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 versus There comparison chart
Edit this comparison chartTheirThere
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

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).

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.

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.

As a noun, "there" refers to a state or condition.

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.

As an adjective, "there" provides emphasis.

As an interjection, "there" can express a variety of feelings and emotions, ranging from relief, satisfaction, and approval, to encouragement and consolation.

References

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