Mastering the Difference Between There, Their, and They're

Khan Academy

This video provides a clear and practical guide to mastering one of the most common confusion points in the English language: the difference between the homophones "there," "their," and "they're." Using a digital whiteboard format, the narrator visually breaks down each word's specific grammatical function—location, possession, and contraction—assigning a distinct color to each to aid memory retention. The lesson explores distinct strategies for identifying the correct word choice. For "there," the narrator demonstrates a "T to W" replacement trick to connect it to the question "Where?". For "their," the focus is placed on ownership and the question "Who does it belong to?". Finally, "they're" is explained through the mechanics of contractions, showing how it simply replaces "they are." Practical sentence examples are diagrammed on screen to reinforce these rules in context. This resource is highly valuable for English Language Arts classrooms ranging from upper elementary to middle school. It addresses a persistent writing error that affects students of all ages. Teachers can use this video as a hook for a grammar unit, a remediation tool for students struggling with mechanics, or a quick refresher before a writing assignment to encourage self-editing skills.