Difference Between their and there: Meaning and Examples

The simplest difference is that their is a possessive adjective meaning “belonging to them,” while there is an adverb or expletive used to indicate a place, existence, or the start of a sentence. If you can replace the word with “our” or “my,” use their. If you can replace it with “here” or “that place,” use there.

Quick Answer

• Their = belonging to them (e.g., Their car is red.)
• There = a place or existence (e.g., The book is over there. / There is a problem.)

Detailed Explanation

Their (Possessive Adjective)

Their always modifies a noun and shows that something belongs to a group of people, animals, or things. It never changes form (no “theirs” in this role, though “theirs” is a possessive pronoun).

Examples:

• Their house is at the end of the street.
• I like their idea for the project.
• The children left their toys on the floor.

There (Adverb or Expletive)

There has two main uses:

1. As an adverb of place: It points to a location. You can often replace it with “here” or “that place.”
   Example: Put the box over there.
2. As an expletive (dummy subject): It introduces a sentence where the real subject comes later. It does not mean a place.
   Example: There are three options to choose from.

Comparison Table: Their vs. There

Natural Examples

These examples show how their and there appear in everyday writing, conversation, and email.

• Their flight was delayed, so they will arrive later.
• There is a meeting at 3 p.m. in the conference room.
• I saw their bags near the door, but they were not there.
• There are several ways to solve this problem, and their approach is one of them.
• Please leave your shoes over there, next to their rack.

Common Mistakes

Even native speakers mix these up. Here are the most frequent errors and how to fix them.

• Mistake: They left there jackets at home.
  Correction: They left their jackets at home. (Possession)
• Mistake: I want to go their for vacation.
  Correction: I want to go there for vacation. (Place)
• Mistake: Their is no milk left.
  Correction: There is no milk left. (Existence)
• Mistake: The team celebrated there victory.
  Correction: The team celebrated their victory. (Possession)

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

When to Use “Their”

Use their whenever you talk about something owned or associated with a group. It works in formal and informal writing, including emails, reports, and conversations.

Better alternative: If you are unsure, try replacing it with “our.” If the sentence still makes sense, their is correct.

• Their presentation was clear. (Our presentation was clear? Yes, structure works.)

When to Use “There”

Use there for locations or to introduce a subject. It is common in both formal and informal contexts.

Better alternative: Replace it with “here.” If the sentence still makes sense, there is correct for place.

• Put the file there. (Put the file here? Yes, works for place.)

For the expletive use, you cannot replace it with “here.” Instead, rephrase the sentence to find the real subject.

• There are two options. → Two options exist.

Context and Nuance

Formal vs. Informal Tone

Both their and there are neutral and work in any tone. However, in very formal writing, avoid starting too many sentences with “There is” or “There are” because it can make your writing wordy. Instead, rewrite for directness.

• Wordy: There are several factors that influence the decision.
  Direct: Several factors influence the decision.

Email and Conversation

In emails, these words appear constantly. Pay extra attention when proofreading, especially in subject lines or opening sentences.

• Correct email line: I received their invoice, but there is a mistake in the total.
• Incorrect email line: I received there invoice, but their is a mistake in the total.

Common Nuance

Sometimes there is used with a verb like “be” to indicate existence, while their always shows possession. A common trick is to remember that their contains the word “heir,” which relates to ownership.

Mini Practice: 4 Questions

Test yourself. Choose their or there for each blank.

1. ________ are many reasons to learn English.
2. The students left ________ notebooks in the classroom.
3. I think the keys are over ________.
4. ________ dog barks at every passerby.

Answers

1. There
2. their
3. there
4. Their

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is “their” ever used as a plural of “his” or “her”?

Yes. “Their” is commonly used as a singular they when the gender of a person is unknown or non-binary. For example: “Someone left their phone on the table.” This is widely accepted in modern English.

2. Can “there” be used as a noun?

No. “There” is not a noun. It is an adverb or an expletive. However, it can appear in phrases like “from there” where it functions as a location reference, but it remains an adverb.

3. What about “they’re”? How is it different?

“They’re” is a contraction of “they are.” It is a completely different word from “their” and “there.” Example: “They’re going to their house over there.” All three appear in that sentence.

4. Is it ever correct to write “there” when you mean “their”?

No. It is always a spelling error. The two words have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped. Always proofread carefully, especially in professional emails or academic writing.

For more help with similar word pairs, explore our Grammar Word Differences guides. If you have questions, visit our FAQ page or contact us.