Many learners confuse “theirs” and “there’s” because they sound the same. However, they have different meanings and grammar roles.
The key idea: possession vs contraction.
Quick Answer
- ✅ Theirs – Shows possession (belongs to them)
- ✅ There’s – Short for “there is” or “there has”
- ✏️ Remember: Theirs = ownership, There’s = there is
Clear Explanation
What Does “Theirs” Mean?
Theirs is a possessive pronoun.
👉 It means:
- something belongs to them
Examples:
- This house is theirs.
- The decision is theirs.
- That car is theirs.
- The responsibility is theirs.
- The books are theirs.
👉 It shows ownership, like:
- mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs
What Does “There’s” Mean?
There’s is a contraction.
👉 It means:
- there is
- sometimes there has
Examples:
- There’s a problem. (there is)
- There’s a cat outside. (there is)
- There’s been a mistake. (there has been)
- There’s something wrong.
- There’s no time left.
Key Difference
| Feature | Theirs | There’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pronoun | Contraction |
| Meaning | Belongs to them | There is / has |
| Usage | Possession | Existence |
| Example | The book is theirs | There’s a book |
Which One to Use and When
Use “Theirs” When:
- Showing ownership
Examples:
- The house is theirs.
- The choice is theirs.
- The victory is theirs.
- The idea was theirs.
- That bag is theirs.
Use “There’s” When:
- You mean “there is” or “there has”
Examples:
- There’s a problem.
- There’s a car outside.
- There’s been an error.
- There’s nothing to worry about.
- There’s a solution.
Common Mistakes People Make
1. Using “There’s” for Possession
❌ The car is there’s
✅ The car is theirs
2. Using “Theirs” for “There is”
❌ Theirs a problem
✅ There’s a problem
3. Confusing Sound
They sound identical.
4. Ignoring Apostrophe
“There’s” has an apostrophe because it’s a contraction.
5. Fast Typing Errors
Very common mistake.
Easy Memory Trick
👉 Theirs = “their” + s (ownership)
👉 There’s = “there is” (has apostrophe)
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- This house is ______.
- ______ a problem here.
- The decision is ______.
Answers:
- theirs
- there’s
- theirs
Quick Quiz
- ______ a mistake.
a) Theirs
b) There’s - The books are ______.
a) There’s
b) Theirs
Correct Answers:
- b) There’s
- b) Theirs
Conclusion
The difference between “theirs” and “there’s” is simple. Theirs shows ownership, while there’s means “there is” or “there has.”
👉 Theirs = possession
👉 There’s = there is
Michael Anderson is a professional editor and senior contributor with a background in long-form content and strategic writing. He focuses on quality, structure, and credibility across all publications. Michael brings years of experience in content development and ensures high editorial standards for every project.
