Many people get confused between theirs and theres because the words look similar and sound almost the same when spoken quickly. This confusion is very common for students, ESL learners, and even native English speakers.
The good news is that the difference is actually very simple once you understand what each word means. One word is correct English in many situations, while the other is usually a spelling mistake.
In this guide, you will learn:
- What theirs means
- Why theres is usually incorrect
- How to use the right word in sentences
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Easy examples from everyday life
By the end, the confusion should completely disappear.
Quick Answer
Here is the simple answer:
- Theirs = shows ownership
Example: The blue car is theirs. - Theres = usually incorrect spelling
Most people actually mean there’s - There’s = short form of “there is” or “there has”
Example: There’s a book on the table.
Easy Trick
- If you talk about ownership, use theirs
- If you mean there is, use there’s
- Without the apostrophe, theres is normally wrong
Simple Background Explanation
English has many words that sound alike but have different meanings. These are called confusing words.
The words theirs and there’s come from different parts of English grammar.
Theirs
The word theirs is a possessive pronoun.
It shows that something belongs to people.
Examples:
- The house is theirs.
- Those bags are theirs.
There’s
The word there’s is a contraction.
A contraction is a short form of two words.
- There’s = There is
- There’s = There has
Examples:
- There’s a problem.
- There’s been a mistake.
What About “Theres”?
The word theres without an apostrophe is usually considered incorrect in normal English writing.
People often type it by mistake because they forget the apostrophe.
Clear Explanation of the Difference
Now let’s break everything down in the easiest way possible.
What Does “Theirs” Mean?
Theirs talks about ownership.
It answers the question:
“Who does it belong to?”
Examples:
- That phone is theirs.
- The victory was theirs.
- Those shoes are theirs, not ours.
In all these examples, something belongs to “them.”
What Does “There’s” Mean?
There’s means:
- There is
or - There has
Examples:
- There’s a cat outside.
→ There is a cat outside. - There’s been an accident.
→ There has been an accident.
Why “Theres” Is Wrong
Without the apostrophe, the word loses its correct form.
Wrong:
- Theres a dog outside.
Correct:
- There’s a dog outside.
The apostrophe is important because it shows letters are missing.
Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Correct? | Example |
| Theirs | Belonging to them | Yes | The bags are theirs. |
| There’s | There is / There has | Yes | There’s a problem here. |
| Theres | Misspelled form | Usually No | Theres a mistake. |
Which One to Use and When
Use “Theirs” When Talking About Ownership
Choose theirs when something belongs to people.
Examples:
- The decision was theirs.
- That table is theirs.
- The kids said the toys were theirs.
Use “There’s” When Meaning “There Is”
Choose there’s when introducing something.
Examples:
- There’s food in the kitchen.
- There’s a message for you.
- There’s still time left.
Never Forget the Apostrophe
Many learners type “theres” because it feels faster. But in proper writing, you should write:
- There’s ✅
- Theres ❌
Common Mistakes People Make
1. Forgetting the Apostrophe
This is the most common mistake.
Wrong:
- Theres no water.
Correct:
- There’s no water.
2. Using “Theirs” Instead of “There’s”
Wrong:
- Theirs a new student in class.
Correct:
- There’s a new student in class.
3. Confusing Ownership and Location
Some learners think theirs and there’s are connected because both start with “the.”
But they have completely different meanings.
- Theirs = ownership
- There’s = there is
4. Using “There’s” With Plural Nouns in Formal Writing
In casual English, people sometimes say:
- There’s two cars outside.
But formal grammar prefers:
- There are two cars outside.
Everyday Real-Life Examples
Learning becomes easier when you see real examples from daily life.
In Emails
Correct:
- There’s a meeting tomorrow.
- The final choice is theirs.
Wrong:
- Theres a meeting tomorrow.
In Text Messages
Correct:
- There’s pizza in the fridge.
- I think those keys are theirs.
Wrong:
- Theres pizza left.
On Social Media
Correct:
- There’s so much traffic today.
- The win is finally theirs!
Wrong:
- Theres too many ads here.
In School Writing
Correct:
- The classroom project was theirs.
- There’s a chart on the wall.
Wrong:
- Theres a chart on the wall.
In News Headlines
Correct:
- There’s Heavy Rain Expected Tonight
- The Championship Trophy Is Theirs
Wrong:
- Theres Heavy Rain Expected Tonight
Short Learning Section for Students and Beginners
Here is a very simple way to remember everything.
Memory Trick for “Theirs”
The word theirs has the word heir inside it.
An heir receives something that belongs to them.
So think:
Theirs = belongs to them
Memory Trick for “There’s”
The apostrophe in there’s replaces the letter “i” in “is.”
- There’s = There is
So if you can replace the word with “there is,” then “there’s” is correct.
Example:
- There’s a bird outside.
- There is a bird outside.
Both mean the same thing.
Quick Practice
Choose the correct word:
- _____ a new teacher today.
- Those jackets are _____.
- _____ been a delay.
- The final decision was _____.
Answers:
- There’s
- Theirs
- There’s
- Theirs
FAQ Section
1. Is “theres” a real English word?
Usually no. It is normally a spelling mistake for “there’s.”
2. What does “theirs” mean?
“Theirs” means something belongs to them.
Example:
- The house is theirs.
3. What does “there’s” mean?
“There’s” means “there is” or “there has.”
Example:
- There’s a problem here.
4. Why do people confuse these words?
They sound similar when spoken quickly, and many people forget the apostrophe in “there’s.”
5. Can I use “theres” in formal writing?
No. In formal writing, you should use “there’s” with the apostrophe.
6. Is “theirs” singular or plural?
“Theirs” can refer to one person or several people, depending on the sentence.
Examples:
- The book is theirs.
- The cars are theirs.
7. How can I quickly check which word is correct?
Ask yourself:
- Does it show ownership? → use theirs
- Does it mean “there is”? → use there’s
8. Is “there’s” always correct?
Not always. In formal grammar, use “there are” with plural nouns.
Formal:
- There are many students here.
Informal speech:
- There’s many students here.
Conclusion
The difference between theirs and theres becomes easy once you know the meaning of each word.
Remember these simple points:
- Theirs shows ownership
- There’s means “there is” or “there has”
- Theres without an apostrophe is usually incorrect
If you forget which word to use, try this quick test:
- Ownership? → theirs
- “There is”? → there’s
With a little practice, you will start using these words correctly in emails, school work, messages, and everyday conversations without confusion.
