If You Can’t Differentiate Between Your and You’re, You’re in Trouble

December 13, 2009

Who cares? English teachers and grammar police cares. Even, 7th grader too. Really.

If you heard about the thread on facebook that says, “If you can’t differentiate between your and you’re, you deserve to die”, you would definitely think that this phrase is too much for a curse. And, That’s where this post came from. Is the curse too much for just two different things? That’s why I change the title for a better one. Maybe, friendly. And, yes. Anyone should know how to differentiate that.

In English grammar, your and you’re are two different things. It’s like when you say, “You’re cool”. You are contracting ( combination) ”you and are” and if you say, “That’s your cool sweater”, you are indicating an ownership or something.

Your is a possessive form of you and should be use to imply ownership. Referring to something that a person has.
Example:

1. Your phone is ringing.

2. That’s your pen, isn’t it?

3. Where is your book?

You’re is a contraction of you and are. If you can’t contract that, you’re in trouble. If you have doubt, consult a dictionary or grammar book.
Example:

1. You’re beautiful. (You are beautiful)

2. You’re right. (You are right)

3. I know that you’re very good in tennis.