What is “They’re”?
“They’re” is a contraction in English grammar, formed by combining the subject pronoun “they” and the verb “are.” Here’s how it functions:
- Contraction:
- “They’re” is a shortened form of “they are.”
- Example: “They’re going to the park.”
- In this sentence, “they’re” indicates that the subject (they) is performing the action (going to the park), and it combines the subject pronoun “they” with the verb “are.”
- Indicating Action or State:
- “They’re” is used to describe actions or states performed by a group of people or things.
- Example: “They’re happy about the news.”
- Here, “they’re” combines “they” (the subject) with “are” to indicate that the subject (they) is happy.
- Common Usage:
- “They’re” is commonly used in both spoken and written English, particularly in informal contexts.
- It provides a concise way to express actions or qualities of a group without repeating the subject pronoun and verb separately.
How to Use “There,” “Their,” and “They’re”?
“There”, “Their” and “They’re” are three words that sound similar and are often confused, but they have distinct meanings and usage.
“There” is an adverb used to indicate a place, location, or existence. “Their” is a possessive determiner used to indicate that something “belongs to”. “They’re” is a contraction of “they are,” combining the subject pronoun “they” with the verb “are.”