How well do you speak English?

I have a secret pet-peeve.  I am a grammar snob.  Perhaps it's because my mother was a school teacher.  Perhaps it's because our society is over saturated with techno-texting acronyms. I don't know.  But it's been brought to my attention over and over and over again, that people just don't know how to spell correctly anymore.  The worst part about this little pet peeve of mine, is that it makes me a total hypocrite!  I'm not a perfect speller by any means. I always have to use my spell checker.  Even so, there are a few things that sometimes slip through the cracks.   

In an effort to help us all out, I've decided to post a mini-grammar lesson.  See how well you can score on this little test..... fill in the blanks with the appropriate word. If you are brave enough, I'd love for you to leave a comment and tell me how well you did! (just for the record, I had to look up the its - it's thing!) 

1. your vs. you're

I love _________ recipe for chocolate chip cookies!

2.  Then vs. Than

I like chocolate chip cookies a lot better ___________ oatmeal cookies.

3.  Its vs. It's

__________ a hot day outside.

4.  to - too- two

It is ______ hot ______go outside today.  We should wait _______ hours and see if it cools off. 

5.  Were - where - we're- wear

_______________ in the world _________ you?  We waited all day, and now ________ going home.

6. There - their - they're

I don't know where ___________ moving to.  Perhaps, they'll move over _________ with all ____________ belongings.

7.  a - an - and

You must install ___ car seat in ____ SUV to be lawful ____ safe.

8.  Off - of

Flick that bug _____ your shoulder.

9.  here vs. hear

Did you _______ that there is a sale going on in the mall over _________?

10.  lose vs. loose

Don't _________ your head! 

answers:

1. your

your: is possessive, meaning something belongs to you. your cat belongs to you.

you're: a contraction for ' you are'. You're the best!

2. than

then: a sequence. first we will make dinner, then we will eat it.

than: a comparison. I like chocolate cake better than white cake.

3. It's

Its: possessive: it belongs to you, its yours.

It's: contraction for 'it is'  It's a tough one to learn.

4. too, to, two

to: going to somewhere, doing something to something, etc.

too: also (it has an extra 'o' in it too.  One 'o' and also, another 'o')

two: the number 2

5. where, were, we're

where: a place

were: past tense

we're: contraction for 'we are'

wear: to wear clothes.

6. they're, there, their

they're: contraction for 'they are'

there: a place

their: possessive, it belongs to them

7. a, an, and

a: a singular item

an: goes before a pronounced vowel sound.  Even though SUV starts with a written consonant, the pronunciation is that of a vowel sound, and therefore requires 'an'

and: and word to include more to the thought.

8. off

I think most people know the difference between off and of, just that perhaps their finger lingers on the 'f' button a second too long.

9.hear, here

hear: something you do with your ears.

here: a place. 

10. lose

lose: to misplace something

loose: something that is not tight.