You're or Your?
What Is the Difference between "You're" and "Your"?
"You're" and "your" are easy to confuse because they sound identical.You're
"You're" is short for "you are." For example:- You're rich now!
- Does she think you're happy?
Your
"Your" is to show something belongs to "you" or is related to "you." For example:- Your answer is correct. ("Answer" belongs to you.)
- Your uncle has a Roman nose. ("Uncle" is related to you.)
You're
"You're" is a contraction of "you are." It has no other uses. This is a 100% rule. If you cannot expand it to "you are" in your sentence, then it is wrong.Example sentences with "you're":
- The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. (Actress Lily Tomlin) (This expands to "you are," so it is correct.)
- Doing nothing is very hard to do. You never know when you're finished. (Actor Leslie Nielsen) (This expands to "you are," so it is correct.)
- Please ask Joan to post the parcel when you're in London. (This expands to "you are," so it is correct.)
- You said that you couldn't believe you're ears. (This does not expand to "you are," so it is wrong. It should be "your.")
Your
"Your" is a possessive determiner. (Other possessive determiners are "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their.")"Your" is used before a word one of three reasons:
(1) To show it belongs to "you."
For example:- your car, your arm, your dog
(2) To show it is of "you."
For example:- your picture, your photograph, your portrait
(3) To show it is related to "you."
For example:- your uncle, your mother, your sibling
- Our expert will answer your questions about pensions and savings. (This means the questions belonging to "you.")
- Pin your photograph to the top of the application. (This means the photograph of "you.")
- Sarah doesn't look like your sister. (This means related to "you.")
A Video Summary
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