Their vs There Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on their vs there. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
Belonging to them.
“The kids left their shoes by the door.”
A place, or “something exists.”
“Put the box over there.”
Short for “they are.”
“They’re arriving at noon.”
Can you say “they are”?
If yes, use they’re. If not, pick their or there.
Their vs there is one of the most common grammar mix-ups in English, because the words sound exactly alike but mean different things. Add in “they’re” and it becomes a three-way trap. This guide breaks down what each word means, shows real examples, and gives you simple tricks to choose the right one every time.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Their | Belonging to them | Possessive determiner | The team celebrated their win. |
| There | In or to that place; also used to say something exists | Adverb / pronoun | Your keys are over there. |
| They’re | They are | Contraction | They’re waiting outside. |
What does “their” mean?
Their means belonging to them. It shows ownership and always comes before a noun: their car, their idea, their problem.
Use it when you are talking about something that is owned or held by more than one person, or by someone whose gender you are not specifying. Examples: “The neighbors painted their fence.” “Each student should bring their own pencil.”
What does “there” mean?
There points to a place or says that something exists. It answers the question “where?” or introduces a fact.
As a place word: “Let’s meet there at six.” “I’ve never been there.” As an introducer: “There is a spare key in the drawer.” “There are three options.” In that second use, it has nothing to do with location. It simply says something exists.
What does “they’re” mean?
They’re is a short form of “they are.” The apostrophe replaces the missing letter A.
Examples: “They’re excited about the trip.” “I think they’re lost.” Always check by reading the sentence with “they are.” If it still makes sense, they’re is correct.
Their vs there: which one should you use?
Ask which job the word is doing. If it shows ownership, use their. If it shows place or existence, use there. If it means “they are,” use they’re.
A quick test: replace the word with “here.” If the sentence still works, you need there (for example, “put it here” becomes “put it there”). If you can swap in “our” or “my” in the same spot, you need their.
How can you remember which one to use?
Each spelling hides a small clue. These three tricks are the fastest way to lock in the difference.
- “There” has “here” inside it. Both words are about place, so if you mean a location, use there.
- “Their” has “heir” inside it. An heir receives things that belong to them, which is a good reminder that their shows ownership.
- “They’re” has an apostrophe. The apostrophe is standing in for a missing letter, so it always means “they are.”
What are the most common their vs there mistakes?
Most mistakes happen while typing quickly, when the ear hears the right sound and the fingers choose the wrong spelling. Here are five you will see often.
- ✗ Their going to the park after school.
✓ They’re going to the park after school. - ✗ The kids forgot there jackets.
✓ The kids forgot their jackets. - ✗ I left my bag over their.
✓ I left my bag over there. - ✗ Their is a problem with the printer.
✓ There is a problem with the printer. - ✗ They’re dog loves there backyard.
✓ Their dog loves their backyard.
Frequently asked questions
Is it their or there when talking about a place?
It is there. Use there for locations, as in “We are going there tomorrow.” Their only shows ownership.
What does they’re mean?
They’re is a contraction of “they are.” The apostrophe replaces the missing letter A.
Can I use “there” to show ownership?
No. To show that something belongs to a group, use their. For example, say “their house,” not “there house.”
Is it “there is” or “their is”?
It is “there is.” Their is a possessive word and cannot introduce a statement. In “there is,” the word simply says that something exists.
Do their, there and they’re sound the same?
Yes, they are homophones and sound the same in everyday speech. Only the spelling and the context tell them apart.
Conclusion
Their vs there comes down to three jobs: their shows ownership, there shows place or existence, and they’re means “they are.” Use the “here,” “heir” and apostrophe tricks and you will not second-guess yourself again. Share this with someone who still mixes these up in their emails.