Mixing up there, their, and they’re is one of the most common mistakes in English. This small difference can make your writing look careless—even if your message is clear. In this article we’ll break down each word, give you examples, explain when to use which, and provide quick tricks so you never mix them up again.
Focus keyphrase: there their they’re
Even a yak knows when to pick the right one.
1. There (place, existence, or direction)
Meaning & use:
- Refers to a place or location.
- Used to point something out.
- Used to show existence (“there is/are”).
Examples:
- “The bookstore is there, by the library.”
- “There is a good restaurant nearby.”
- “Their house is over there.”
Tip: Think “here” vs “there”. If you can replace it with “over here” or “over there”, it’s there.
2. Their (possessive)
Meaning & use:
- Shows ownership by a group (they) or someone non-specified gender.
- Equivalent to his, her, our, your.
Examples:
- “This is their car.”
- “The students finished their homework.”
- “I like their idea.”
Tip: If you can replace the word with “their dog”, “their house”, etc., you need their.
3. They’re (contraction of “they are”)
Meaning & use:
- Short for they are.
- Most often in spoken or informal writing.
Examples:
- “They’re going to the cinema.” (They are…)
- “I heard they’re moving to a new city.”
- “They’re excited about the trip.”
Tip: Replace with “they are”. If it makes sense, use they’re.
Quick Comparison Table
| Word | Use Case | Replacement Trick |
| there | place, existence, direction | here / over there |
| their | possession | his/her/their + noun |
| they’re | they are | they are → they’re |
4. Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Mistake: “Their going to the party.”
Fix: Should be “They’re going to the party.” Because going = action → “they are going”.
Mistake: “There dog is cute.”
Fix: “Their dog is cute.” Ownership of dog.
Mistake: “Their is a problem.”
Fix: “There is a problem.” Refers to existence of problem.
Learner-tip:
Write them as a mini-checklist:
- Place/location → there
- Ownership → their
- They are → they’re
5. Practice Exercises
A. Choose the correct word:
- ____ going to visit us tomorrow.
- I like ____ new house.
- ____ is a mistake here.
- Are you sure ____ ready?
Answers:
- They’re
- their
- There
- they’re
B. Write your own sentences (one for each):
- there
- their
- they’re
C. Spot the mistake:
“There dog always waits in the yard.”
Fix: “Their dog always waits in the yard.”
Yak’s Final Chewables
Getting there, their, and they’re right is a small step that makes a big difference in your English. Use the tricks, practice the examples, and you’ll stop second-guessing yourself. Even a yak knows how to pick the right word when it matters.