The three "theres"

I don't usually write tutorials or critiques (although I did write a post called Creating an Alien Language for your Manuscript), but the other day I was fighting with someone on a web forum (I like fighting. It's fun!), and someone corrected a poster, stating that the person had incorrectly said "their" when it should have been "they're".

In essence, the line read "they already have their tickets." Possessive - tickets that belong to "them."

However, the responder said it should have been written, "they already have they're tickets."

Ooof. My pet peeve. The three "theres"


Look, it's all very simple. There are three words that sound exactly the same but are used differently.

"There" has many forms (data from dictionary.com).

adverb

1.

in or at that place (opposed to here ):

She is there now.

2.

at that point in an action, speech, etc.:

He stopped there for applause.

3.

in that matter, particular, or respect:

His anger was justified there.

4.

into or to that place; thither:

We went there last year.

5.

(used by way of calling attention to something or someone):

There they go.

6.

in or at that place where you are:

Well, hi there.

pronoun

7.

(used to introduce a sentence or clause in which the verb comes before its subject or has no complement):

There is no hope.

8.

that place:

He comes from there, too.

9.

that point.

noun

10.

that state or condition:

I'll introduce you to her, but you're on your own from there on.

adjective

11.

(used for emphasis, especially after a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective):

Ask that man there.

interjection

12.

(used to express satisfaction, relief, encouragement, approval, consolation, etc.):

There! It's done.

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“Their”

pronoun

1.

a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun:

their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome.

2.

(used with a singular indefinite pronoun or singular noun antecedent in place of the definite masculine his or the definite feminine her):

Someone left their book on the table. It's good for the teacher to have high expectations for their students.

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“They’re” is the contracted form of “They are”; the third-person plural, present tense conjugation of the verb “to be”.

They’re (they are) going to the store.

And now you know

Next week we'll be discussing proper dinner table etiquette when serving White Castle sliders at a black tie event.