Have you ever wondered if the correct word is theirs or theres? These two words look very similar, but they have different meanings and grammatical uses.
One shows possession, while the other is usually an incorrect spelling of there’s.
The key difference between theirs vs theres is simple: theirs is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to them,” while theres without an apostrophe is generally not correct in standard English. If you mean “there is” or “there has,” the correct form is there’s.
Quick Answer: Theirs vs Theres
Theirs = belonging to them.
- This house is theirs.
There’s = there is or there has.
- There’s a problem with the computer.
- There’s been a mistake.
Theres without an apostrophe is generally incorrect in standard English.
Easy memory trick
Theirs = their + s → possession.
There’s = there is / there has.
If you can replace the word with their belongings or belonging to them, use theirs.
If you can replace it with there is or there has, use there’s.
What Does “Theirs” Mean?
Theirs is a possessive pronoun. It shows that something belongs to them.
Examples:
- The blue car is theirs.
- That decision was theirs.
- The responsibility is theirs.
- These books are theirs.
- The house at the end of the street is theirs.
Unlike their, theirs is used without a noun immediately after it.
Compare “their” and “theirs”
Their comes before a noun:
- That is their house.
- I like their idea.
Theirs replaces the noun phrase:
- That house is theirs.
- The idea is theirs.
Example
❌ This is theirs car.
✅ This is their car.
✅ This car is theirs.
What Does “There’s” Mean?
There’s is a contraction. It can mean:
There is
- There’s a book on the table.
- There’s a problem with the plan.
- There’s someone at the door.
There has
- There’s been a misunderstanding.
- There’s been a change in the schedule.
In everyday English, there’s is very common.
What Does “Theres” Mean?
Theres, without an apostrophe, is generally not the standard spelling of the word people usually intend.
Most of the time, people who write theres mean there’s.
Incorrect:
❌ Theres a problem with the car.
Correct:
✅ There’s a problem with the car.
The apostrophe is important because it shows that there’s is a contraction of there is or there has.
Theirs vs There’s: The Main Difference
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Theirs | Belonging to them | The house is theirs. |
| There’s | There is or there has | There’s a house nearby. |
| Theres | Generally incorrect standard spelling | Avoid this form. |
The simplest rule
Use theirs for possession.
Use there’s for there is or there has.
Theirs vs There’s Examples
Examples with “theirs”
- The winning team was theirs.
- The responsibility is theirs.
- Those seats are theirs.
- The final decision was theirs.
- The dog is theirs.
Examples with “there’s”
- There’s a dog in the garden.
- There’s something I need to tell you.
- There’s been a misunderstanding.
- There’s no reason to worry.
- There’s a new restaurant in town.
Common Mistakes With Theirs and There’s
Mistake 1: Writing “theres” instead of “there’s”
❌ Theres a problem with the printer.
✅ There’s a problem with the printer.
Use the apostrophe because the phrase means there is.
Mistake 2: Using “theirs” to mean “there is”
❌ Theirs a new shop nearby.
✅ There’s a new shop nearby.
Theirs is possessive and cannot mean there is.
Mistake 3: Confusing “their” and “theirs”
❌ The car is their.
✅ The car is theirs.
But:
✅ It is their car.
Remember:
- Their + noun → their car
- Theirs alone → The car is theirs
Theirs vs There’s vs Their vs They’re
These four words are often confused.
Their
Shows possession before a noun.
- Their house is beautiful.
Theirs
Shows possession without a noun immediately after it.
- The house is theirs.
There’s
Means there is or there has.
- There’s a house nearby.
They’re
Means they are.
- They’re at home.
Quick comparison
| Word | Meaning | Example |
| Their | Belonging to them + noun | Their car is new. |
| Theirs | Belonging to them | The car is theirs. |
| There’s | There is / there has | There’s a car outside. |
| They’re | They are | They’re outside. |
A Simple Memory Trick for Theirs vs There’s
Use the replacement test.
Theirs = belonging to them
- The laptop is theirs.
- The laptop belongs to them.
There’s = there is
- There’s a laptop on the desk.
- There is a laptop on the desk.
If you can replace the word with belonging to them, choose theirs.
If you can replace it with there is or there has, choose there’s.
Theirs and There’s in American and British English
The basic meanings and spelling rules are the same in American English and British English.
Both varieties use:
- Theirs = belonging to them
- There’s = there is or there has
- Theres = generally incorrect when intended as a contraction
The pronunciation of theirs and there’s can be very similar, which is one reason learners sometimes confuse them in writing.
Quick Practice: Theirs or There’s?
Choose the correct word:
- The blue bicycle is ______.
- ______ a mistake in the report.
- ______ been a change in the schedule.
- Those seats are ______.
- ______ no need to worry.
Answers
- theirs
- there’s
- there’s
- theirs
- there’s
Why Are Theirs and There’s So Commonly Confused?
The words theirs and there’s sound very similar in everyday speech. The difference is especially easy to miss when listening quickly.
Their meanings, however, are completely different:
- Theirs shows possession.
- There’s introduces the existence of something or means there has.
The spelling also matters. The apostrophe in there’s shows that letters have been omitted from there is or there has.
What is the difference between theirs and theres?
Theirs means “belonging to them.” Theres without an apostrophe is generally incorrect when people mean there’s, which means “there is” or “there has.”
Is “theres” a correct word?
In standard English, theres without an apostrophe is generally not the correct form when you mean there is or there has. Use there’s.
Is it “theirs a problem” or “there’s a problem”?
The correct phrase is there’s a problem.
Is it “the car is their” or “the car is theirs”?
The correct sentence is the car is theirs.
What is the difference between their and theirs?
Their comes before a noun: their house. Theirs stands alone: the house is theirs.
What is the difference between theirs and they’re?
Theirs shows possession. They’re is a contraction of they are.
What does there’s mean?
There’s can mean there is or there has.
Do American and British English use theirs and there’s differently?
No. The basic meanings, spellings, and grammar rules are the same in both varieties of English.
Final Summary: Theirs vs There’s
The difference between theirs vs theres is easy to remember. Theirs is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to them, as in “The house is theirs.” There’s is a contraction meaning there is or there has, as in “There’s a problem” or “There’s been a mistake.”
The spelling theres, without an apostrophe, is generally incorrect when you mean there’s. Remember the replacement test: if you mean belonging to them, use theirs. If you mean there is or there has, use there’s.
Actionable Takeaway
Use theirs for possession and there’s for there is or there has. Always include the apostrophe in there’s when it is a contraction.
