Tips for Using Who's vs. Whose and Their vs .There, vs. They're

The words who's vs. whose and their vs. there vs. they're are frequently confused and used incorrectly.

Here are some simple tips to help you use these often-confused words correctly.

We'll begin by learning to choose between their vs. there vs. they're.

• Their means it belongs to them. For example, I listen to their music.
• There indicates a location. (Replace it with the similar word where to help you remember its meaning.) For example, I am going there after school.
• They're is a contraction for the words they are. Read the contraction as two words. For example, They're (They are) my parents.

Here's a practice question. Choose between the words their, there, and they're to fill in the blanks.

1. When I got ________, he had ________ gift in his hands, and ________ going to be surprised.

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Now let's discuss choosing between whose and who's.

• Whose means it belongs to whom. For example, Whose coat is this?
• Who's is a contraction for the words who is. Read the contraction as two words. For example, Who's (Who is) coming with me tonight?

Here are practice questions #2 and #3. Choose the correct word from the parentheses.

2. I don't know (who's, whose) to blame for this mess in the kitchen.

3.  (Who's, Whose) dirty dishes are on the counter?

You will find the answers at the end of this post.

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To improve your writing, do a search for these words when you proofread something you have written to be sure you have chosen correctly.

To avoid making a mistake, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you mean where? If so, choose there.
• Do you mean it belongs to them? If so, choose their.
• Do you mean they are? If so, choose they're.
• Do you mean who is? If so, choose who's.
• Do you mean it belongs to whom? If so, choose whose.

The following example sentences are correct:

• Whose photos are posted there on the bulletin board?
• They're the students who are going to take their time to do the assignment.
• Who's the person who left the door open?

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As promised, the answers to the practice questions above are #1 their, their, and they're  

#2 who's  

#3 whose

I hope you will find these tips helpful to use with your students and improve their writing. I have resources in my TpT store that will provide more helpful instruction and practice. The first one is FREE.

Using Who's and Whose Correctly Grammar Worksheets

Choosing Between Who's and Whose BOOM Cards™

Practice with Their, There, and They're Boom Cards™

Confusing Words Task Cards Bundle

Thanks for reading,

Charlene

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Here's Help with 5 Confusing Words

The words who's or whose and their, there, or they’re are frequently confused and used incorrectly. 

Here are some simple tips to help you use these words correctly.

Their means it belongs to them.

Example: I listen to their music.

There indicates a location. (Replace it with the similar word “where” to help you remember its meaning.)

Example: I am going there after school.

They’re is a contraction for the words they are.

(Read a contraction as two words.)

Example: They’re (They are) my parents.

Whose means it belongs to whom. 

Example: Whose coat is this?

Who’s is a contraction for the words who is. (Read a contraction as two words.)

Example: Who’s (Who is) coming with me tonight?

After you finish writing, search for the words above to be sure you have chosen correctly. 

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you mean “where?”  If so, choose “there.”

Do you mean “it belongs to them?” If so, choose “their.”

Do you mean “they are?” If so, choose “they're.”

Do you mean “who is?” If so, choose “who’s.”

Do you mean it belongs to whom? If so, choose “whose.”

The following sentences are correct:

Whose photos are posted there on the bulletin board? Who's going to write their names on the backs of the photos? They're going to be left of of the yearbook if we don't figure this out.

Click here to buy a set 5 of the task cards your students can use to review the use of these confusing words.

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* This blog post is updated to reflect the money-saving bundle that is now available.

         All the best,

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Help With Confusing Words

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This funny GIF is a reminder that it is easy to confuse certain common words.

To avoid upsetting Ross like Rachel did, take a look below:

You're means you are. (This word is a contraction.)
Your means something belongs to you. (This word is a possessive pronoun.)

We're means we are. (This word is a contraction.)
Were is the plural of was. (This word is a verb.)

Who's means who is. (This word is a contraction.)
Whose is the possessive form of who.

They're means they are. (This word is a contraction.)
There refers to a place.
Their is the possessive form of they.

Click here for a free lesson on a different set of confusing words.

Thanks for reading,