I was scrolling through Facebook the other day when I suddenly realized that so many people do not know the difference between "your" and "you're." As someone who is a Grammar Nazi herself, I would love to comment on each post correcting the person on their grammatical errors, but there are so many people who use the two words wrong, that I figured I should just write this as a public service announcement.
But it is not just "your" and "you're" that people are using wrong. Other homonyms include "their," "they're," and "there," "hear" and "here," "whether" and "weather," and "whole" and "hole."
There is no reason why any educated person shouldn't know the difference between these homonyms, so now, I am going to show you how you can tell them apart, and never use them incorrectly again!
1. "Your" and "You're"
"Your" applies to something that belongs to you.
Example: That is your drink.
"You're" is the conjunction for "you are."
Example: You're very smart.
2. "Their," "They're," and "There"
"Their" applies to something that belongs to a group of people.
Example: That is their table.
"They're" is the conjunction for "they are."
Example: They're going to Disney World this week.
"There" applies to a place.
Example: Target is over there.
3. "Here" and "Hear"
"Here" applies to where you are.
Example: I am standing right here.
"Hear" is one of the five senses, using your ears.
Example: I cannot hear you.
4. "Whether" and "Weather"
"Whether" is used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives.
Example: It does not matter whether we go out to eat or stay home.
"Weather" is the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.
Example: The weather today is rainy.
5. "Whole" and "Hole"
"Whole" applies to something in full.
Example: Yesterday, I ate a whole pizza.
"Hole" is a missing piece.
Example: There is a hole in my jeans from where I fell yesterday.
- Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs 2019 - YouTube ›
- Do you the know the difference between Homonyms, Homophones ... ›
- Grammar Comics #2: Your vs. You're | Kaplan Blog ›
- When to use You're and Your | Learn English ›
- Your vs You're - Lawless English - You're the best - You're welcome ›
- Difference between YOUR and YOU'RE – Espresso English ›
