Have you ever heard words that sound the same but mean different things? These words are called homophones, and today we’re going to learn about three of them: “they’re,” “their,” and “there.” Let’s find out how to use each one correctly!
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. “They’re,” “their,” and “there” are great examples. Knowing how to use them can make your writing and speaking much clearer.
“They’re” is a short way of saying “they are.” You can spot it because it has an apostrophe (‘) which shows that some letters are missing.
Look at this sentence: “They’re going to the circus tomorrow.” You can say “They are going to the circus tomorrow,” and it still makes sense. So, “they’re” is used correctly here.
Now, check this sentence: “I want to go they’re, too!” If you try “they are” here, it doesn’t work. The right word should be “there.”
“There” tells us about a place or position. A trick to remember is that “there” has “here” in it, which also talks about places.
For example: “The squirrel is over there.” You can also say, “The squirrel is over here.” Both make sense, so “there” is correct.
Consider this: “There dog can catch a ball.” If you try “here,” it doesn’t fit: “Here dog can catch a ball.” The right word is “their.”
“Their” shows that something belongs to someone. You can check if “their” fits by replacing it with “his” or “her.”
Take this sentence: “Their house is big.” You can say, “His house is big” or “Her house is big.” So, “their” is correct here.
Now, look at: “Their all afraid of ghosts.” If you try “her,” it doesn’t work: “Her all afraid of ghosts.” The right word is “they’re,” as in: “They are all afraid of ghosts.”
Learning the differences between “they’re,” “their,” and “there” helps you communicate clearly. Use the tips and examples to practice, and soon you’ll be a homophone expert. Keep practicing, and have fun writing!
Homophone Hunt: Go on a homophone hunt around your house or neighborhood. Look for objects or places and think of sentences using “they’re,” “their,” and “there.” For example, if you see a park, you might say, “They’re playing in the park,” “Their favorite park is nearby,” or “The park is over there.” Share your sentences with a family member or friend and see if they can spot the correct usage of each word.
Homophone Story Time: Write a short story using “they’re,” “their,” and “there” at least once. Draw pictures to go along with your story. For example, you could write about a day at the zoo: “They’re excited to see the animals. Their favorite animal is the lion. The lions are over there.” Share your story and drawings with your class or family.
Word Swap Game: Play a game with a partner where you take turns saying sentences using “they’re,” “their,” or “there.” The other person has to identify which homophone is used and why it’s correct. For example, if you say, “They’re going to the store,” your partner should say, “That’s ‘they’re’ because it means ‘they are.’” Keep score and see who can get the most correct answers!
