There, They're or Their

Today we're talking grammar, specifically when to use your, you're, there, they're and their. This is largely because I saw a few posts on Facebook recently emphasising that point, but also because there's little I find more irritating when reading  a piece of writing than these words used inappropriately. 

'hey honey, can I borrow you're car?'

To be honest that was hard for me to write. These words have different meanings, which are easy to learn and so I feel it's unnecessary. 

Your is the word for describing the possessions of the person you're talking to.

 'hey honey, can I borrow your car?'

You're is used to describe the actions of the person you're talking to.

'You're doing that wrong.' 

 Their and they're follow the same pattern as your and you're. Their is to describe the possessions of another.

'Sarah and Lucy look gorgeous in their dresses.'

They're is to describe what they are doing. 

'Look at Sarah and Michael. They're so happy together.'

 This is because the use of the apostrophe in they're and you're has abbreviated these words from they are and you are. There on the other hand has nothing to do with people and instead describes a direction.

'Look over there!' 

 Using these words correctly is simple if you know what they mean, but sometimes the easiest way to check if you've got it right is to say it all out loud. 

Rowen