Writing Tips

Basic Grammar

Basic Grammar

Hey, it's Anna from the Retro Committee! In this chapter we're going to learn basic Grammar that you should've already learned in elementary school. Yikes. That was harsh, my apologies.

Ready? Let's do it.

Difference between You're and Your

Alright, I see tons of books on wattpad using the wrong form of these. It's simple really.

You're

You're is a shorten version of You Are, it's just put together.

This is the wrong usage of You're:

I really like you're coat.

You're saying "I really like you are coat." DOES THAT MAKE ANY FLIPPIN SENSE. NO.

This is the correct usage of You're:

You're making me laugh!

You are making me laugh!

Your

Okay. 'Your' is used for a possession of something. I like your hair, she likes your humor, etc.

The wrong usage of your:

"Your making me mad, I will throw this book at your damn head!"

That doesn't make sense.

The correct usage of your:

"I love your leather jacket, where did you get it?"

The difference between There and Their

This is another common misuse of these words.

There

There is used for a place or position. It also can be used like this,

"There! I told you she wouldn't mind."

The wrong usage of there:

The family is small, there parents had died early on in there childhood.

Is parents or childhood a place? No.

The correct usage of there:

I saw your dog over there, at the neighbor's.

Their

Their is belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified. (I stole that off Google, haha)

The wrong usage of their:

I saw your dog over their.

This should be,

I saw your dog over there.

The correct usage of their:

Their family is quite small, especially since their parent's death when they were young.

Difference between to and too

You can use it instead of “besides,” “in addition,” “also,” or “as well.” But you can use it for other things, too, like when you want to indicate excessiveness. If you find grammar tough, you can say that it’s too hard. In casual speech, speakers sometimes use too in the sense of “very”: That gal is too funny! (via Grammarly)

Too:

Wrong usage of too

"I'm going too the party this weekend."

This should be,

"I'm going to the party this weekend."

Correct usage of too

"Me too!"

To:

To is a preposition and a versatile little word that can be used to say many things. You can use it to indicate a goal or a direction of movement, as well as a place of arrival. (via Grammarly)

Wrong usage of to

"I saw the fireworks to!"

This should be,

"I saw the fireworks too!"

Correct usage of to

I walked to the store, with the wind blowing my black hair in my face.

Difference between than and then

Than:

than is only used in sentences that are comparing one or more things to another. 

Ex: rather than so and so.

Wrong usage of than

I ate some pizza than went to sleep.

This should be,

I ate some pizza then went to sleep.

Correct usage of than

Examples:

I can tolerate my cousin more than my brother.

Sally has more cookies than I.

Then:

Then can be used as a point of time, what happens next, as another way to say also, etc.

The word then usually relates to time. It is most commonly used as an adverb.

Wrong usage of then

I saw a movie and than went to a restaurant.

This should be,

I saw a movie and then went to a restaurant.

Correct usage of then

The lights suddenly went out and then there was an ear piercing scream.

More examples:

I was much more fitter back then.

You're certain then?

If that's how you feel, let it go then.

            ❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Good luck with your writing and I hope this helps!

~ Anna (Retro Committee)