Hi! Let's learn two common grammar pairs step by step.

1) Their vs there (and a quick note about they're)

Their shows that something belongs to people (possession). It answers the question "Whose?"

• Example: Their dog is very friendly. (The dog belongs to them.)
• Example: I like their backpacks.

There tells you about a place or says that something exists.

• Place example: Put the book over there. (It tells where.)
• Existence example: There are three cookies left. (It tells that cookies exist.)

Quick tip to remember: If you can answer the question with "Whose?" use "their." If you can point to a place or say "There is/are," use "there."

Also: "They\'re" is short for "they are." Use it only when you mean "they are." Example: They\'re coming to the party. (They are coming.)

2) Will vs would

Will is used for things that will happen in the future or for promises and decisions made now.

• Future example: I will finish my homework tonight.
• Promise example: I will help you with your project.

Would is used for imagined situations, polite requests, or to talk about the past from someone\'s point of view (the past form of "will").

• Imagined example: If I had a dragon, I would fly to school. (This is not real; it\'s imagined.)
• Polite request: Would you please pass the salt?
• Reported speech (past): He said he would come to the game. (He said this earlier.)

Simple rule: Use "will" for things you think are going to happen or promises. Use "would" for things that are imagined, polite, or talking about the past.

Practice time!

Fill each blank with the correct word. Try them first, then check the answers below.

A. Their / There / They\'re

1. ______ dog is sleeping under the table.
2. Look over ______! I see a rainbow.
3. ______ going to the zoo tomorrow. (short for 'they are')
4. ______ three pencils on the desk.
5. Is that ______ backpack by the door?

B. Will / Would

1. I think it ______ rain later, so take an umbrella.
2. If I were you, I ______ tell the teacher the truth.
3. She said she ______ help us after school.
4. ______ you like some juice? (polite offer)
5. Next year, we ______ visit the museum on our field trip.

Answers

A: 1) Their — 2) there — 3) They\'re — 4) There — 5) their

B: 1) will — 2) would — 3) would — 4) Would — 5) will

Final tips to remember

• Ask "Whose?" — use their.
• Point to a place or say "There is/are" — use there.
• Think "will" for sure/happening in the future; think "would" for imagination, polite requests, or past reports.
• If you\'re not sure, read the sentence out loud and try replacing the word: if "they are" fits, use they\'re; if "my/his/her/their" fits, use their.

Want more practice? Tell me and I\'ll give you more sentences to try!