HOMOPHONES PART II
- There versus Their versus They’re
There means “in or at that place” or it introduces a clause where the verb comes before the subject.
There are fifteen varieties of pizza there. Have you been there?
Their is a plural possessive noun.
Morgan heard that their cats are well-fed. Have they eaten their lunches?
They’re is a contraction of “they are.”
They’re going to the store after school.
- Threw versus Through
Threw is the past tense of the verb “to throw.”
Shanda threw a temper tantrum. Joline threw the ball against the house.
Through means “in one side and out the other,” “beyond,” “throughout,” “finished,” or “to the end.”
You should see your work through. That arrow went through the target! I’m through with it.
- Waist versus Waste
Waist is the part of the human body between the ribs and the hips.
Make sure your pants are at your waist!
Waste is “to consume uselessly or squander,” “to destroy,” or “to pass gradually.”
Don’t waste the day away. Did you throw the waste in the garbage bin? I wasted time last night.
- Where versus Wear
Where means “in or at what place?”
Where did you come from?
Wear means “to have on as a covering” or “to cause to deteriorate by use.”
What will you wear to the dance? What caused the brakes so much wear?
- Weather versus Whether
Weather is “the state of the atmosphere,” “to expose to the weather,” or “to bear up against and come through.”
What’s the weather like outside? Did you weather the storm?
Whether is used to introduce the first of two+ alternatives.
Whether you will do well on the quiz or not is up to you. He doesn’t know whether he can go.
- Which versus Witch
Which means “what one?”
Which do you want? Which of you two is going to win?
A witch is a “person practicing magic.”
Have you seen the witch from down the street? There’s a TV show about a teenage witch.
- Whole versus Hole
Whole means “entire, complete, or undivided.”
Joey can eat a whole pizza.I have a whole set of china.
Hole means “an opening, cavity, or burrow.”
What do you think lives in that hole in the ground? You act like you have a hole in your head.
- Whose versus Who’s
Whose is the possessive case of who or which.
Whose umbrella is this? An animal whose fur changes color can disguise itself. Whose turn is it?
Who’s is a contraction meaning “who is or who has.”
Who’s there? Who’s been to the zoo? Who’s eating now?
- Write versus Right
Write is a verb meaning “to form characters, letters, etc.” or “to express in writing.”
Lakin writes me emails every day.
Right means “in accordance with what is good/proper,” “correct,” “fitting,” “a moral principle,” or “to put in proper order/relationship.” It’s also a directional word.
It’s right to honor your elders. That’s right! I have a right to education. The restroom is to your right.
- You’re versus Your
You’re is a contraction meaning “you are.”
You’re certain that’s right?You’re a student, aren’t you? You’re so cool!
Your is used as a possessive noun in the second person or is used to mean “one’s.”
Your dog is ugly. As you go down the hill, the library is on your left.
PRACTICE:Circle the correct word(s) from the choices below.
- I don’t know which/witch is worse—dropping your ski poles off the lift or catching a snowball to the face.
- Javier didn’t think he would successfully make it threw/ through boot camp. Their/They’re/ There so tough there!
- Have you ever seen a which/ witchriding a broom in silhouette across the moon?
- Can you wear/ where a size 10 shoe? You’re/ Your feet look pretty big.
- If you have trouble keeping your pants on your waist/ waste, try a belt.
- Did you eat one donut hole/ whole or did you have six or seven?
- I wonder where they got their/there/ they’re super snazzy hats.
- What will the weather/ whether be like next week?
- Did you ever right/ writethat thank-you note for your grandparents?
- Who’s/ whose shoes are these?
- Wear/ wheredid Stephanie get her hoodie?
- Right/ write your wrongs whenever possible.
- You’re/ Yourattitude affects your altitude!
- Their/ There/ They’rewill be consequences for Skylar when she gets home from the party.
- I like to eat hole/ whole tomatoes in my spaghetti.
- You’re/ Your going to regret that choice later.
- Quentin threw/ through the ball to Sara as she moved toward second base.
- Who’s/ Whose going to the mall?
- Weather/ whetheryou like it or not, report cards will be coming home sooner than you might think!
- Waist/ Wasteall the time you want, but I’m not going to procrastinate! You’re/ Your going to be up late tonight.