They're, There, Their.....
They're
They're is a contraction (i.e., a shortened version) of they are. (In the contraction they're, the apostrophe replaces the letter 'a' and the two words are merged into one.)
Top Tip
THEY'RE ALWAYS EXPANDS TO... 'THEY ARE'
Only use they're if you can substitute it with 'they are'. Examples:
They're not leaving on Saturday now.
(Test: "They are not leaving on Saturday now.")
I cannot believe they're from Wigan.
(Test: "I cannot believe they are from Wigan.")
More than 20 people left they're coats in the cloakroom.
(Test: "More than 20 people left 'they are' coats in the cloakroom." This is nonsense so the use of they're in this sentence is WRONG!!)
My doctor gave me two weeks to lose weight. I hope they're after my holiday.
(Test: "I hope they are after my holiday.")
Things are only impossible, until they're not. (Jean-Luc Picard)
(Test: "Things are only impossible until they are not.")
Their
Their is used to show possession. It is like my, your, his, her, its, and our. These are called possessive adjectives.)
Top Tip
THEIR CAN OFTEN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH OUR
Here is a little trick to test whether their is correct: Use the word our instead of their. If the sentence still makes sense, then their is almost certainly correct. This trick works because our and their are both possessive adjectives used for plurals. Examples:
Can you show the guests to their cabins?
(Test: "Can you show the guests to our cabins?" This sounds okay. Therefore, their is correct.)
I have seen their footprints before.
(Test: "I have seen our footprints before." This sounds okay. Therefore, their is correct.)
Their all leaving.
(Test: "Our all leaving." This is nonsense. Therefore, 'their' is WRONG. It should be 'they're'.)
Their less likely to cause offence.
(Test: "Our less likely to cause offence." This is nonsense. Therefore, 'their' is WRONG. It should be 'they're'.)
Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. (Oscar Wilde)
There
The word there is similar to the word here in that it represents a place. (There and here are adverbs of place). There has two uses: (1) It is used to denote a specific place.
She is there.
(2) It is used to denote that something exists.
There are two apples.
Some more examples:
The children are over there.
(specific place)
There is a good reason I'm not attending the party this year.
(a reason exists)
Simon repeated himself: "They're unqualified, and their opinions counted for nothing while they were their."
(The last 'their' should be 'THERE' as it denotes a specific place.)