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Your and You're


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. Examples:

  • The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. (Lily Tomlin)

  • (Expands to you are – correct)

  • Doing nothing is very hard to do. You never know when you're finished. (Leslie Nielsen)

  • (Expands to you are – correct)

  • Please ask Joan to post the parcel when you're in London.

  • (Expands to you are – correct)

  • You said that you couldn't believe you're ears.

  • (Does not expand to you are – should be your)

Your

The word your sits before another word (usually a noun or a pronoun) to show that it belongs to "you" (e.g., your car, your arm), is of "you" (e.g., your picture, your photograph) or is related to "you" (e.g., your uncle). Your is a possessive adjective. (Other possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.) Examples:

  • Our expert will answer your questions about pensions and savings.

  • (questions belonging to "you")

  • Sarah doesn't look like your sister.

  • (related to "you")


 
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