Many English learners feel confused when they see theirs and there’s. These words look similar, and they sometimes sound alike when people speak quickly. Because of this, students often mix them up in writing.
But the truth is simple: theirs and there’s have completely different meanings. One word shows ownership, and the other shows that something exists.
Once you understand this small grammar rule, the confusion disappears. This guide explains the difference between theirs and there’s in very simple English with clear examples, easy tricks, and short practice exercises.
Quick Answer: The Simple Rule
If you remember just one rule, remember this:
- Theirs → shows something belongs to them
- There’s → short form of “there is” or “there has”
Examples:
- That house is theirs.
- There’s a cat on the roof.
This quick rule explains the main theirs vs there’s difference.
Why Learners Confuse These Words
Many students make mistakes with theirs vs there’s because:
- The words look very similar
- They sound similar in spoken English
- Learners are unsure about apostrophes
- Some people type quickly and write theres instead of there’s
Understanding the meaning of each word makes the difference much easier.
Understanding the Word “Theirs”
The word theirs is a possessive pronoun. A possessive pronoun shows ownership. It tells us that something belongs to someone.
In this case, theirs means something belongs to them.
Examples:
- The red car is theirs.
- Those books on the desk are theirs.
- The final decision was theirs.
Notice that the noun does not appear after “theirs.” The word already replaces phrases like their car, their books, or their decision.
More examples
- The backpacks near the door are theirs.
- That victory was theirs after a hard game.
- The idea was theirs, not ours.
These examples clearly show the theirs meaning in English.
Understanding the Word “There’s”
The word there’s is a contraction. A contraction is a shorter form of two words.
There’s usually means:
- there is
- sometimes there has
Examples:
- There’s a problem with the computer.
- There’s a bird on the window.
- There’s a new café near the school.
When we talk about more than one thing, we usually say there are.
Examples:
- There are three chairs in the room.
- There are many students in the class.
Understanding there’s meaning and usage helps learners avoid confusing it with theirs.
Important Note About “Theres”
The word theres without an apostrophe is not correct in standard English.
Incorrect:
- Theres a mistake in the report.
Correct:
- There’s a mistake in the report.
Many learners write theres by accident when typing quickly. Always remember to include the apostrophe.
The Difference Between Theirs and There’s
The difference between theirs and there’s becomes clear when you focus on meaning.
- Theirs talks about ownership
- There’s talks about existence
Think about it like this:
- Theirs = belonging
- There’s = something exists
Once you remember this idea, the English grammar difference becomes easy.
Quick Comparison
| Word | Type of Word | Meaning | Example |
| Theirs | Possessive pronoun | Belonging to them | That house is theirs. |
| There’s | Contraction | There is / There has | There’s a dog outside. |
| There are | Phrase | Something exists (plural) | There are many books here. |
This comparison helps you quickly see the theirs vs there’s difference.
When to Use “Theirs”
Use theirs when something belongs to a group of people.
Ask yourself:
“Does this show ownership?”
If the answer is yes, use theirs.
Examples:
- The blue jackets are theirs.
- The garden behind the house is theirs.
- The winning score was theirs.
Another way to understand it:
Instead of saying:
- That is their house
You can say:
- That house is theirs
This makes your sentence shorter and smoother.
When to Use “There’s”
Use there’s when you want to say that something exists or is present.
Ask yourself:
“Am I saying something is here or happening?”
If yes, use there’s.
Examples:
- There’s a mistake in this sentence.
- There’s a new student in our class.
- There’s a message waiting for you.
If the noun is plural, use there are instead.
Examples:
- There are two cats in the garden.
- There are many people at the event.
Learning when to use there’s helps avoid confusion.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Many learners mix up theirs vs there’s in writing. Here are common mistakes.
Mistake 1: Writing “theres”
Incorrect:
- Theres a dog in the yard.
Correct:
- There’s a dog in the yard.
Mistake 2: Using “theirs” for existence
Incorrect:
- Theirs a problem with the computer.
Correct:
- There’s a problem with the computer.
Mistake 3: Using “there’s” for ownership
Incorrect:
- The blue car is there’s.
Correct:
- The blue car is theirs.
Avoiding these mistakes will improve your writing quickly.
Real Life Examples
Understanding grammar is easier when you see it in daily situations.
In conversation
- “There’s a new restaurant downtown.”
- “Those bicycles are theirs.”
In emails
- “There’s an issue with the document you sent.”
- “The files in that folder are theirs.”
On social media
- “There’s a new movie coming tonight.”
- “The photos are theirs.”
These examples show how these words appear in real communication.
Easy Memory Trick
Here is a simple trick to remember the rule.
Check the meaning of the sentence.
If it means belonging, use theirs.
If it means there is, use there’s.
Example:
Sentence: ___ a cat on the roof.
Ask yourself:
Does it belong to someone? No.
Is something existing? Yes.
Correct sentence:
There’s a cat on the roof.
Another example:
Sentence: That bag is ___.
Ask:
Does it show ownership? Yes.
Correct sentence:
That bag is theirs.
This small trick helps many learners remember the rule easily.
Practice Section
Try choosing the correct word.
- ___ a bird on the tree.
- The green bikes are ___.
- ___ many students in the classroom.
- That house is ___.
Answers:
- There’s
- Theirs
- There are
- Theirs
Practice like this helps learners understand the theirs vs there’s difference faster.
Related Grammar: Their vs There vs They’re vs Theirs
English learners often confuse several similar words.
Here is a quick explanation.
Their – shows possession before a noun
Example: Their car is new.
There – refers to a place or position
Example: The keys are over there.
They’re – short for “they are”
Example: They’re going to the park.
Theirs – possessive pronoun replacing “their + noun”
Example: The car is theirs.
Learning these words together helps you avoid many common grammar mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “theres” correct English?
No. “Theres” without an apostrophe is incorrect. The correct spelling is there’s.
What does “theirs” mean?
Theirs means something belongs to them.
What is the difference between theirs and there’s?
Theirs shows ownership, while there’s means “there is.”
Can “theirs” refer to one person?
Yes. It can refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown or not important.
Is “there’s” always singular?
It usually introduces singular nouns, while there are is used for plural nouns.
Why do people confuse these words?
They look similar and sound similar when spoken quickly.
How can I remember the rule easily?
Remember this:
Theirs = belonging to them
There’s = there is
Is this a common grammar mistake?
Yes. Mixing theirs and there’s is one of the most common grammar mistakes for English learners.
Conclusion
Understanding theirs vs there’s is easier than it first appears.
Just remember the key rule:
- Theirs shows ownership
- There’s means “there is”
Also remember that theres without an apostrophe is not correct.
With practice and simple examples, this common confusion will disappear. The more you read and write in English, the easier it will be to choose the right word every time.
Kaliyan Martan is a passionate dreamer and creative thinker who believes in turning ideas into meaningful action. With vision and dedication, he strives to make a lasting impact through innovation and authenticity.
