USAGE

1. USAGE

2. Accept / Except • Accept (vb) – to receive; to agree to • Please accept this gift. • Now write your example • Except (prep) – but; to leave out. • Everyone is here except you. • Now write your example

3. Your/You’re • Your- the possessive form of you • Your arguments are convincing • You’re contraction of you are. • You’re doing a fabulous job!

4. Their

5. Theirs/ There’s • Theirs – possessive form of “they” used as a pronoun. • Theirs is the house with the green shutters. • Write your example • There’s – contraction of “there is” or “there are” • There’s been an accident. • There’s your friend Chad • Write your example

6. Affect/Effect • Affect (vb) to cause a change or influence • Your decision will affect us. • Now write your example • Effect (n) result; verb to bring about • The plan will have a positive effect on you. • Now write your example

7. To/Two/Too

8. A lot • A lot – ALWAYS two words; means “a large amount • Now write your example • A lot is ALWAYS two words!!!!!

9. Brake/Break • Brake (vb) to slow down (noun) a device for stopping Push on the brake if you go too fast. Now write your example • Break (noun)= a short rest (vb) to shatter; to force through • You can have a break after you finish cooking. • Now write your example

10. Choose/Chose • Choose is the base form; chose is past tense. The parts are choose, choosing, chose, chosen. • Please choose a poem to recite in class • Write your example Chose – past tense of choose I chose to read a poem by Emily Dickenson Write your example

11. Clothes • Clothes – what you wear • Please hang your clothes on the hanger • Write your example • Cloths – pieces of fabric • Use these cloths to wash the car • Write your example

12. Good/Well • Good (adj) use before nouns, after linking verbs to modify a subject. • You look good in that costume. • George played a good game today • Write your example • Well (adv) modifies action verbs; (adj) = in good health • Joby plays the piano well • Write your example

13. Here/Hear • Here (adv) in or at this place • Please put your books in here. • Write your example • Hear (verb) – to be aware of sound by means of the ear. • I can hear you perfectly well. • Write your example

14. Its/ It’s • Its – the possessive form of it • The dishwasher has finished its cycle • Write your example • It’s – a contraction of it is or it has • It’s (it is) raining again • Write your example

15. Knew/New • Knew – the past tense of know • I knew the answer • Write your example • New- unused or unfamiliar • I need a new pencil • There’s a new student in our class. • Write your example

16. Loose/Lose • Loose (asj) – free; not firmly attached; not tight • The button came loose from my shirt. • Write your example • Lose (verb) to misplace; to fail to win. • If we lose this game, our season is over. • Do not lose your homework.

17. Passed/Past • Passed is the past tense and past participle of the verb pass. • We passed your house on the way to school. • Write your example • Past- can be an adjective, a preposition or a noun. • This past week has been busy for me. (adj) • We drove past your house (prep) • At what time did you drive past? (adv) • I love stories about the past. (noun) • Write your example

18. Plane/Plain • Plane- airplane; a two dimensional figure. • Did you hear about the plane that landed in the Hudson ? • How did you find the area of the plane? • Write your example • Plain – not fancy; clear; large area of flat land • He wore a plain blue shirt. • The solution is plain to me. • Buffalo once roamed the plains. • Write your example

19. Real/Really • Real – An adjective; use it before nouns and after linking verbs to modify the subject. • Winona has real music talent • Write your example • Really- an adverb; use it to modify action verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. • She is really talented. • Write your example

20. Then/ Than • Then (adv) “at that time” • My mother was a young girl then. • Write your example • Than (conjunction) used to introduce the second part of a comparison • LaTrista is taller than Latoya • Write your example

21. Who’s/Whose • Who’s a contraction of “who is” or “who has” • Who’s (Who is) conducting the orchestra? • Who’s (who has) read this book? • Whose- possessive form of who • Whose umbrella is this?

22. Reason is because • Don’t use because after reason is. Use that after reason is or because alone. • The reason I’m tired is that I didn’t sleep well last night. • I’m tired because I didn’t sleep well last night.

23. Weather/Whether • Weather- the condition of the atmosphere • The weather in Portland is mild and rainy • Whether- if: also used to introduce the 1st of two choices • Tell me whether you can go. • I can’t decide whether to go or stay.