Common mistakes
Your or you're: possession and the short form of you are
The two words sound alike, so your and you're are easy to confuse in writing. One small check usually gives you the answer: can you replace the word with you are?
Choose your for something connected with the person you are speaking to and choose you're only when it means you are.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
your and you're /jɔː/ and /jʊə/ in strong forms; both may be /jə/ in quick speech/
The short answer
Use your before a noun or noun phrase for something that belongs to, relates to, or is associated with you. Use you're only when the full form you are makes sense in the sentence.
You're early for your appointment.
Why it works: You're expands to you are early. Your introduces the noun appointment.
3 more examples
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Your passport is on the kitchen table.
Your introduces the noun passport, which is connected with the person being addressed.
Not this:
You're carryingyour passport today. What changes: You're means you are carrying. The second your still introduces the noun passport. -
Your explanation helped the whole group.
The explanation is associated with you, so your comes before the noun.
Not this:
You're explainingthe rule clearly. What changes: You're expands to you are explaining, followed by a verb ending in -ing. -
Check your screen before you join the call.
Screen is the noun phrase introduced by your.
Not this:
You're onthe correct screen now. What changes: You're means you are on. It describes a position rather than possession.
Read the full guide
Read the sentence slowly and try the full words you are. If the sentence still works, write you're. If the following words name a thing, person, place, or idea connected with the reader or listener, your is usually the right choice.
Start with the two jobs
Your points to something associated with the person you are addressing. It normally begins a noun phrase. You're is a short form with a verb inside it: you are. The words may sound alike, yet their grammar is different.
Your coat is by the door. You're ready to leave.
In your coat, coat is the thing being named. In you're ready, you're means you are and ready describes the person.
Use the you are test
When you are unsure, replace the word with you are. If the full form makes a normal sentence, write you're. This check works because you're is simply a shorter spelling of those two words.
You're welcome here becomes You are welcome here. The full sentence works.
Your welcome here becomes You are welcome here, which changes the sentence and shows that your is wrong.
Which form belongs in this sentence: ___ meeting starts at nine?
Use your: Your meeting starts at nine. Meeting is the noun introduced by the possessive determiner.
Recognise patterns after you're
Because you're means you are, it often appears before an adjective, a verb ending in -ing, or a prepositional phrase. These patterns can help you spot the contraction quickly.
You're welcome. You're working late. You're at the wrong entrance.
Each sentence can begin with you are. That is why each one uses you're.
Keep your with the noun phrase
Your usually comes directly before a noun or before words that belong with that noun. Look ahead for the thing, person, place, or idea that is being named.
Please bring your notes from last week's class.
Notes is the main noun in the phrase. Your identifies whose notes they are.
Can you're replace your in Your notes are useful?
No. You are notes are useful is not a normal sentence. The word before notes must be your.
Watch the word order in questions
A statement can use you're: You're prepared. A yes-or-no question changes the order: Are you prepared? The contraction cannot take the place of both words when are comes first.
You're joining us later. Are you joining us later?
The first sentence is a statement, so you're works. The second is a question, so are comes before you.
Before you go
Remember this
Use your to introduce something connected with the reader or listener: your name, your plan, or your keys. Use you're only as the short form of you are. The replacement test is reliable: if you are fits, you're fits.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Your or you're: possession and the short form of you are"
What is the difference between your and you're?
Your introduces something connected with the person being addressed, as in your passport. You're is the contraction of you are, as in You're carrying your passport today.
Your passport is on the kitchen table.
How can I check whether to write you're?
Replace the word with you are. If the full form makes sense, write you're. For example, You're explaining the rule clearly becomes You are explaining the rule clearly.
You're carrying your passport today.
Does the apostrophe in you're show possession?
No. The apostrophe in you're marks the missing letter in the contraction you are. For possession or association, use your before a noun phrase, such as your screen.
Your explanation helped the whole group.
Can you're come before a noun?
You're can appear before a noun in a longer sentence when it still means you are, but it does not introduce a possessive noun phrase. In You're on the correct screen now, you're means you are on.
You're explaining the rule clearly.
Why do your and you're sound the same?
In fast speech, your and you're may have the same weak pronunciation. Their spellings depend on grammar, so use the you are test and look for the noun phrase after your.
Check your screen before you join the call.
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