Ah, the classic trio: their, there, and they’re. These little words may look (and sound) alike, but they have very different jobs. Mix them up, and you might leave your readers scratching their heads.
Let’s untangle the confusion—without making it boring.
Their: The Owner of Things
Their shows possession. It tells us something belongs to “them.”
- Their cat knocked over my water glass.
- Their vacation photos made me jealous.
- Their grammar skills are getting sharper every day. ✏️
👉 Think of their as the group’s “lost and found tag.” If someone owns it, use their.
There: The Place (or the Pointer)
There usually points to a location or situation.
- Put the cookies over there. 🍪
- There is a spider on the wall!
- There are so many reasons to love Friday.
👉 Memory trick: “There” contains the word here → If you can swap it with “here,” you’re in the right spot.
They’re: The Short-and-Sassy Contraction
They’re is simply short for they are.
- They’re going to the concert tonight.
- They’re amazing at karaoke. 🎤
- They’re always mixing these words up!
👉 Quick test: Try replacing it with “they are.” If it works, it’s they’re.
Activity
Post 3 sample tweets, each missing the correct “there/their/they’re.” Students work in groups to “retweet” with the right correction.
CCSS
L.4.1g (Use frequently confused words correctly).
Final Thought
These three words may sound the same, but now you know their secrets:
- Their = ownership
- There = place or pointer
- They’re = they are
Master this trio, and you’re one step closer to grammar greatness.
✨ And here’s the bonus: when you use them correctly, your readers won’t even notice—because smooth writing is the best kind of magic.
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