There are many problems in English, such as the correct use of there, their, and they're. Most English speakers pronounce these words the same way or sound (words known as homophones); thus, it is difficult for some to determine which pronunciation to use. Each pronunciation has a very different meaning. Communicating clearly and correctly is important, for example in written correspondence or business or academic writing.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Step
Step 1. Use there when referring to a place
Places can be something concrete (over there by the building) or more abstract (it must be difficult to live there).
Step 2. Also use there with the verb to be
There plus the verb to be (be, is, am, are, was, were) indicates the existence of something, or mentions something for the first time.
- There is an antique store on Camden Avenue. (There is an antique shop on Camden Avenue).
- There are many documents that are used in investigations. (There are many documents used in the investigation).
- There is a picnic area over here, and a monster and a campground across the river. (There's a picnic area there, and a monster and a campground across the river).
- "I see there are new flowers coming up in your garden." "Yes, they are the ones my grandmother gave me last year." ("I saw new flowers blooming in your garden." "Yes, they were flowers my grandmother gave me last year").
Step 3. Use their to express ownership
Their is a possessive adjective and indicates that certain nouns belong to them (them).
- My friends have lost their tickets. (My friends lost their tickets).
- Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly. (Their belongings are scattered all over the office chaotically).
Step 4. Remember that they're is short for they and are
This word can never be used as a modifier, only as a subject (who or what does the action) and a verb (the action itself).
- They're my best friends. (They are my friends).
- I would go to the movies, but they're already waiting for me. (I'm going to the cinema, but they're already waiting for me).
Step 5. Ask yourself the examiner's questions
When you use any of these three words, make it a habit to ask yourself these questions. However, keep in mind that this question doesn't always work in all cases:
- If you wrote there, would the sentence still make sense if you replaced it with here ? If so, you are using this word correctly.
- If you have their, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with our ? If still, you have chosen the correct word.
- If you use they're, would the sentence make sense if you replaced it with they are ? If it still is, you got it right!
Step 6. Identify wrong examples and learn from them
By looking at other people's work with a critical eye, especially by offering proofreads or copy-edits, you can become more sensitive with proper use and practice on your own.
- Wrong: Their is no one here.
- Incorrect: Shelley wants to know if there is busy.
- Wrong: The dogs are happily chewing on they're bones.
- TRUE: I can't believe they're leaving their children there, alone!
Step 7. Practice, practice and practice
Ask your English teacher or friend to say a few sentences aloud using one of these three words and write down which version they use. Look for grammar quizzes on the internet. Hire a private English tutor if you're still having trouble.
Tips
- Another hint: there has the word here in it to remind you that it refers to a place, while their has the word heir in it to remind you that it has to do with possession.
- Try to imagine this scene: you see your neighbors standing outside their house, picking up trash they accidentally dropped on the ground. You point at them and say to your friend: Look over there [the place], they're [they are] picking up their rubbish [possession] (See there, they are picking up trash they).
- Turn off the auto-correct feature in your word processor. People tend to be lazy and forget special rules when the computer automatically fixes the errors listed above.
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Remember there, their, and they're with the following rules:
- t here: the word here is in there, so there refers to the word for place.
- t heir: the word he is in their, so their refers to the word for people.
- they 're: there's a ' inside they're, so they're like they are. Instead of saying they're, say they are to see if the sentence makes sense.
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Describe your abbreviation or abbreviation. Replace can't with cannot, you're with you are, and they're with they are. This way, you will realize if you made a mistake in writing.
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The students misplaced they're books would be: The students misplaced they are books.
Here, the second sentence makes no sense; thus, this usage is not appropriate
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- If you have there is or there are, the word is always there – you will never say they're is or they're are or their is or their are.
- If you've determined whether they're or their isn't the right form, there is the word you should use!
- If you're not sure if you're using their correctly, try replacing it with my – the sentence should still be correct with that substitution. For example: Their house is purple. If you replace their with my, the sentence will still sound reasonable: My house is purple. So you know you are using their correctly.
- Learning how to spell correctly can help you do well in school, get a good job, and become a contributor to wikiHow articles.
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