If they are fits, write they’re. Use their to show whose something is. Use there for a place or in phrases like there is. Each spelling does a different job in “They’re leaving their bikes over there.”
Give each word its job
- “They’re waiting for the bus.” Try “They are waiting for the bus.”
- “The neighbors parked their bikes.” The word tells whose bikes they are.
- “Put the bags over there.” Here the word points to a place.
Recognize there is and there are
In “There are three seats left,” there introduces the fact that seats are available. It can do this even when the sentence gives no location.
Try it
“___ bringing ___ lunch, so leave a place for them over ___.”
Show the answer
Use They’re, their, and there. The words mean they are, show whose lunch it is, and point to a place.
See also Your vs. You’re.
