LESSON 30 OF 30 · EVERYDAY GRAMMAR · 4 MIN READ
Choose between common confusing words
Practise their and there, your and you're, and its and it's.
Some words sound alike but do different jobs. Before sending a message, check what each word means in your sentence.
Their, there, and they’re
Their shows possession: “Their office is nearby.”
There can refer to a place: “Put the files there.” It also appears in “There is a meeting today.”
They’re means they are: “They’re preparing the slides.” Try expanding the contraction to check whether it fits.
Your and you’re
Your shows possession: “Your presentation is ready.”
You’re means you are: “You’re ready to present.” If “you are” makes sense, the contraction may be suitable.
Its and it’s
Its shows possession: “The company updated its website.”
It’s means it is or it has: “It’s useful” and “It’s been updated.” The possessive “its” has no apostrophe.
Your turn
Complete: “___ bringing ___ laptops.” Choose from their, there, and they’re. Then correct: “The team changed it’s schedule.”
Show the answers
“They're bringing their laptops.” Expand “they're” to “they are”; “their” tells us whose laptops they are. The second sentence is “The team changed its schedule.” Here “its” is possessive, so it has no apostrophe.