Commonly Confused Words
The three forms can indicate place, possession, or be a contraction
There, Their, and They're
The boys, and their dog, run/runs together every day.
Run
Ali and Ben said she/they went to the movies.
they
the johnson's tree farm is just down the road.
The Johnson's
The boys even though they were young knew how to dribble and shoot.
The boys, even though they were young, knew how to dribble and shoot.
You can use this word to indicate that you embrace something (verb) or you are excluding something (preposition)
Accept and Except
The whole team celebrate/celebrates the victory in the finals.
celebrates
Both the dog and the cats needed its/their meal.
their
Their flights leave for south florida in the morning.
Florida
My grocery list includes bananas apples cherries and milk.
My grocery list includes: bananas, apples, cherries, and milk.
It's or Its - Explain the Difference
It's - contraction for "It is"
Its - possessive indicating something belongs to something else
Neither Michael Jordan nor Shaq like/likes to lose.
likes
The team returned to its/his or her home field for the final game.
its
The river flows from north to south but misses cairo's city center.
Cairo's
I love pink and green they're the best colors!
I love pink and green; they're the best colors!
Explain the Difference - Your and You're
Your - possessive form
You're - contraction for "You are"
The girls and their teacher was/were running to the field for the presentation.
were
Every student is responsible for cleaning their/his or her own desk.
his or her
Mrs. davis belongs to the national education association.
Davis
National Education Association
The boy with brown hair was first in line.
The boy, with brown hair, was first in line.
One form of the word is used for comparison and the other sequences timing or events.
Comparison - than
Sequencing - then
Each student has/have his or her own desk.
has
John and Sheila realized that he/they share the same birthdate.
they
The students' favorite book was the Hunger Games.
The
We went to the movies and the others decided to go to the concert it was a tough choice!
We went to the movies, and the others decided to go to the concert; it was a tough choice!