Title: Lesson 12
Description: They're / Their
Zap Electro - January 19, 2006 04:57 AM (GMT)
Here's a nifty little thing to keep in mind when working: They're and Their. Now, "their" shows ownership:
Their boat was large.
Who was their friend?
Their clock is slow.
But, "They're", is a contraction between "They" and "are". Use this to show what they are. These include personality, status, ability, etc. For examples:
They're very strong!
What was the cafe they're going to called?
They're so late!
Extra Help: Remember, it is technically incorrect to use "their","they're", or "they" when speaking about a single person. Keep it in mind.
lambchopsil - January 19, 2006 08:07 AM (GMT)
Thanks Zap. Anyone got any questions? That was a pretty easy-to-understand lesson. Some input from the crowd would be great.
fic7i0n411yr341 - January 19, 2006 10:19 PM (GMT)
Input:
They're picking up their papers over there. The ones about which witch is which and whether the weather has anything to do with it. Though one kid wrote one about being the son and the heir of the sun and the air.
lambchopsil - January 20, 2006 12:05 AM (GMT)
Very nice play on words. You write that yourself or find that somewhere on the internet?
fic7i0n411yr341 - January 20, 2006 02:51 PM (GMT)
Nope, I just pulled that one straight out of my arse.
Shinobi_Janin - January 25, 2006 01:32 AM (GMT)
The second they're example sounds incorrect, well to me...
fic7i0n411yr341 - January 25, 2006 02:12 AM (GMT)
You're right, I think that should be, "What is the cafe (that) they're going to called?"
lambchopsil - January 25, 2006 05:15 AM (GMT)
Actually, I think the contraction (is that the correct term?) for "they're" can mean "they are" or "they were"
(This is also what aquastar831 thinks)
fic7i0n411yr341 - January 25, 2006 07:50 PM (GMT)
I don't really think so, Encarta, Webster, MS Bookshelf, and my old Associated Press Stylebook all say it's specifically a contraction of "they are".
Shinobi_Janin - January 25, 2006 11:35 PM (GMT)
"What is the cafe (that) they're going to called?"
The "called" part still sounds not complete...
fic7i0n411yr341 - January 26, 2006 12:29 AM (GMT)
Sounds fine to me, but that's according to the Northeastern USA dialect of English. Which dialect are you speaking? :lol:
I guess perhaps, "What is the name of the cafe (that) they're going to?" might be better; but I'm pretty sure both are grammatically correct.
Zap Electro - January 26, 2006 01:33 AM (GMT)
I'll admit, it sounds wrong (and technically is in this context), but it was more about how the person asked the question after hearing the name already. The "was" is referring to the name.
