Commonly Confused Words in English Grammar
Their vs. There
In English, many words sound similar but have different meanings and uses. Two of the most confusing are "their" and "there." These words are often used incorrectly, especially by those learning English. In this post, we’ll explain these two words with simple examples in both English and Gujarati to help clear up the confusion.
1. Their (તેમના/તેમની/તેમનું)
"Their" is a possessive adjective. It shows ownership or something that belongs to someone.
Examples:
1. Their house is very big.
(તેમનું ઘર ખુબ મોટું છે.)
2. I saw their car in the parking lot.
(હું પાર્કિંગમાં તેમની ગાડી જોઈ.)
In these sentences, "their" shows that something (the house or the car) belongs to them.
Mistake Example:
Incorrect: There dog is cute.
Correct: Their dog is cute.
(તેમનો કૂતરો સુંદર છે.)
Many people accidentally write "there" instead of "their" when showing possession. Just remember: if you are talking about something that belongs to someone, use "their."
2. There (અહીં/ત્યાં)
"There" is used to indicate a place or location. It answers the question, "Where?" or points something out.
Examples:
1. The book is over there on the table.
(પુસ્તક ટેબલ પર ત્યાં છે.)
2. There are many people at the market today.
(આજે બજારમાં ઘણાં લોકો છે.)
"There" is also used in sentences that state something exists, like "There is" or "There are."
Mistake Example:
Incorrect: Their are many books on the shelf.
Correct: There are many books on the shelf.
(શેલ્ફ પર ઘણી પુસ્તકો છે.)
In this case, "there" shows the existence or presence of something.
How to Remember the Difference
A simple way to remember is:
Their = belongs to them (તેમનું).
There = a place or location (ત્યાં).
More Examples for Practice:
1. Their children are playing outside.
(તેમના બાળકો બહાર રમી રહ્યા છે.)
2. There is a cat under the chair.
(કુરસીની નીચે બિલાડી છે.)
3. I liked their idea for the project.
(મને પ્રોજેક્ટ માટે તેમનો વિચાર ગમ્યો.)
4. The keys are over there by the door.
(ચાવીઓ દરવાજા પાસે ત્યાં છે.)
By practicing these words in context, you’ll start to notice the difference more easily.
Conclusion:
These small but important differences can really improve your writing and speaking. Remember, "their" is for ownership and "there" is for location or existence. Try using these words in your daily conversations, and soon, you won’t confuse them!
This clarification will help Gujarat-based students understand and use these words correctly. Keep visiting Pragati Educare for more tips on English grammar!