Their vs. They're

Attribute	Their	They're
Definition	Belonging to or associated with a person or group	Contraction of "they are"
Possessive Pronoun	Used to show ownership or belonging	Not applicable
Usage	Used to indicate possession or ownership	Used to indicate a contraction of "they are"
Example	That is their car.	They're going to the party.
Part of Speech	Possessive pronoun	Contraction

Introduction

English language learners often find themselves confused between similar-sounding words that have different meanings and usage. Two such words that often cause confusion are "their" and "they're." While they may sound alike, these words have distinct attributes and serve different purposes in sentences. In this article, we will explore the attributes of "their" and "they're" to help clarify their meanings and usage.

The Attribute of Possession: Their

One of the primary attributes of "their" is that it indicates possession. When used as a possessive pronoun, "their" shows that something belongs to a group of people. For example, in the sentence "They parked their car in the garage," "their" indicates that the car belongs to a specific group of individuals. It is important to note that "their" is always used to refer to plural nouns or a group of people, never for singular nouns.

Furthermore, "their" can also be used as a possessive adjective before a noun. For instance, in the sentence "Their house is beautiful," "their" describes the noun "house" and shows that the house belongs to a particular group of people. It is worth mentioning that "their" is gender-neutral and can refer to any group of people, regardless of gender.

The Attribute of Contraction: They're

On the other hand, "they're" is a contraction of the words "they" and "are." This contraction is used to combine the subject pronoun "they" with the verb "are" in a sentence. For example, in the sentence "They're going to the park," "they're" is used to indicate that the group of people mentioned in the sentence is currently in the process of going to the park.

It is important to note that "they're" is only used when referring to a group of people. It cannot be used to indicate possession like "their." The primary function of "they're" is to combine the subject pronoun "they" with the verb "are" to form a contraction, indicating an action or state of being.

Examples and Usage

To further understand the attributes of "their" and "they're," let's explore some examples and their usage:

Examples of "Their"

• They parkedtheir car in the garage.
• The students submittedtheir assignments before the deadline.
• The team celebratedtheir victory with a parade.
• The parents were proud oftheir children's achievements.
• The employees receivedtheir bonuses at the end of the year.

Examples of "They're"

• They're going to the movies tonight.
• They're excited about the upcoming vacation.
• They're the best team in the league.
• They're not sure if they can attend the event.
• They're working on a new project at the office.

As seen in the examples above, "their" is used to indicate possession, while "they're" is used to combine the subject pronoun "they" with the verb "are" to form a contraction. Understanding the context and purpose of the sentence is crucial in determining whether to use "their" or "they're."

Common Mistakes and Tips

Due to their similar pronunciation, "their" and "they're" are often mistakenly interchanged. Here are some common mistakes and tips to help avoid confusion:

Mistake: Using "their" instead of "they're"

Incorrect:The students thinktheir going to win the competition.

Correct:The students thinkthey're going to win the competition.

Tip: Remember that "they're" is a contraction of "they" and "are" and is used to indicate an action or state of being.

Mistake: Using "they're" instead of "their"

Incorrect:The employees receivedthey're bonuses at the end of the year.

Correct:The employees receivedtheir bonuses at the end of the year.

Tip: Use "their" to indicate possession when referring to something belonging to a group of people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "their" and "they're" may sound similar, but they have distinct attributes and serve different purposes in sentences. "Their" is used to indicate possession, whether as a possessive pronoun or adjective, while "they're" is a contraction of "they" and "are" used to combine the subject pronoun with the verb. Understanding the context and purpose of the sentence is crucial in determining whether to use "their" or "they're." By keeping these attributes in mind and practicing their correct usage, English language learners can confidently differentiate between "their" and "they're" in their writing and communication.