They're, their, there. It's all right. Homophones are the cause of one of the most common writing errors made, so don't feel bad if you mix up 'knead' and 'need'. Here's a list of common ones.
You're, your
Blame autocorrect for this one. Just to clarify the difference, 'you're' is a contraction (more on those later), meaning 'you are', whereas 'your' is a possessive noun (also later). Here's an example of proper use.
You're
"So," said Becky, "You're going to my concert on Friday?"
Your
"Yes," Steve said, "I'm going to your concert."
Easy, peasy, right? Let's try another group. This time, with feeling!
They're, their, there
Again, a contraction. Our first word is 'They're', meaning 'they are'. 'Their' is, again, a possessive noun. This time, however, it's used for multiple people. And, finally, 'there' is the answer to a question: 'where?'. More examples, appear!
They're
"They're bringing sodas," Becky announced.
Their
"The Smiths left. Is this their bag?" Steve asked, holding up a bright pink diaper bag.
There
"Yes," Becky said with a sigh. "Can you stand over there? I'm trying to clean."
To, too, two
To tell the truth, that last word could be marked off. But I'm not one to leave things unfinished. Anyways, 'to' is used as a helping verb, while 'too' is used in place of 'as well'. Two is a number (but three is a crowd). Here are your examples, freshly cooked.
To
"I'm going to the grocery store," Becky said. "Does anyone want to come?"
Too
"I'm going, too! I'm going, too!" Becky's son, Larry, jumped up and down excitedly.
Two
Becky looked at all the kids who had gathered. "I'm sorry," she said, "but I only have room in the car for two of you."
Here are the last ones. These are the masters of trickery, the ones no one suspects until it's too late...
It's, its
Once again, the contractions strike with a venomous bite rivaling the worst of snakes. I can see why English teachers hate them. Anyways, 'it's' means 'it is', while 'its' is possessive. Examples, Maestro.
It's
"It's heading this way!" Steve shrieked, running from the giant dinosaur.
Its
"Aw, it's just protecting its babies," Becky sighed.
And that's it! Easy, right?
YOU ARE READING
Grammar! (Like a pro!)
غير روائيOxford commas. To use, or not to use, that is the question. This book seeks to answer that question and more, with examples and just a touch of humor. Just a touch. !!! This book is currently on hiatus for summer break. Will resume writing in August...
