Those Horrid Homonyms
1. There, Their, They’re
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ex.
There = Location = a place, where you’ve been, going to, are, etc.
“Have you been to the new club on Mesa?” asked Rudy.
“Not yet, but were going there tonight,” I replied.
ex.
My cousin is a soldier in Iraq. He has been there for 6 months.
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Their = Possessive = belonging to them.
ex.
We are going to visit my parents at their house.
ex.
Their dog is very friendly. He likes to grab your leg.
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They’re = They are = plural pronoun + plural verb form of is.
ex.
They’re going to the club tonight. (Same as: They are going to the club tonight.)
ex.
I bet they’re both going to have headaches tomorrow.
2. To, Too, Two
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To = preposition denoting towards, direction, or relationship
ex.
I am going to the club tonight.
ex.
She sent an e-mail to me saying she was not happy.
ex.
The train tracks ran parallel to the highway.
ex.
I am related to her by marriage.
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Too = also or in addition. An extreme amount or degree.
ex.
I am going to the club tonight, too.
ex.
I partied too much at the club last night.
ex.
My girlfriend worries too much when I go to the club alone.
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Two = The number 2
ex.
The two of us went to the club last night.
ex.
I got up and danced two times before I got tired.
ex.
My ex-girlfriend has two big brothers. When she found out I was going to the club with
another girl, I got beat up two times in two days, by two different guys.
Other common mistakes:
Which = a choice between (Which way do I go?)
Witch = a female magician or evil spell caster ( My ex-wife was a real witch.)
Steal = to rob, purloin, thieve ( I like that jacket; I think I’ll steal it.)
Steel = the metal (Superman was also called the Man of Steel.)
Whether = a choice (I didn’t know whether to go to the movies or go home.)
Weather = rain, snow, hail, sunny, hot, cold (I wonder what the weather will be like?)