Their vs. There: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Their" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership, while "there" refers to a place or a point in a discussion.
Key Differences
"Their" is used to indicate possession or ownership by multiple people or entities. "There" refers to a location or is used as an introductory subject in sentences.
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Nov 21, 2023
Their" is always used in the context of showing that something belongs to them. "There" is used to denote a place or to indicate the existence of something.
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Nov 21, 2023
"Their house is beautiful," shows ownership of the house. "There is a cat on the roof," indicates the location or existence of the cat.
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Nov 21, 2023
"Their" is a possessive pronoun, a part of speech that shows ownership. "There" can be an adverb, pronoun, or noun, depending on its use in a sentence.
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Nov 21, 2023
Misusing "their" in place of "there" changes the meaning from possession to location. Confusing "there" with "their" can lead to unclear or incorrect statements about ownership.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Context
Refers to something owned by people or entities
Refers to a place or introduces a subject
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Nov 21, 2023
Grammar Rule
Used before a noun to show possession
Used to indicate a place or to start a sentence
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Nov 21, 2023
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Their and There Definitions
Their
"Their" indicates something that belongs to them.
Their ideas were innovative.
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Nov 16, 2023
There
"There" introduces a sentence or clause.
There are many options to consider.
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Nov 16, 2023
Their
"Their" is used to denote possession by multiple people or entities.
Their car is parked outside.
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Nov 16, 2023
There
"There" can denote a point in a conversation or argument.
There, I told you it would work!
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Nov 16, 2023
Their
"Their" is a possessive pronoun replacing "his or her" in plural form.
The students presented their projects.
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Nov 16, 2023
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Their
"Their" shows group ownership or association.
Their teamwork led to success.
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Nov 16, 2023
Their
"Their" refers to something associated with a group of people.
Their enthusiasm was contagious.
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Nov 16, 2023
There
At that stage, moment, or point
Stop there before you make any more mistakes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Their
Used as a modifier before a noun
The politicians boasted of their accomplishments. “It is fatal for anyone who writes to think of their sex” (Virginia Woolf). See Usage Notes at he1, they.
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Oct 19, 2023
Their
Belonging to, from, of, or relating to, them (plural).
They will meet tomorrow at their convenience
This is probably their cat
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Oct 19, 2023
There
In a readily accessible or discoverable state
The answer is out there. All we have to do is look for it.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used especially for emphasis after the demonstrative pronoun that or those, or after a noun modified by the demonstrative adjective that or those
That person there ought to know the directions to town.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
(Nonstandard) Used for emphasis between a demonstrative adjective meaning "that" or "those" and a noun
"You see them there handles?" (Cormac McCarthy)."I tell you ... that you buried paving-stones and earth in that there coffin" (Charles Dickens).
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Oct 19, 2023
Their
The possessive case of the personal pronoun they; as, their houses; their country.
Nothing but the name of zeal appears'Twixt our best actions and the worst of theirs.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used to express feelings such as relief, satisfaction, sympathy, or anger
There, now I can have some peace!.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
(location) In a place or location (stated, implied or otherwise indicated) at some distance from the speaker (compare here).
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Oct 19, 2023
There
(figuratively) In that matter, relation, etc.; at that point, stage, etc., regarded as a distinct place.
He did not stop there, but continued his speech.
They patched up their differences, but matters did not end there.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
In this world, used to say that someone or something exists; see pronoun section below.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used to offer encouragement or sympathy.
There, there. Everything is going to turn out all right.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
That status; that position.
You rinse and de-string the green beans; I'll take it from there.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used as an expletive subject of be in its sense of “exist”, with the semantic, usually indefinite subject being postponed or (occasionally) implied.
There are two apples on the table. [=Two apples are on the table.]
There is no way to do it. [=No way to do it exists.]
Is there an answer? [=Does an answer exist?]
No, there isn't. [=No, one doesn't exist.]
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used with other intransitive verbs of existence, in the same sense, or with other intransitive verbs, adding a sense of existence.
If x is a positive number, then there exists [=there is] a positive number y less than x.
There remain several problems with this approach. [=Several problems remain with this approach.]
Once upon a time, in a now-forgotten kingdom, there lived a woodsman with his wife. [=There was a woodsman, who lived with his wife.]
There arose a great wind out of the east. [=There was now a great wind, arising in the east.]
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Oct 19, 2023
There
Used with other verbs, when raised.
There seems to be some difficulty with the papers. [=It seems that there is some difficulty with the papers.]
I expected there to be a simpler solution. [=I expected that there would be a simpler solution.]
There are beginning to be complications. [=It's beginning to be the case that there are complications.]
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Oct 19, 2023
There
(colloquial) Appended to words of greeting etc.
Hi there, young fellow.
Oh, hello there, Bob, how are you doing?
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Oct 19, 2023
There
In or at that place.
The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
In that matter, relation, etc.; at that point, stage, etc., regarded as a distinct place; as, he did not stop there, but continued his speech.
The law that theaten'd death becomes thy friendAnd turns it to exile; there art thou happy.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
To or into that place; thither.
The rarest that e'er came there.
A knight there was, and that a worthy man.
There is a path which no fowl knoweth.
Wherever there is a sense or perception, there some idea is actually produced.
There have been that have delivered themselves from their ills by their good fortune or virtue.
Spend their good there it is reasonable.
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Oct 19, 2023
There
In or at that place;
They have lived there for years
It's not there
That man [who is] there
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Oct 19, 2023
There
"There" is used to indicate a place or location.
The book is over there.
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Nov 16, 2023
There
"There" is used to emphasize a statement.
There, that's exactly what I meant.
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Nov 16, 2023
There
"There" refers to a specific point in time or process.
We are not there yet in our plan.
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Nov 16, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'their' refer to singular nouns?
Yes, when the ownership is by a collective group or entity.
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Nov 21, 2023
What's a common mistake with 'their'?
Confusing it with 'there' or 'they're'.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does 'there' have a singular and plural form?
No, 'there' remains the same regardless of the number of subjects or objects.
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Nov 21, 2023
What does 'their' imply?
It implies possession or ownership by a group or multiple entities.
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Nov 21, 2023
How is 'their' used in a sentence?
As a possessive pronoun before a noun, e.g., "Their dog is friendly."
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Nov 21, 2023
Does 'their' change in plural form?
No, 'their' is the same in both singular and plural possessive cases.
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Nov 21, 2023
What does 'there' signify?
A location, a point in conversation, or an introductory subject.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can 'there' be used for emphasis?
Yes, often to emphasize a point or statement.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is 'there' always about location?
Not always, it can also introduce sentences or concepts.
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Nov 21, 2023
How do you differentiate 'their' from 'there'?
Remember that 'their' shows ownership, while 'there' indicates location or existence.
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Nov 21, 2023
How do you use 'there' in a sentence?
To indicate a place or start a sentence, e.g., "There is a solution."
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Nov 21, 2023
Can 'their' be used for inanimate objects?
Yes, it can refer to anything owned by a group.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is 'there' used in formal writing?
Yes, but its usage depends on the context and sentence structure.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does 'there' imply a specific distance?
Not necessarily, it can refer to any location, near or far.
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Nov 21, 2023
How can I improve using 'their' and 'there'?
possession for 'their', location or introduction for 'there'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can 'their' refer to people and animals?
Absolutely, it's commonly used for both.
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Nov 21, 2023
What's a common error with 'there'?
Mixing it up with 'their' or 'they're'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can 'their' be used for abstract concepts?
Yes, it can refer to intangible things like ideas or feelings.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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