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Author:
Angela Martinez
Your vs you’re spelling mistakes can seem insignificant, but they make a big difference in the quality of your writing.
For example, the phrase your welcome may look correct, but the first word is actually misspelled: it should instead be written as you’re welcome. Understanding the grammatical difference between your and you’re can help you avoid this common error.
Below, we break down the basics of when to use your vs you’re, highlight common mistakes learners and native speakers make when using both words, and share simple tips and examples to help you avoid confusing both words.
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Your and you’re are two of the most frequently used words in English. They’re also some of the first ones English learners study, since they represent different key parts of speech and serve different grammatical purposes.
Your is a possessive adjective
Your is a possessive adjective that refers to the subject you. We add your before a noun to show ownership or to clarify which specific noun we’re referring to. This is why your, and all possessive adjectives, including my, his, her, its, our, and their, are sometimes called a determiner.
When we place your in front of a noun, we’re indicating that this specific word belongs to the listener or is related to them.
Examples of your in a sentence:
Can I borrow your pen?
Your new apartment is large and spacious!
Your new job title is Assistant Manager.
We spoke to your sister last weekend.
Your skin is glowing! What’s your secret?
In each example, the determiner your helps us identify the specific noun being referenced:
Your
pen
→ Whose pen? The one that belongs to you.Your new
apartment
→ Whose new apartment? The one that you own.Your
new job title
→ Whose new job title? The one that is for you.Your
sister
→ Whose sister? A female sibling related to you.Your
skin
→ Whose skin? The skin that is part of you.Your is typically followed by the noun whose ownership this adjective is referencing. It can also be used when referencing to multiple people:
Ms. Smith and Mr. Lennox, your students are the most well-behaved in the school!
Jackie and Sarah, did you ask your parents for permission to go to the concert?
Kids, do you want to open your Christmas presents tomorrow morning tonight?
Using your is the most efficient way of referring to possession or personal connection when we’re talking to someone directly about a noun that belongs to them or is related to them.
You’re is a short form of you are
You’re is a contraction of you are, which is the present simple conjugation of the verb to be in the second person.
All forms of the present simple form of to be can be used as contractions when they follow subject pronouns:
I am: I’m
You are: You’re
He is: He’s
She is: She’s
It is: It’s
We are: We’re
You are: You’re
They are: They’re
Contractions help us communicate with ease when using informal language in English.
You’re can refer to either a singular person or the group (plural).
Examples of you’re when used for a one person:
You’re my best friend!
I don’t like the tone you’re using with me!
I don’t know if you’re aware, but today is my last day.
Examples of you’re when referring to multiple people:
You’re both invited to the dinner.
Now that you’re all here, we can begin.
You’re the new employees starting today, is that correct?
You’ll notice that when we use you’re to reference a group of people, a word indicating that it is a group is often placed right after you’re.
Review the 8 important parts of speech in English and see how your and you’re can work together with these other words.
Your vs you’re grammar with examples
| Use your…. | to refer to a noun that belongs to, is related to, or is owned by the person or people you are speaking to. | I love your new bag! Where did you get it? |
| Don’t forget to pick up your test results after class. | ||
| Can you let your manager know I’m trying to reach him? | ||
| I’m very happy with your progress over the last three months. | ||
| Use you’re… | as a contraction for you are when using the present simple or present continuous to describe an action by or state of the person or people you are speaking to. | You’re my best friend! |
| You’re calling her tomorrow and explaining everything. | ||
| I’m glad you’re spending the holidays with us this year. | ||
| Because you’re still a student, you should not worry about being perfect. |
Common mistakes when using your vs you’re
Though your and you’re are covered early on in English lessons, English learners can often misspell these words as they advance through their learning. And native speakers are not immune from making these spelling mistakes, either! Here’s why:
Confusing your vs you’re as homophones
Your and you’re are homophones. This means that they sound the same when spoken, though they have completely different meanings. In many cases, your is mistakenly used instead of you’re.
Try reading the following pairs of sentences aloud and you’ll see that they sound exactly the same, even though the your or you’re in the first sentence of each pair is incorrectly spelled:
Your welcome. x
You’re welcome. ✓
Your so tall! x
You’re so tall! ✓
Is that you’re new car? x
Is that your new car? ✓
Even if you understand the difference between your and you’re, if you’re not careful, these problematic homophones can lead to errors in your English writing.
Not understanding your vs you’re grammar
Your and you’re spelling mistakes can also happen if you don’t understand the grammar behind both words. Remember that your is a possessive adjective that we use to show that a noun is related to or owned by the person or people we’re speaking to.
For example:
→ Is that your
phone
on the table?→ Your
parents
are very kind.→ I love your
new ideas
for the project.→ If your
computer
isn’t working, you can borrow mine!You’re, on the other hand, is a contraction for you are. We can use you’re in the present simple and present continuous for one person or a group of people:
→ You’re all working together on the next project.
→ I’m happy you’re our new neighbors!
→ Let me know if you’re coming next week.
→ You’re a little early for the meeting.
It can be tricky to distinguish between you’re and your when writing, especially if you haven’t mastered the difference between the two.
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Tips to avoid your vs you’re spelling mistakes
Avoiding spelling mistakes is not about being a perfectionist. Rather, we want to make sure that our writing accurately communicates what we intend to say.
Writing your in place of you’re and vice versa can actually change the meaning of a sentence if you’re not careful.
Think of the example of you’re welcome vs your welcome:
You’re welcome may be used as a response to thank you. If we write you’re welcomed, we are actually inviting someone to do something or to attend something: you’re welcomed to our home any time; you’re welcomed to eat some of the samples.
Your welcome references the welcome given by the person spoken to; your kind welcome made us feel at home.
When in doubt, here are two tips to follow if you’re not sure whether to use your or you’re:
Tip #1: If you think you should us you’re, try writing you are instead, and check:
You’re my best friend. → You are my best friend. ✓
It’s you’re phone that’s ringing. → It’s you are phone that’s ringing. x Use your instead.
We think you’re making the right choice. → We think you are making the right choice. ✓
Tip #2: When using the possessive your, try writing that belong(s) to you or that is related to you or that you own, and see if it still works:
Stop leaving your
dirty socks
on the floor!→ Stop leaving
the dirty socks
that belong to you on the floor! ✓I didn’t know your Jonathan’s cousin.
→ I didn’t know
Jonathat’s cousin
that is related to you. x Use you’re instead.Your
dog
keeps jumping my fence and going into my yard!→
The dog
that you own keeps jumping my fence and going into my yard! ✓By reviewing your vs you’re grammar, getting into the habit of proofreading your writing, and keeping these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to error-free writing!
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AUTHOR
Angela Martinez
Newlanguages