When to use the word their in a sentence

English has a number of odd rules that often create stumbling blocks for those who learn English online or learn English listening to conversations on English television programmes or videos.  

One of the more frustrating English language quirks involves words which sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. These words are known as homophones. Understanding homophones is an essential part of mastering the English language, both for vocabulary building and spelling. Mastering homophones is somewhat complicated by some word processing programs which perform spell check without checking for correct grammar usage.  

Homophones are very common in English and are frequently pairs of words. However sometimes these homophones are trios of words; as is the case with ‘their vs there and they’re. On very rare occasions you will hear an English speaker whose pronunciation is perfect which allows you to hear the difference between the three words. However, this occurs so rarely that it is necessary to master the rules for the correct usage of the three words.  

Fortunately, no matter which method we use to learn English online, using “their”, “they’re”, and “there” correctly is fairly easy.  

We will help you understand the differences between there vs their and they’re by showing you the meaning of the words and giving you some examples of how each is used. We will also provide you with a couple of simple tricks to help you identify which of the three words is the correct one to use. We will finish up with a short quiz which will allow you to practice what you have learned.  

When to use There in a sentence

“There” is the slightly more complex word out of the homophone trio, as it can be used as two different parts of speech.  

The most prevalent usage is as an adverb. Basically “there” is the opposite of here and means “at or in that place.”  

Some examples: 

Jody loved visiting England and considered moving there. 
Your books are over there. 

There can also serve as a pronoun and can be used to introduce a sentence or a clause.  

For example: 

There is a chance of rain. 
There is a cat hiding behind the curtains. 

Both usages can often be found in the same sentence.  

There is a loud party going on over there. 

When to use Their 

“Their” is the possessive of the pronoun “they” and is used to indicate ownership. 

 For example: 

Students taking the exam were told to leave their cell phones behind.
The football players were looking forward to their championship game. 

English usage continues to change, particularly in the digital age. While in most cases “their” is considered plural, it has become more acceptable to use “their” in place of a singular “his” or “her” when it follows a pronoun such as “someone.”  

For example: 

Someone left their car keys on the table. 

“Their” should not be used when referring to a specific person.  

For example: 

The boy left their lunch at home. 

When to use they’re in a sentence

“They’re” is a contraction of the words “they” and “are.”  

For example:  

They’re learning English grammar online.
The teens are angry because they’re not allowed to use their mobiles. 

Contractions are seldom used in academic and formal papers and are generally found in personal notes and informal communications.  

Hacks for choosing the correct word 

Whenever you find yourself wondering which is the correct usage here are some tips that will make it easier to pick the correct word.  

Their  

You can take a hint from the spelling. “Their” has the word “heir” in it, indicating possession; this can help remind you to use “their” in your sentence. “Their” is also plural so do not use if when referring to a specific person.  

There 

Once again you can use spelling to select the correct word. When using “there” as a place or location it is the opposite of “here”; the word “here” is in the word which can remind you that this is the correct word for a place. 

They’re 

“They’re” is a contraction of the words “they” and “are”. When you are trying to decide if “they’re” is the correct word to use, try substituting the words “they are” in the sentence. If the sentence makes sense, the word is correct.  

For example:  

“They’re looking for a way to fix the broken computer” makes sense if you write it as “They are looking for a way to fix the broken computer.”  

Another way to learn the difference between the three homophones is by listening to English broadcasts or watching English videos. The three words are very common and are used extensively in everyday conversation. Whenever you hear one of the homophones used, pay attention to the context – if they are referring to a place (there), a possession (their), or using a contraction (they’re).  

Exercise

The following exercise will help you practice using the correct word. For each sentence choose whether to use “they’re”, “their”, or “there.” The answers are at the bottom of the article. 

1. _______ going on holiday for ten days.  

1. I know ________ is a solution to this problem.  

1. The hikers forgot _______ water bottles.  

1. Sloths are cute but _______ very lazy. 

1. _______ going over_____ to finish _____ project. 

Answers 

1. They’re 

1. there 

1. their 

1. they’re  

1. They’re, there, their 

As we mentioned, mastering homophones is a major part of learning English online as they occur frequently in the language. You can also check our blog for articles which focus on other common homophones.  

This ultimate guide gives you a detail look at differences and example sentences of ‘Its’ vs ‘Their’ and how to correctly use them to avoid confusion.

Let’s see one example before starting.

Example 1: Its my responsibility to do it.

Example 2 : It is their bag.

Both its and their are pronouns. While its is a singular pronoun, their is a plural pronoun. So, without wasting anymore time let’s discuss Its vs Their.

When to Use Its in a Sentence

The three letter English word Its is used with singular nouns. Its is the possessive pronoun with an apostrophe t0 represent an the state of owning, or controlling something.

5 examples of sentences using Its:

1. I don’t have to complain about its shape.
2. The book is too vast for its subject.
3. Its your time now.
4. I want to see the bird and all its siblings.
5. The bird is in its nest.

When to use Their in a Sentence

The three letter English word Their is used with plural nouns i.e the people or things which have been previously mentioned.

5 examples of sentences using Their:

1. They will do their own things.
2. I like their clothes.
3. They have to repair their house.
4. I have to prepare their food.
5. I have to meet their teacher.

Try replacing these phrases with one another and you’ll see that sentences will sound untidy.

For example :

Correct : Parents love their children.

Wrong : Parents love its children.

Let us see a sentence using ‘Its’ and ‘their’ together.

Example : Its my duty to do their work.

After understanding the usages of possessive pronouns we can easily understand the difference between ‘Its’ and ‘Their’.

So next time when you are hung up on whether you should use ‘Its’ or ‘Their’, just refer to the above mentioned points and their literal meaning.

their, there, they’re (/ðɛː/)

‘Their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re’ are commonly misspelled and used incorrectly in writing, even by native English speakers.

It’s easily done because they’re homophones — words that are pronounced the same, but are spelt differently and have different meanings.

The word ‘homophone’ comes from Greek homóphõnos
homo same – phõné sound

However, although these three words sound the same, they have very different meanings, and so it’s important to use them correctly.

For example:

• their – Their car is blue.
• there – It’s parked over there.
• they’re – They’re going to buy a new car soon.

THEIR

‘their’ is a determiner meaning belonging to, or associated with, people, animals, or things previously mentioned, or easily identified.

It’s nearly always followed by a noun. For example:

• their children
• their car
• their house

Example sentences using ‘their’:

• I could use some ideas about the best ways to help my children with their homework.
• The couple and their accomplice were eventually caught red-handed.
• Have you seen their new house?
• This is their car, and this is ours.

We also use it as a gender-neutral alternative to ‘his’ or ‘her’. For example:

• Someone left their coat in the bar last night.
• Who finished their dinner first?
• Anyone who cares about their writing should proofread and edit it carefully.

Some people dislike the use of ‘their’ as a gender-neutral substitute as they feel it’s ungrammatical. But it’s now become widely used in this way and generally accepted as a natural part of language use.

THERE

there – in, at, or to, that place

• I had a great time in Malta. I’d like to go there again.

there – used to introduce the subject of a sentence

• There’s someone at the door.
• There were too many people on the bus to work this morning.

get there – arrive somewhere

• It took us more than five hours to drive home in the snow. I thought we’d never get there.

THEY’RE

‘They’re’ is a contraction of ‘they are’ — the ‘a’ from ‘are’ is replaced by an apostrophe.

‘They’ is a pronoun used to refer to a group of people, animals or things that have already been mentioned, or are easily identified.

Example sentences using ‘they’re’

• I saw Marie and David last week. Did you know they’re getting married?
• They’re getting here around six o’clock
• If they said they didn’t know what they were doing, they’re lying.
• My parents said they’re going to Nice for their holiday.

Example sentences that have their, there, and they’re in the same sentence

• Their parents live in Canada and they’re flying to Quebec to be there with them for their fortieth wedding anniversary.
• When they get there, they’re staying in a hotel with their extended family.
• They’re staying there for ten days and then travelling to visit their friends in Montreal.
• They’re hoping to have time to visit all their favourite places while they’re there.

How do I know if I’m using their, there, and they’re correctly?

Mistakes made by confusing ‘their’, ‘there’ and ‘they’re’ in your writing are not usually picked up by proofreading software because although you may have used a word inappropriately in a sentence, if it’s spelt correctly the software doesn’t recognise it as an error.

So, how do you know if you’re using them correctly?

In most cases, the following tips should help you decide if you’re using the right word in the right place…

THEIR: Try replacing ‘their’ with ‘our’ in your sentence. Does it still make sense? If it does, then you’re using it correctly. For example:

• Their parents live in Canada.
  Our parents live in Canada.
• Have you seen their new baby?
  Have you seen our new baby?

THERE: Try replacing ‘there’ with ‘here’. Does your sentence still make sense? If it does, then it’s correct.

THEY’RE: For ‘they’re’, does your sentence still make sense if you replace ‘they’re’ with ‘they are’? If it does, then it’s correct.

A final word from their, there, and they’re …

Remember, they’re easy to mix up because their sound is the same, but their meanings are different.

Proofreading software won’t help you identify when you’re using them incorrectly but, for most cases, there are questions you can ask yourself to test whether you have the right word.