they are

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The plural form of "he is" or "she is": used to say what a group of people or things is or does.

   Grammar: Put a noun, adjective or -ing form after it: They are teachers. / They are tired. / They are waiting.

   Patterns

   • they are + noun
   • they are + adjective
   • they are + -ing form
   • they are + prepositional phrase

   They are my neighbors, and they are very friendly.

   Look at those clouds — they are getting darker.

   They are studying for their exams this week.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Used with "there" to say that something exists in a place: "there they are".

   Grammar: This is a fixed order; you cannot say "are they there" for this meaning unless you are asking a question.

   Patterns

   • there they are

   There they are — I've been looking for my keys everywhere.

   Ah, there they are, right behind the door.

3. 3phrasefixed phrase

   Used to refer to one person whose gender is unknown or who prefers "they", with a plural verb form.

   Grammar: Even for one person, the verb stays plural: They are a good friend.

   Patterns

   • they are + noun

   When a new student arrives, they are given a map of the school.

   My cousin says they are coming to visit next month.

Common combinations

they are not

They are not ready to leave yet.

they are going to

They are going to move to Chicago in June.

here they are

Here they are, the results you asked for.

they are all

They are all wearing the same uniform.

they are both

They are both doctors at the same hospital.

Synonyms and how they differ

they're

The contraction; it is more common in speech and informal writing, while "they are" is safer in formal texts.

Word family

they pronoun

The subject pronoun that goes with "are".

their determiner

Shows that something belongs to them.

theirs pronoun

Means "the one belonging to them".

themselves pronoun

Reflexive form used when they do something to their own group.

Commonly confused: they are or there are? they are or their?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “they are”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words