# There/Their correct usage escapes me... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943 "2005-08-07T02:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/1 "2005-08-07T02:41:02Z")
I am not the smartest monkey fighting over banana’s, and I have a heck of a time putting the correct words where they go. There is a problem with there/their is there a general rule someone 20 years out of school can remember to help them out? I searched as I am sure this had to have come up in the past but sadly it wouldn’t accept any of my search terms to non specific and when I did get something to work it was over 800 examples and none on the first few pages matched. For two bonus points, I also have minor problems on were/we’re and all that. And also " **'s**" or " **s’**" and why? but those are bonus questions. Any help fighting my ignorance would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/2 "2005-08-07T02:51:09Z")
“There” is a place. You have to be able to go _there_. “Their” is possessive. It has to be _theirs_. “They’re” is the contraction of “they are.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/3 "2005-08-07T02:56:52Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > or two bonus points, I also have minor problems on were/we’re and all that. And also " **'s**" or " **s’**" and why? but those are bonus questions. _Were_ is a verb and is a past tense form of the verb _to be_. \*We’re[/i[. on the other hand, is a contraction of _we are_. The apostrophe-s form is used when the root noun is singular: _That is the kid’s pencil (the pencil belongs to that kid)_. The s-apostrophe form is used when the root noun is plural and ends with s: _That is the kids’ pencil (the pencil belongs to those kids)_. That help? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/4 "2005-08-07T03:10:56Z")
**Sattua** : > [@](#): > > “There” is a place. You have to be able to go there. Indeed. Note that t **here** contains the word **here**. Here and there. Places. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/5 "2005-08-07T03:11:33Z")
To be honest I opened a notepad and put both of your post’s in there to help me. (Like this time I looked at **Sattuas’** post to figure out my there up there belonged there. As its something I messed up a lot it will take some time to get it right. I really appreciate the help, I need it. :wally Should of paid attention in school. P.S. Still not sure on the ‘s s’ thing I understand to a degree but thing’s get confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/6 "2005-08-07T03:11:33Z")
Also, because you asked and because I noticed it in the OP, an apostrophe isn’t used when you use an ‘s’ to pluralize something. That is, you’re fighting over bananas, not banana’s. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/7 "2005-08-07T03:15:26Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Also, because you asked and because I noticed it in the OP, an apostrophe isn’t used when you use an ‘s’ to pluralize something. > > That is, you’re fighting over bananas, not banana’s. So if I have a bunch of apples its okay but if I stole **Ace309’s** apples I needed the ‘s in your name? Or the s’? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/8 "2005-08-07T03:26:02Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > So if I have a bunch of apples its okay but if I stole **Ace309’s** apples I needed the 's in your name? Correct. The apostrophe is used to show possession. Usually. The major exception is _its_, which is the possessive form of the pronoun _it_ - note the absence of the apostrophe. OTOH, _it’s_ is the contraction of _it is_. Ain’t English fun? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/9 "2005-08-07T03:27:47Z")
“Ace309’s apples” is correct. You add the apostrophe s to make it possessive. For plurals, however, it’s s apostrophe. The dogs’ tails. But here’s one you also need to know. You wrote “its okay” That is short for “it is okay.” As an abbreviation, it’s written it’s. With the apostrophe. The possessive its is the one without the apostrophe, “its tails.” ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/10 "2005-08-07T03:34:17Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Ain’t English fun? Not fun at all. Confusing and also the reason I pound the benefits of education into my children with constant books and reading, so they won’t have to be adults trying to figure this stuff out. Its like brain freeze I forgot everything I was taught, by not using it. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/11 "2005-08-07T03:37:41Z")
And I missed a ’ up there I think :smack: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/12 "2005-08-07T04:15:51Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > Should of paid attention in school. No … \*\*should’ve \*\* paid attention in school. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/13 "2005-08-07T04:16:22Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > Should of paid attention in school. And not to play dogpile on **LostGoals** , but it’s should _have_, not should of. Unfortunately, that’s one mistake that seems to be spreading, most likely due to the use of the contraction should’ve in casual speach, which sounds like should of. It’s kind of fun, how weird the word “should” starts to look when you type it so many times in one sentence. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/14 "2005-08-07T04:22:33Z")
We all have the little things that confuse us, and I’m an English major\*! Here’s (apostrophe used because this is a contraction of “here is”) a little anecdote: Our local gas station has little hand-made signs on the gas pumps. These say something like “If your going to pump gas, please have you’re engine stopped.” They’re (another contraction; “they are”) covered in plastic so I am unable to just correct them. There have been some awesome responses to this thread. I never thought about the word “there” containing “here” and thus helping you remember. The one I recall from grade school is that “hear” contains “ear” and deals with what your ear does, while “here” does not contain “ear” and is a location. The apostrophe, as mentioned, is used to show possession or to take the place of omitted letters in a contraction. A word like “can’t” for example, is really can not. We omit the second N and the O and replace them with the apostrophe. I can’t (yay!) do better than previous posters in defining possession. And, of course, “its” is that bugger that crops up every once in a while to mess with us. Basically with an apostrophe, always ask yourself whether or not you are A) making a singular noun possessive [apostrophe-s], B) making a plural noun possessive [s-apostrophe], or C) omitting a letter or letters [we’re = we are]. I am always amazed at folks who learn English as a second language. Particularly in adulthood, it must be horrible to figure out all our rule exceptions and strange grammar patterns. \*Any time I point out my major, I always expect a typo or misspelling somewhere within the post. It goes along with the rule about correcting a previous poster’s grammar! ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/15 "2005-08-07T04:23:58Z")
In this case a dog pile is appreciated. I cannot promise to change everything at once but I will be trying to improve it. Not just for your reading pleasure but so when my son and daughter ask me for help I don’t sound like a dumbass. With almost every other class they have or will have I can hold my own, English though kills me. I should’ve or should have known that as I saw a prior post about it and made a mental note of it at that time. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/16 "2005-08-07T04:24:07Z")
> [@Ms Macphisto](#): > > …the use of the contraction should’ve in casual speach, which sounds like should of. Or _speech_, which sounds like “speach”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/17 "2005-08-07T04:33:50Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Correct. The apostrophe is used to show possession. Usually. The major exception is _its_, which is the possessive form of the pronoun _it_ - note the absence of the apostrophe. OTOH, _it’s_ is the contraction of _it is_. That’s not an exception! The posessive forms of all pronouns lack apostrophes because they are different words. It’s just that “its” _looks_ like a standard posessive so it’s confusing. Her -\> Hers Him -\> His Them -\> Theirs Me -\> Mine (or My) You -\> Yours It -\> Its Not an apostrophe in sight. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/18 "2005-08-07T04:37:10Z")
Good point, sir. _Exception_ was not the right word. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/19 "2005-08-07T07:42:49Z")
Bookmark this [page](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/index.html). Refer to it often. Paul Brians has a huge list of common errors in English, probably because he’s infuriated by people inserting apostrophes into his name 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943/20 "2005-08-07T08:45:54Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > So if I have a bunch of apples its okay but if I stole **Ace309’s** apples I needed the 's in your name? Yes, but they’re not my apples. They’re the Dopers’ apples. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-their-correct-usage-escapes-me/315943.md?page=2)