Their vs There – Exercise, Lesson and Worksheet, A1 Grammar

Their vs There - Exercises

This exercise focuses on Their vs There

When to Use "Their"

"Their" is a possessive adjective. It shows that something belongs to a group of people (or sometimes animals or things). Use "their" when talking about something that belongs to "them."

Examples of "Their"

Their house is beautiful. (The house belongs to them.)
The students forgot their books. (The books belong to the students.)
Dogs wag their tails when they’re happy. (The tails belong to the dogs.)

In these examples, "their" shows ownership or possession.

Use	Example Sentence
Possession of things	Their car is parked outside.
Ownership of animals	The cats like to chase their toys.
Showing belonging	The kids are playing with their friends.

When to Use "There"

"There" has multiple meanings and uses. It can act as a pronoun, adverb, noun, or adjective, depending on the context. The most common uses of "there" are to point to a place or to introduce something.

Common Uses of "There"

To show a place or location:

The book is over there. (Location)
He lives there. (Location)

To introduce something:

There is a problem with the car. (Introducing a situation)
There are many reasons to visit the museum. (Introducing reasons)

Use	Example Sentence
Pointing to a place	The keys are over there on the table.
Introducing something	There is a solution to every problem.
Showing existence	There are plenty of options available.

Common Errors

Using "their" instead of "there":

Incorrect: The cat is sitting their.
Correct: The cat is sitting there.

Using "there" instead of "their":

Incorrect: They left there bags on the bus.
Correct: They left their bags on the bus.

Everyday Usage Tips

Use "their" when you are talking about something belonging to a group (possessive).
Use "there" when you want to point to a place or introduce something in a sentence.

FAQ

How can I remember the difference between "their" and "there"?

A tip: "Their" has "heir" in it, which relates to possession. Use "their" when something belongs to people. "There" has "here" in it, so think of it as a place.

Can "there" be used to start a sentence?

Yes, "there" is often used at the beginning of sentences to introduce something (e.g., "There is a storm coming").

Is "their" used for both people and animals?

Yes, "their" can show ownership for both people and animals (e.g., "Their dog is friendly").

Can "there" mean something like "existing"?

Yes, "there" can show existence (e.g., "There are many reasons to learn English").

What’s the most common mistake with "their" and "there"?

The most common mistake is using "their" when you mean "there" and vice versa. Remember, "their" shows ownership, and "there" points out location or existence.