Chapter 1 Common Grammar Mistakes
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there/they're/their, than/then
No one will ever know you don't know the difference in "there,"
"they're," and "their," until the slip up appears on a super.
And then, believe Mrs. B, you'll hear about it.
"There" is an adverb.
It answers the question "where?"
v
We were THERE when she was brought into the courtroom in
handcuffs.
"There" is also an expletive pronoun (a word to get the sentence
started).
v
THERE were only two of us, the photog and I.
"They're" is the contraction for "they are."
v
THEY'RE coming to the meeting after they drop off the tape.
"Their" is a possessive pronoun.
v
THEIR reason for being late is a flat tire.
"Than" and "then" are sometimes confused, too, because they sound
similar. "Than" is a conjunction used to introduce a comparison.
v
He's a better editor THAN she.
"Then" is an adverb answering the question "when?"
v
The news director was out of her office THEN.
