Staple along the left border. Grammar Mistake #1 It s and Its It s = the contraction of it is or it has. 1 & 2 Grammar Mistakes Reference Flip Book Its= is a possessive. Things that belong to them or that they have. It s your turn to cook tonight. (It is your turn to cook tonight.) It s been a long time. (It has been a long time.) The dog lost its ball. (Use its because it s referring to the dog.) Grammar Mistake #2 Your and You re Your = is the possessive of you. You re= is the contraction of you are. Where is your hat? (Referring to someone s hat.) You re a great friend! (You are a great friend.) cover inside page 1
Grammar Mistake #3 Who s and Whose Who s= is the contraction of who is. Whose= is the possessive of who. 3 & 4 Grammar Mistake #5 Then and Than Then= has a variety of meanings, including at some point in time and in addition to. In simplest terms, it is used in situations of time. Who s coming to my house? (Who is coming to my house?) Whose money is on the table? (As in which person s money is on the table.) Use who when referring to he/she. Use whom when referring to him/her. Grammar Mistake #4 Effect and Affect Effect = means as a result. Affect = means to influence. The effect of making a good choice is a good grade. (As a result of good choices, you will get better grades.) Studying for an exam can affect a student s final grade. (Will influence it.) inside page 2 Than= is used when a comparison is being made. I went to science, then English class. (Referring to the next sequence in time.) I like apples better than oranges. (A comparison is being made.) Grammar Mistake #6 Which and Witch Which= is used when asking questions, when asking for something and when referring to something. Witch= a sorcerer or magician. Which shirt is yours? (Referring to something.) I dressed up as a witch last year. (Halloween) inside page 3 5 & 6
Lose and Loose Lose= fail to win. Grammar Mistake #7 Loose = meaning not tight. Grammar Mistake #9 Two, To and Too Two= is the number (2). To= everything else. (movement or direction) Did you lose the game? (not win) My pants are way too loose! (His/her pants are not tight.) Grammar Mistake #8 7 & 8 Too = means also or overly. There are two people ahead of me. (number) I am going to the movie theatre tonight. (going, happening) There, Their and They re There = refers to place and direction. Their= is a possessive. Things that belong to them or that they have. They re= the contraction of they are. I m going there tonight. (Referring to a place.) They wore their costumes. (The costumes belonged to them.) They re a nice couple. (They are a nice couple.) inside page 4 I ate way too much for supper. (more than) Grammar Mistake #10 Complement and Compliment Complement = something that adds to something else. Compliment = saying something nice. The furniture will complement the décor. (It completes something else.) That was a nice compliment! (kind remark) inside page 5 9 & 10
Grammar Mistake #11 Principal and Principle Principal= the individual in charge of a school. Principle= can mean rule, law or when referring to the amount of money owed on a loan. Mr. Smith was the principal of our school. (person) That s against my principles! (The rules morals one follows.) Sara made payments on the principle of her loan. (Money) Grammar Mistake #12 Vary and Very Vary = referring to something that is changing or different. Very = meaning to a high degree or certainty. The temperature will vary, as you continue to climb up the mountain. (change) You are very good at math! (certainty) inside page 6 11 & 12 Grammar Mistake #13 Threw and Through Threw= to propel through the air. (past tense of throw ) Through= this includes: from beginning to end, from in to out (or out to in) or finished. I threw the ball to my friend. (Physically in the air.) I went through the back door. (Going in the house.) Grammar Mistake #14 Lessen and Lesson Lessen = to decrease in size, extend or range. Lesson = referring to some sort of learning experience or task. Keeping up will help to lessen the amount of time you will have to spend on homework later on. (change) She took driving lessons. (A learning experience.) inside page 7 13 & 14
Quick Review Quiz Underline the correct answer: 1. It s/its been a long day. 2. Is your/you re family coming? 3. Who s/whose birthday is it? 4. I through/threw the ball into the air. 5. Which/Witch is the correct way? 6. How will this effect/affect my grade? 7. My shirt is too lose/loose. 8. There/Their/They re planning to get married next summer. 9. I got two/to/too answers wrong on the test. 10. I don t know how to get there/their./they re. 11. I think your/you re a great friend. 12. The cat was in it s/its basket. 13. That was an excellent lesson/lessen. 14. I am going too/to/two. 15. She looked like a which/witch. 16. The principal/principle was a nice person. 17. I will take their/there/they re cat when they go away. 18. Who s/whose going to pass the course? 19. Your hair complements/compliments your outfit. 20. I am vary/very excited for the trip! Quiz inside page 8