Their, There and They’re — Learning the Difference
Wondering what the difference is between these three homophones?
Navigating the English language can be tricky, especially when it comes to words that sound alike but have distinct meanings.
A lot of people seem to get tripped up on the words their, there, and they’re.
Probably because they’re homophones.
They sound the same, but mean different things.
In this article, we’ll break down the differences between these three words, provide example sentences for each, and guide you on how to pronounce them with confidence.
Let’s dive in and conquer their, there, and they’re together.
Their
Their is used when you’re talking about something that belongs to someone else.
Example: That’s their house.
A famous quote by Eleanor Roosevelt is:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Sentence Examples
Here are some examples on how to use the word in a sentence correctly.
- Their house is so ugly. When are they going to repaint it?
- We haven’t been in their car in six months. Does it even run?
- Their new car is awesome! Now I want to get a new car, but I don’t really have the money for it right now.
- How can their daughter be so smart? She’s won every single award so far at this assembly.
- I wouldn’t be surprised if their dog got loose again. That would make it the fourth time it’s happened since they moved in.
- I’d love to go to the Johnson’s barbecue. I just have to see what their new grill can really do.
There
There is used when you’re talking about a place.
Example: Let’s go there. They might have fresher tomatoes.
It’s the opposite of “here.”
Some famous examples of the use of “there” are:
- There, there.
- It’s neither here, nor there.
- There’s no place like home. (Wizard of Oz)
You might’ve also heard of this famous song covered by Mariah Carey (I believe originally performed by The Jackson 5).
In this song, she’s letting the other person know she’ll be there for him/her (most likely physically there and emotionally there).
Sentence Examples
Here are some examples of how to use it in a sentence.
- There is no way I’m walking down that dark road alone. It’s way too scary for me.
- Is there a way I could borrow $100 from you? I really don’t have anyone else to ask.
- There’s nothing here to do. Why did we move to this town in the first place?
- We haven’t been there in over a decade. It’s probably time to visit The Grand Canyon again.
- There are so many places I want to go this summer. But my boyfriend wants to stay local and go camping.
- I don’t think there’s enough room in here for all of us. Some of you might have to sleep in the other cabin.
They’re
They’re is a contraction that means “they are.”
Example: They’re not really supposed to be doing that.
That translates into “they are not really supposed to be doing that.”
In Crazy Rich Asians, Peik Lin Goh says, “These people are so posh and snobby, they’re snoshy.”
Sentence Examples
Here’s how to use the word in a sentence.
- They’re not coming to my party. They’re going to Jessa’s party.
- I’m not sure why they’re here. No one invited them.
- We don’t know whether they’re going to put us in the same classes next year. Let’s hope and pray.
- I don’t know why they’re not turning off the water to the fire hydrant. It’s been spilling out water for days.
- I hope they’re not planning on leaving anytime soon. They’re the coolest kids here.
- Let’s not waste time with another publisher. They’re only going to take your money and provide very little support.
Pronunciation: How to Pronounce Their, There, and They’re
Struggling with how to pronounce these words?
Here’s a short video on pronunciation.
Learning the Difference Between These Words
Learning the difference between “their,” “there,” and “they’re” can take some time if you’re not a native English speaker (or even if you are!).
A lot of people struggle with remembering the difference between these homophones.
But the good news is, you can always come back here to refresh your memory.
Bookmark the story if you need to (it’s free!).
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