Common Errors Grammar Tip 12

Your or you’re?

Which sentences are correct?

1. Your welcome.
2. You’re welcome.

3. Your right.
4. You’re right.   

5. Your pretty.
6. You’re pretty.   

7. Your chief, cook, and bottle washer. 
8. You’re chief, cook, and bottle washer.

The correct sentences are B, D, F, and H, because A, C, E, and G are not sentences.

Why?

Your is a possessive adjective that indicates ownership.

You’re is the contraction of a pronoun and a verb: you are.

You own it (your) versus you are it (you’re).

Here are complete sentences for both forms:

1. Your welcome makes guests feel at home.
2. You’re welcome. = You are welcome.

3. Your right to privacy is fundamental.
4. You’re right. = You are right.

5. Your pretty eyes sparkle in the sun.
6. You’re pretty. = You are pretty.

7. Your chief, cook, and bottle washer just quit. 
8. You’re chief, cook, and bottle washer now. = You are chief, cook, and bottle washer now.

That’s all there is to it. Now, you just have to keep an eye on that pesky autocorrect!