HALT! WHO GOES THEIR? THEY’RE? THERE?

By

Ray Villareal

When our spelling is perfect, it’s invisible. But when it’s flawed, it prompts strong, negative associations. –Marilyn Vos Savant 

The internet has created a generation of eager writers. People today are writing more than ever. Social media allows us to share information and opinions with the world. Emails and text messages have all but replaced phone calls. 

Unfortunately, the internet has also exposed people’s weak writing skills. Errors in homophones are commonplace. These are not typos. Lots of people don’t know the differences between there, their, and they’re; two, to, and too; your and you’re; it’s and its.

Many of these errors can be avoided by paying attention to the meanings of the words.

There: at that place or at that point

Let’s meet over there.

I’m not going in there.

There isn’t time to finish the assignment.

Their: the possessive form of the pronoun they

Is that their cat?

They left their books on the table.

Their names are Bobby and Chris.

They’re: a contraction of they are

They’re not interested in watching the movie.

They’re going to get caught if they’re not careful.

Ask them if they’re planning to stay overnight. 

When you teach your students the meanings of there, their, and they’re, include a dictation activity in which you call out sentences for them to write, such as these:

1.         There isn’t any food in the pantry.

2.         They’re very careful not to get their clothes dirty.

3.         They’re standing over there by their lockers.

4.         A good place for their bikes is inside their garage.

5.         They’re looking for their dog, but they will never find him there.

6.         There are lots of new players on their team.

7.         They’re not allowed to play until they finish their homework.

8.         Are there any hangers inside their closet?

9.         They left their dirty clothes over there on top of their dresser.

10.       They’re going to their friend’s party after their soccer game.

*****

To: a preposition

            He walks to school every day.

            I have to get up early tomorrow.

            Are you going to the parade?

Too: very or also

            He spends too much time watching TV.

            I love you, too.

            The room is too cold.

Two: a number

            She has two cats.

            Have you two met?

            He worked here for two years.

Sentences for dictation:

1.         The paper was too messy to read.

2.         It’s too bad the two boys couldn’t go to the party.

3.         Is it too hot to play outside?

4.         The shirt was too small for me to wear. 

5.         Two dollars for a pencil is too expensive.

6.         The two cars crashed because the street was too wet.

7.         Eating the two candy bars made me too full to eat dinner.

8.         The two horses belong to those two men.

9.         She was too scared to tell her parents about her two bad grades.

10.       Is two o’clock too early to have a meeting?

*****

It’s: a contraction of it is

            It’s starting to rain.

            It’s fun to ride on a roller coaster.

            He says it’s a great place to visit.

Its: the possessive form of the pronoun it

            The battery has lost its charge.

            Its big eyes were staring at me.

            Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow.

Sentences for dictation:

1.         The bird is in its cage.

2.         They say it’s going to be sunny tomorrow.

3.         The dog ate its food.

4.         It’s been almost a year since we last saw each other.

5.         This tree loses its leaves faster than the others.

6.         It’s not easy to write a story.

7.         My cat has lost its collar.

8.         It’s a shame she couldn’t go with us.

9.         Please put the book back in its place.

10.       It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.