession
✗ The students left there bags at the door.
✓ The students left their bags at the door.
Mistake 2 — Using their for location
✗ I will meet you their at noon.
✓ I will meet you there at noon.
Mistake 3 — Using there for they are
✗ I heard there going to be late.
✓ I heard they're going to be late.
Mistake 4 — Using they're before a noun
✗ They're dog barks all night.
✓ Their dog barks all night.
Quick Test Yourself
Before choosing a word, apply these substitution tests in order:
- Can you replace it with they are? → Use they're.
- Is it showing belonging and followed by a noun? → Use their.
- Is it a place or starting a sentence with "there is/are"? → Use there.
Mini-Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between their, there, and they're?
Their is a possessive determiner showing that something belongs to a group: "their car, their house." There is an adverb of place (over there) or an existential pronoun (there is, there are). They're is a contraction of they are: "they're working." All three sound exactly the same but have completely different grammatical functions.
How do I know when to use they're?
Expand they're to "they are" and check if the sentence still makes sense. "They're going to the cinema" → "They are going to the cinema" — yes, that works, so use they're. "They're house is big" → "They are house is big" — no, that is wrong. Use their instead: "Their house is big."
How do I know when to use their?
Use their when showing that something belongs to a group of people (or things referred to as they). Their always comes directly before a noun: "their bags, their office, their decision." You can test by asking "whose?" — if the answer involves a group referred to as "they," use their. It is also used generically for a singular person of unknown gender: "Everyone has their own opinion."
What are the two uses of there?
There has two main uses. First, as an adverb of place meaning "at or in that location": "Put it over there. I was born there." Second, as an existential pronoun to introduce a clause stating something exists: "There is a problem. There are three options. There was a fire." In the second use, there has no location meaning — it is just a grammatical placeholder at the start of the sentence.
Can their be used for a singular person?
Yes. In modern English, their is widely used as a singular gender-neutral possessive: "Ask someone if they have finished their work." This is called the singular they, and it has been accepted by major style guides including the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Stylebook. It avoids the awkward "his or her" construction and is now considered standard in both formal and informal writing.
Do native speakers confuse their, there, and they're?
Yes, very often — it is one of the most common spelling errors in English. Social media, text messages, and even news websites regularly mix up all three. The confusion arises because they are homophones — they sound completely identical. The only way to choose correctly is to understand the grammar function of each word in the sentence, not to rely on sound.
What is a memory trick for there vs their vs they're?
Three tricks: (1) They're = they are — the apostrophe marks the missing 'a'. If "they are" fits, use they're. (2) Their contains heir — an heir receives things, so their relates to belonging/possession. (3) There contains here — both relate to place. As a pattern: there/here both end in 'here' and both indicate location. Apply these tests in order and you will almost always get it right.
Is "there's" the same as "they're"?
No. There's is a contraction of "there is" or "there has": "There's a problem" (= there is a problem). They're is a contraction of "they are": "They're ready" (= they are ready). These are two entirely different contractions that are sometimes confused because both start with "there/they" and sound similar. Check by expanding: "there is" vs "they are."
Can "there" come at the end of a sentence?
Yes, when it means a place: "I have never been there." "She was born there and grew up there." However, the existential there (there is/are) must come at the beginning of its clause: "There is a reason for everything." You cannot end a sentence with existential there in standard English.
How do I practise their vs there vs they're?
The best approach is to write the three words on a card with their definitions and test yourself with real sentences. Every time you write any of the three, stop and apply the substitution tests: expand they're to "they are"; ask "whose?" for their; ask "where?" or "does something exist?" for there. LexFizz's cloze exercises and grammar quizzes are also a practical way to drill this distinction in context.