There vs. their is one of the most common linguistic bar fights in the English language. The two words are pronounced exactly the same way and are nearly doppelgängers in the looks department. Yet despite the many similarities, their and there could not be more different. To break up the tussle, it’s important to understand what these semantic sluggers mean and when it is appropriate to use them. Let’s get ready to rumble.
When to Use There vs. Their
When trying to decide between there vs. their, the first thing to remember is that the word there refers to a location and can be used is several different ways. There can be used as an adverb to mean the opposite of “here.” For example:
- Can I park there?
- That weird sound is coming from over there.
- Put that down, and step over there.
There can be used as a noun meaning “that place.” For example:
- After looking at the spooky forest, Dave told us he’d never go in there.
- We were hanging out at the volcano, but when the ground started shaking, we got out of there.
- The farmers’ market looks great, but before we go in there, we need to set some ground rules.
There can be used as an adjective to stress which subject or object is being referred to. For example:
- Pass me the apple. No, that one there. Thanks.
- I usually like penguins, but that one there was the meanest.
- That person there was the one with the weird hat!
There can also be used as a pronoun to introduce a noun or phrase. For example:
- There are barely any pandas at this water park.
- Is there a waffle on the menu?
- I could have sworn there was a secret passageway in this house.
When to Use Their vs. There
While there refers to a location and has many uses, their is just a third person plural possessive adjective meant to establish belonging or ownership, and it’s typically followed by a noun. Here are some examples:
- That improv troupe was funny, but their musical abilities were severely lacking.
- I hope you like my parents—because we’re going to see their art show tonight.
- Those cookies are for the band. They’re not yours; they’re theirs!
Can’t They All Just Get Along?
Despite the identical pronunciations and similar aesthetic, their vs. there is an easy puzzle to solve once you understand what each word means. While there is used to denote location, their is used to define belonging and ownership. And although the two words are often found duking it out, they can coexist peacefully if used correctly. To prove it, here are some examples of them getting along in the wild.
- There are actually people out there who eat spaghetti with their hands.
- My friends went to that abandoned mine over there, but now they can’t find their car.
- I can’t believe those dolphins left their hacky sacks way back there in the lagoon.
There! Now you know the difference between there and their. And don’t forget to check out some of Elite Editing’s other blogs on distinguishing between similar words, such as biennial vs. biannual, affect vs. effect, and caramel vs. Carmel.
Home / Language / Grammar / Difference Between There and Their in English Grammar
The key difference between there and their is that there is an adverb and an exclamation while their is a possessive pronoun. Strictly speaking, both these words are spelled in different forms though they are similar in pronunciation.
There and their, are two words in the English language that may sound similar, but there is a lot of difference between there and their in English grammar when it comes to their usage. Such words are called homonyms. Now, this article attempts to present you with a clear idea about the difference between there and their.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What Does There Mean
3. What Does Their Mean
4. Similarities Between There and Their in English Grammar
5. Side by Side Comparison – There and Their in English Grammar in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What Does There Mean?
Born from Old English, there is used as an exclamation and an adverb. There are also phrases that use the word there such as there you are, there goes, etc.
The word there is a kind of indeclinable too though occasionally it is used as a pronoun. It indicates a place when used as an indeclinable as in the sentence,
He stands there.
Here the word there indicates the place where the person stands.
There is sometimes used in exclamatory sentences as in
There he is!
Here the word there is used in exclamation. Generally, there is used in affirmative sentences as in,
There are several toys in the shop.
There is a big problem in the campus.
In both the sentences mentioned above, there is used in an affirmative sense.
Sometimes there is used as an adverb even when placed directly adjacent to the noun in a sentence as in,
Keep the book there.
Here the word there is used as an adverb to the word keep. There indicates the place where the book should be kept. There is a rare word that has got multiple usages as adverb and exclamation.
What Does Their Mean?
Their has its origins in Middle English. Their is used as a determiner. Their is also well known for being the possessive form of the pronoun they.
The word their is used as a pronoun in the genitive case of the pronoun they as in the sentence,
The troops marched into their territory.
She heard someone ringing their doorbell.
Here, the word their is used in the possessive or genitive case. Thus, their is the genitive form of the pronoun they.
In several instances, they and their appear in the same sentence as in
They know their responsibilities.
They reached their homes.
In both the sentences mentioned above, they and their are used together. Quite contrary to there, their is used only as a pronoun.
What are the Similarities Between There and Their in English Grammar?
- There and Their sound similar, they are called homonyms.
- They and their are often used together in sentences.
There vs Their |
|
| The word there is used to indicate a place, position or a time. | The word their is used to describe something belonging or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified. |
| Grammatical Category | |
| There can be used as an adverb and an exclamation. | Their is widely used only as a pronoun, as the genitive form of the pronoun they. |
| Usage | |
| There indicates a place when used as an indeclinable as in the sentence. Moreover, There is generally used in affirmative sentences; it is also sometimes used in exclamatory sentences. | Their is a possessive determiner. |
Summary – There vs Their
The two words there and their are homonyms since they sound similar in pronunciation. But, they have differences in their usage and grammatical category. The difference between there and their is that there is an adverb while their is a possessive pronoun. Possessing a sound knowledge in the differences of these two words is necessary when poseeding with the English grammar.
The words there and their are often used incorrectly because they are homophones, due to which they sound similar but have different spelling and meaning. While the word ‘there‘ has a number of uses but it is commonly used to refer a place, or something which exists whereas we use ‘their‘ to mean belongingness to a group of people. Now come let’s understand the two, with the help of examples:
- There is a drawer in the almirah, where you can find all their stuff.
- Their teacher called me over there.
In these sentences, the word ‘there’ is indicating a place while ‘their’ is used to means ‘belonging to a group of people’. Take a read of this article to understand the difference between there and their.
Content: There Vs Their
- Comparison Chart
- Definition
- Key Differences
- Examples
- How to remember the difference
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | There | Their |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The word ‘there’ represents a place or it can also be used to refer something that exists. It also acts as an exclamation. | The word ‘their’ symbolizes belongingness or ownership of someone or something. |
| Pronunciation | ðɛː | ðɛː |
| Part of Speech | Noun, Pronoun, Adverb, Adjective, Interjection. | Possessive Determiner |
| Examples | There is a big mall. | Their fight remind me of my childhood. |
| You must go there for further studies. | Can you give me their number? | |
| There are certain bugs in the software. | The employees efforts can be seen in their performance. |
Definition of There
The word ‘there’ is used in different contexts, when used as different parts of speech in various sentences.
- When used as an adverb, it means in or at that place, a point in time, or a particular matter or seeking attention:
- I will be there on time.
- She was there to meet you.
- There he comes.
- I stopped there, to let him reach.
- It can also be used as an interjection to show a feeling of satisfaction or calling attention:
- There, I told your parents would get angry after knowing your result.
- It can be used as a pronoun to introduce the subject or to say that something exists or does not exist:
- There is someone at the door calling your name.
- There are some differences between management and administration.
- As an adjective to give emphasis:
- You can ask for the coupons for the volunteer there.
- The girl over there is very cute.
- As a noun it refers to the place:
- There you can find Robin.
- Can you reach there by 7 AM?
Definition of Their
Simply put, the word ‘their’ is used in sentences as an attributive adjective, followed by a noun. It expresses the possessive form of the word ‘they’ which is a plural pronoun. Now let’s discuss where to use their in our sentences:
- As a determiner to show belongingness:
- She returned them their basketball.
- The villagers live in their huts.
- You should stop intervening in their matters.
- It may also be used when the gender of the person is not known:
- Someone has stolen their phone.
- My friends parked their car in the parking lot.
The points given below are substantial so far as the difference between there and their is concerned:
- In English, there is used to express a place which is already mentioned or implied which is known to the other person. It may also be used to express a specific object or person. On the other hand, their is a possessive form of ‘they’, that signifies ownership of something by a group of people.
- Basically, there is used as an adverb of place or position, but it can also be used as a noun, pronoun, adjective, and interjection. As against, their is a possessive determiner, which refers to belongingness to someone or something.
- Example: There must be something wrong with their behaviour.
You are going there for their well being.
Examples
There
- There you go.
- There are some horses in the stable.
- Are you there?
Their
- Their suggestion actually helped me.
- Their happiness depends on their mood.
- I like their attitude.
How to remember the difference
The best way to remember the difference is that whenever you use there it either means a location or something that exists. On the other hand, you use their when you refer to a noun which it replaces.
В этой статье мы рассмотрим несколько слов, которые очень часто встречаются в повседневном английском разговоре. Значения у них разные, а вот произношение схожее, из-за чего их путают в написании. Иногда те, кто учат английский, просто ставят первое попавшееся слово на письме. То, которое сами чаще употребляют. Это может приводить к замешательству и недопониманию. Давайте избавляться от них и прояснять сегодняшние слова: there, their, they’re.
There
Произношение и перевод:
[ðeə] / [вээ] — там, туда
Значение слова:
указывает на какое-то место, которое расположено не там, где находитесь вы
Употребление:
мы используем слово there, когда говорим, что кто-то/что-то находится не здесь, не рядом с говорящим, или направляется в то место
Примеры:
Look there! He’s coming. — Посмотри туда! Он идёт.
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If you stay there longer, let me know. — Если ты останешься там дольше, дай мне знай.
Their
Произношение и перевод:
[ðeə] / [вээ] — их
Значение слова:
принадлежащее тем людям или относящееся к тем людям/вещам, которые были упомянуты
Употребление:
мы используем слово their, когда говорим о чём-то, что принадлежит или касается их. Они — это люди или вещи, о которых идёт речь. Their отвечает на вопрос чей?
Примеры:
Their car has been repaired. — Их машину починили.
I’ve never seen their dog. — Я никогда не видел их собаку.
Have you enjoyed the cakes? Their taste is fantastic! — Тебе понравились пирожные? Их вкус потрясающий.
They’re
Произношение и перевод:
[ðeə] / [вээ] — они (есть, являются)
Значение слова:
they’re — это сокращение от they are. They используется, когда мы говорим о двух или более людях/вещах, о которых уже упоминали в речи или о которых знают. Are используется, когда мы хотим сказать, что они (they) являются кем-то или какими-то, находятся где-то.
Употребление:
мы используем they’re, когда хотим сказать, что интересующие нас люди/вещи, о которых мы уже говорили ранее, являются кем-то/чем-то (девочками, столами, книгами…) или какими-то (красивыми, добрыми, зелёными, пластиковыми…) или расположены где-то (в лесу, на столе, за окном…).
They как раз обозначает этих людей и эти вещи. А are — это “есть/является” или “находится”; слово, которое необходимо в английском языке и очень часто не переводится на русский язык. Например, предложение “They are green” дословно означает “Они есть зелёные”. Не очень по-русски звучит, правда? Для нас привычнее “Они зелёные”. Но в английском мы не можем опустить это “are”. Таковы уж правила языка. Более подробно можно прочитать в этой статье.
Примеры:
They’re good friends. — Они хорошие друзья.
They’re very interesting. — Они очень интересные.
They’re in the car. — Они в машине.
В чем разница?
Сегодня мы с вами рассмотрели три совершенно разные по смыслу слова. У них нет каких-то схожих значений. Но вот произносятся они одинаково, в чём и заключается сложность, особенно когда нужно воспринимать речь на слух. И здесь контекст нам в помощь. Ну а как пишутся эти слова просто нужно запомнить и не ошибаться, чтобы “их мяч” не стал “there ball”.
Задание на закрепление
There, their или they’re? А вы усвоили разницу? Проверьте себя и заполните пропуски. И мы решили немного изменить формат и теперь будем публиковать правильные ответы сразу под заданием, чтобы вы могли не ждать, а сразу проверить себя. Что думаете? Как вам удобнее?
Ждём ваше мнение в комментариях. Ну и если остались вопросы по статье или заданию, тоже пишите, разберёмся 
-
Я бы хотел поехать _______ .
-
_______ в лесу.
-
_______ начальник назначил собрание на пятницу.
-
Дети отдали _______ велосипед Питеру.
-
Обожаю этот магазин. _______ очень вкусно пахнет.
-
На свадьбу пришли все _______ родственники.
-
_______ было огромное количество народа.
-
_______ все выпускники 2019.
Правильные ответы:
-
there 5. there
-
they’re 6. their
-
their 7. there
-
their 8. they’re
The words there and their are often confused and misused because they are homophones (they sound alike). A good way to remember the difference between the there and their is to remember — Here with a T is there; so it refers to a place.
While «there» refers to a place, «their» means belonging to, or associated with, a group of people (e.g., «their clothes» — clothes that belonged to them).
Comparison chart
 |
Their | There |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Belonging to them | (in or to) that place |
| Used as a contraction | No | No |
| Parts of Speech | Possessive pronoun; sometimes used (mostly informally) as a replacement for singular possessive pronouns (his and her) when the gender of a person is unknown. | Noun, adverb, pronoun, adjective, interjection |
| Examples | (1) Their house was decorated for Halloween. (2) The dog was theirs. | (1) There was nothing left to do but go home. (2) She loved visiting there. (3) There he is! |
Examples of There vs. Their
- She envied their expensive shoes.
- I don’t want to go there because it’s too cold.
- Their van was destroyed in the accident.
- Once upon a time, there was a princess who turned into a frog.
In the following video, an English teacher explains the differences between their, there, and they’re with more examples.
Definitions
Their
«Their» is the possessive form of the plural pronoun they, used as an adjective preceding a noun (e.g., their company, their books on the shelves, their promotion to upper management).
Despite being plural, «their» has also come to be used as a replacement for the singular possessive pronouns his and her, as an indefinite singular antecedent (i.e., when the gender of a person is unknown or when referring to people in a mixed group or crowd).
- Someone parked their car in a towing zone.
- Does everyone have their ticket in hand?
This use of «their» is common in casual conversation and informal written English, but whether it is used in academic or professional writing often depends on style guide requirements, which typically prefer the more verbose «his or her» or alternating gendered pronouns.
- Someone parked his or her car in a towing zone.
There
«There» has multiple functions and can be used as an adverb, noun, pronoun, adjective, or interjection.
As an adverb, «there» can refer to in or that place, a moment in time or a point in a process, or a particular or specific matter. It can also call attention to a particular spot.
- My wife will be there soon. (referring to in or that place)
- She paused there to let him reply. (referring to a moment in time)
- I was right to be sad there. (referring to a specific matter)
- There he is! (calling attention)
As a noun, «there» refers to a state or condition.
- Once you get into college, you have to face it alone from there on.
As a pronoun, «there» replaces a noun where the verb comes before the subject or the subject is not mentioned. It can also supplant a place name or a specific time-based noun.
- There is no way to fail. (replacing a noun)
- She went there last week. (replacing a place name)
- We were there when that bell rang. (replacing a time-based noun)
As an adjective, «there» provides emphasis.
- See the lady there for directions.
As an interjection, «there» can express a variety of feelings and emotions, ranging from relief, satisfaction, and approval, to encouragement and consolation.
- There! We won!
- There, there, you’ll get them next time.
References
- There — definition and usage — Wiktionary
- Their — definition and usage — Wiktionary
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