DIFFERENTIATION, LEARNING OBJECTIVES, SEASONALITY, & AGE RANGE FAQs

DIFFERENTIATION

What is a Differentiated Resource?

A differentiated resource is one that provides the same exercise in two distinct versions. Each version has its own format and separate instructions.

Why Differentiate?

The material is differentiated to accommodate children and students with a range of abilities and strengths. The differentiation also means that the exercise can be used more than once - with Version 2 providing an extra (or subsequent) challenge.

How is this Resource Differentiated?

Version 1 provides children and students with guided practice. They are given all three words in a pair of brackets each time, enabling children and students to see the words in the context of every sentence.

Version 2 gives children and students the opportunity to practise independently. The sentences contain blanks for the children and students to complete with their chosen word.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES

These exercises help children and students concentrate on correctly choosing among there (adverb / pronoun), their (determiner), and they’re (contraction of they are).

Focusing on these three homophones that are commonly confused helps reinforce the meanings and the uses of these words for children and students, thus making it easier for children and students to employ the words correctly in their work in the future.

SEASONALITY

You can use this resource at any point during the year. It may be particularly useful to children and students when they are learning about homophones and/or commonly confused words; or, as a targeted revision tool before mock tests or exams.

AGE RANGE & SUITABILITY

Kindly note that the years and ages listed above are intended as recommendations only. Feel free to use this resource in any educational context that is appropriate to your needs.

THERE, THEIR, AND THEY'RE - FAQs

What Types of Words are There, Their, and They're? And What Do They Mean?

There is a word that tells us about or refers to a place or a position. It is the opposite of here. The word there can also introduce a sentence to tell us that something exists.

• We went to Paris, and we stayed there for a week. (Referring to a place)
• The book is not here; it's over there. (The opposite of here.)
• There are five apples in the basket. (Introducing a sentence.)

Tip: See below for an important note regarding the word there.

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Their is a special type of word that shows that something belongs to a group (i.e. a possessive determiner OR a determiner).

• The children left their coats on the floor. (The coats belong to the children.)
• The two birds built their nest in the tree. (The nest belongs to the two birds.)
• The Thompsons like their new car. (The car belongs to the Thompsons.)

Tip: other possessive determiners are words like her, its, and our, which also tell us what belongs to whom.

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They're (with the apostrophe) is an abbreviation (i.e. a contraction OR contracted form OR shortened form) of the two words: they are.

• They're going to the park. (Expanded form: They are going to the park.)
• My friends are happy; they're enjoying the party. (Expanded Form: they are enjoying the party.)
• Look! They're finally here. (Expanded Form: They are finally here.)

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Why are There, Their, and They're So Confusing?

One main reason there, their, and they're are often confused is that these three words are homophones (like its and it's).

In other words, although these three words sound the same when we say them, they have different meanings and different spellings.

Also, like its and it's, another major reason the words their and they're confuse people is because of two linked factors (also like its and it's)

• what the word their means
• the fact that it doesn't have an apostrophe

As we already know, their is a special type of word (like his, her, your, my, our, etc.) that tells us what belongs to whom.

However, we are also taught that we often need to use an apostrophe + s to show ownership (e.g. Maria's cat = the cat that Maria owns = the cat that belongs to Maria).

So, it is easy to see why it feels logical to use they're with the apostrophe to show ownership.

However, this is always a mistake because they're never shows ownership; the contraction only ever stands for they are.

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How to Remember and Explain the Difference: Simple Strategies

One of the best ways for your child to master these words is for them to use simple, consistent tests like the ones listed below.

Depending on the situation, your child may need to use just one of these tests.

However, if your child cannot decide which word they need to use, we recommend they try all three tests in the order shown below, as this usually makes for a more confident elimination process.

That said, it is, of course, up to you to decide with your child on the order that works best for them.

1. The "Are" Test (for They're):

• When you're unsure if the word you need is they're, try using they are
• If they are fit and make sense, then they're is the correct choice.

• Example: Look, _______ playing!
• Try adding they are: Look, they are playing!
• This makes sense, so the missing word is they're.

2. The "Ownership" Test (for Their):

• When you're unsure if the word you need is their, ask yourself whether the sentence mentions something that might belong to someone or something else.
• If it does, then their is likely to be the correct word.
• Remember to check that the sentence makes sense.

• Example: The children love _______ new dog.
• Ask yourself: Could the dog belong to the children? Yes.
• Try using their: The children love their new dog.

3. The "Here" Test (for There):

• When you are unsure whether you need the word there, ask yourself if the sentence seems to refer to a place.
• If it does, try using the word
• If you can put here in the sentence (even if it sounds a bit odd, but you still have the meaning of place), then there is usually correct.

• Remember, there contains the word here!

• Example: Put the chair over ______.
• Try adding here: Put the chair over here.
• This makes sense, so try adding there: Put the chair over there.

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A Quick Note for Parents: There is a Simple, but Versatile Word

While the "here" test helps your child see there as a word that shows place, it is worth knowing that there is a flexible word that we often use, which makes it a tricky word when it comes to grammar.

In fact, because it is so flexible, the word there is used in numerous ways—including, but not limited to, as an adverb, a pronoun, and an interjection. Consequently, it is not always easy to decide how the word there is being used in a sentence from the point of view of its grammatical function.

What is key in this context, for you and your child, however, is that there is never about possession or a contraction of they are.

So, even when the here test doesn't fit perfectly, if nothing about the sentence suggests ownership and if the words they are simply do not fit, then there is usually the right choice.

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Beyond There, Their, and They’re: Homophones & Other Commonly Confused Words

Understanding there, their, and they're (and the differences between them) will help your child get to grips with and to master other sets of homophones that they will encounter as well as other groups of commonly confused words.

It is important to note here that not all commonly confused words are homophones.

Commonly confused words is a broader term for any words that people often mix up in writing, even if they don't sound the same. This could be because their meanings are similar (like affect and effect) or because their spellings are close (like loose and lose).

Homophones are a specific type of commonly confused word: they sound exactly alike but have different spellings and meanings (like there, their, and they're OR to, too, and two).

In school, your child might also hear other terms that relate to words that sound or look similar, such as homonym or heteronym.

Homonym is a broad term for words that (a) have different meanings but sound the same; (b) have different meanings but are spelled the same; or (c) have different meanings but sound the same and are spelled the same.

So, according to this definition, there, their, and they're are homonyms, but so are words like bank and bank(river bank vs. money bank) where the spellings and sounds are the same, but the meanings are different.

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings (e.g. 'lead' - to guide vs. 'lead' - the metal; 'read' - present tense vs. 'read' - past tense).

Arguably, though the most important thing for your child to grasp at this stage is the practical skill of telling these particular words apart.

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RELATED WORKSHEETS & QUICK GUIDES

Were, Where & We're Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents

Many & Much Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents

Its & It's Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents