How to Use Their, They're, There (Word Choice, Examples)

First published on November 1, 2022 by Dalia Y.|Last revised on October 28, 2025

"There" means that place, "their" is possessive pronoun, and "they're" is a contraction that combines they and are.

# How to Use Their, They're, There (Word Choice, Examples)

Their, they're, and there: what's the difference?

Though they sound the same, their, they're, and there are frequently mistaken homophones with distinct meanings and uses in English. Understanding the difference is crucial for clear communication.

The key distinction between these three words lies in their meaning and part of speech:

Their (possessive pronoun) — Meaning belonging to them. The possessive form of the pronoun "they," indicating possession, ownership, association, or belonging.

They're (contraction) — A contraction of they + are = they're. It's the easiest of the bunch to get right since it's simply a shorthand.

There (adverb) — In, at, or to that place or position. An adverb of place meaning "in or at that place."

Definitions and usage

Their (possessive pronoun)

The possessive form of the pronoun "they" (a third-person plural or gender-neutral pronoun). Indicates possession, ownership, association, or belonging.

• I babysat their kids.

• Their car is red.

• I already gave them their coats.

• Someone left their purse on the bus.

• We admired their beautiful garden.

• The students left their coats on the bus.

They're (contraction)

A contraction of they + are = they're. It's the easiest of the bunch to get right since it's simply a shorthand.

• They're here!

• They're my favourite band.

• I recommend the salad and the soup; they're the best on the menu.

• They're two of my favorite books.

• They're going to be late if they don't hurry.

• They're excited about the upcoming trip.

There (adverb)

An adverb of place meaning "in or at that place." In, at, or to that place or position. Where "there" physically is, is usually made clear from the context.

• Hey man, don't go over there!

• We went to Paris and stayed there for eleven days.

• Please place the package over there on the table.

• There have been many changes since last year.

• There's my phone!

• There's been a disturbance.

Pro tip! Since "there" refers to a place or location, a trick to remember its meaning is to associate it with the word "here", since "there" shares the same spelling as "here" (except for the "t", of course). "There" is often used as a contraction with an apostrophe "s", there's, which means either there + is or there + has: "There's been a lot of snow this week" (there + has); "There's food at home" (there + is).

Word forms

Their:

• their — possessive pronoun (no other word forms)

They're:

• they're — contraction of "they" + "are" (no other word forms)

There:

• there — adverb

• there's — contraction (there + is or there + has)

Synonyms & nearby words

Synonyms for there

here yonder that place that position

Note: "Their" and "they're" don't have direct synonyms since they are specific grammatical forms (possessive pronoun and contraction, respectively).

Word origins

Their: From Old Norse þierra "of them."

They're: Contraction formed from "they" (Old English þeȝ, from Old Norse þeir) + "are" (Old English earun, aron).

There: Old English þær, þar "in or at that place," from Proto-Germanic *thær.

—Online Etymology Dictionary

Practice quiz: Their, They're, or There

Question 1 of 10

Which word is a contraction of "they are"?

Their
They're
There

Which word shows possession or belonging?

They're
Their
There

Which word is most often used as an adverb referring to a place or position?

Their
They're
There

Choose the correct word for the sentence: ______ going to be late if they don't hurry.

Their
They're
There

Choose the correct word for the sentence: The students left ______ coats on the bus.

They're
Their
There

Please place the package over ______ on the table.

their
there
they're

______ excited about the upcoming trip.

Their
They're
There

The band just released ______ new album.

they're
their
there

______ have been many changes since last year.

Their
There
They're

We admired ______ beautiful garden.

They're
Their
There

FAQs

What does "There" mean? +

According to the post, "There" is an adverb meaning in, at, or to that place or position. You can remember it by associating it with "here". An example is "We went to Paris and stayed there."

When do you use "Their"? +

"Their" is a possessive pronoun indicating belonging. It is the possessive form of "they". The post gives examples like "Someone left their purse on the bus" and "I babysat their kids."

What is "They're"? +

"They're" is a contraction, which means it's a shorthand for the two words "they" and "are" combined. The post states it's the easiest of the bunch to get right. An example is "They're two of my favorite books."

How are There, Their, They're different? +

"There" indicates place ("stayed there"). "Their" is possessive ("their purse"). "They're" is a contraction for "they are" ("They're here!"). They are frequently mistaken homophones that sound alike.

What does "There's" mean? +

"There's" is a contracted form mentioned in the post. It means either "there is" or "there has." Examples provided are "There's been a lot of snow" (there + has) and "There's food at home" (there + is).