What Does There Mean?
There has two main uses in English.
- To talk about a place: It tells you where something is.
- The keys are over there.
- Let’s go there tomorrow.
- To show that something exists (with is or are): We use there is (singular) or there are (plural).
- There is a cat in the garden.
- There are two books on the table.
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Take our FREE Placement TestWhen Do We Use Their?
Their is a possessive adjective. It shows that something belongs to a group of people or things.
- It is the possessive form of they.
- It always comes before a noun.
- The students finished their homework. (The homework belongs to the students.)
- The birds built their nest in the tree. (The nest belongs to the birds.)
How Do We Use They're?
They're is a contraction. This means it is a short form of two words put together.
- They're always means they are.
- The apostrophe ( ' ) replaces the letter a from are.
- They're happy to see you. (This means They are happy to see you.)
- My friends? They're coming soon. (This means My friends? They are coming soon.)
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There | Place or existence (e.g., there is) | The book is over there. |
| Their | Possession (belongs to them) | The students love their teacher. |
| They're | Contraction of they are | They're happy. |
Examples
- Look! There's a new café over there.
- The children are playing with their new toys.
- They're going to visit their grandparents next week.
- Is there any milk left in the fridge?
- The dogs wagged their tails when they saw their owner.
- They're very excited about their trip.
Practice
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Get started with LangcomCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers often confuse their, there, and they're because they sound identical. The main error is using the wrong spelling for the intended meaning.
- Confusing there (place/existence) with their (possession):
- ❌ Their is a park near my house. (Incorrect: Should be There for existence.)
- ✅ There is a park near my house.
- Confusing they're (they are) with their (possession):
- ❌ They're new car is red. (Incorrect: Should be Their for possession.)
- ✅ Their new car is red.
- Confusing they're (they are) with there (place):
- ❌ My friends? There coming to the party. (Incorrect: Should be They're for they are.)
- ✅ My friends? They're coming to the party.
Always remember the meaning you want to express, and then choose the correct spelling.
Frequently asked questions
Why do their, there, and they're sound the same?
They are called homophones. This means they have the same pronunciation but different spellings and meanings. English has many homophones.
How can I remember the difference between their, there, and they're?
Think about the meaning:
- There: "here" and "where" both have "ere" – it's about place.
- Their: "heir" is a person who inherits, showing possession. Or, it has an "i" like "mine" (possessive).
- They're: The apostrophe means something is missing, like in they are.
Will I see these words in the A2 Key (KET) exam?
Yes, you might see these words in the A2 Key exam, especially in reading and writing tasks where choosing the correct word for meaning is important. For example, in Part 6 (Open Cloze) or Part 7 (Word Transformation), you need to show good control of vocabulary and grammar.
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