Frequently Confused Words
a Use before a consonant sound; a cat, a house
an Use before a vowel sound; an owl, an hour
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are Verb used with plural subjects; Where are the letters?
our Possesive form of we; Our plan did not work.
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hear Verb that is a synonym of listen; The teacher could not hear me.
here Use to indicate position, place, or time; Here lies Harold Brown.
it's Contraction of it is; It's over there.
its Possesive form of prounoun it; The animal shook its head.
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know Verb used to mean understand or be aware of as true; I know you.
no Negative response; I voted no. No one will go.
now At the present time; Now is the time to begin the work.
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lose Verb that a synonym of misplace; Did you lose your keys again?
loose Synonym of not tight; The child's shoestrings are loose.
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there Adverb indicating position or place; The car is over there.
their Possessive form of they; I see their new house.
they're Contraction of they are; They're not coming tonight.
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through Preposition meaning in one side and out the other; around; I walked through the park.
threw Past tense of verb meaning to hurl; The pitcher threw the ball over the catcher's head.
thru Substandard usage for through.
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to Used for direction; He went to the store.
Used as a preposition before a noun/pronoun; She gave it to him.
Used before a verb form to make an infinitive; He wanted to go.
too Synonym for also or means very or extremely; She went, too. It's too hot.
two Number - The child wanted two desserts.
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whose Possessive of pronoun who; Whose coat is lying on the floor?
who's Contraction for who is; Who's responsible for the mistake?
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your Possessive form of you; This is your book.
you're Contraction of you are; You're not listening.
an Use before a vowel sound; an owl, an hour
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are Verb used with plural subjects; Where are the letters?
our Possesive form of we; Our plan did not work.
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hear Verb that is a synonym of listen; The teacher could not hear me.
here Use to indicate position, place, or time; Here lies Harold Brown.
it's Contraction of it is; It's over there.
its Possesive form of prounoun it; The animal shook its head.
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know Verb used to mean understand or be aware of as true; I know you.
no Negative response; I voted no. No one will go.
now At the present time; Now is the time to begin the work.
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lose Verb that a synonym of misplace; Did you lose your keys again?
loose Synonym of not tight; The child's shoestrings are loose.
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there Adverb indicating position or place; The car is over there.
their Possessive form of they; I see their new house.
they're Contraction of they are; They're not coming tonight.
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through Preposition meaning in one side and out the other; around; I walked through the park.
threw Past tense of verb meaning to hurl; The pitcher threw the ball over the catcher's head.
thru Substandard usage for through.
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to Used for direction; He went to the store.
Used as a preposition before a noun/pronoun; She gave it to him.
Used before a verb form to make an infinitive; He wanted to go.
too Synonym for also or means very or extremely; She went, too. It's too hot.
two Number - The child wanted two desserts.
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whose Possessive of pronoun who; Whose coat is lying on the floor?
who's Contraction for who is; Who's responsible for the mistake?
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your Possessive form of you; This is your book.
you're Contraction of you are; You're not listening.