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 were (simple past tense of are), where (adverb / conjunction), and we’re (contraction of we are).

Focusing on these three commonly confused words helps reinforce the meanings and 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 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.

WERE, WHERE AND WE'RE - FAQs

What Types of Words Are Where, Were, and We're? And What Do They Mean?

Where is a word that tells us about or refers to a place or a location. It is commonly used in questions – either at the beginning, or somewhere in the middle.

Like the word there, the word where contains the word "here", which may be a helpful reminder for your child that both words refer to places or locations.

• Where are you going? (Asking about a place.)
• Do you know where we are? (Asking about a place.)
• I know where the hidden treasure is. (Referring to a place.)
• This is the park where we play football. (Referring to a place.)
• Put the toys back where they belong. (Referring to a place.)

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Were is the past tenseform of the irregular verb be, normally used with the pronouns: you (singular & plural), we, and they.

We use were on its own to show that something existed in the past.

• They were exhausted after the long walk. (Past simple; refers to a past state.)

We also use were as a helping verb (or an auxiliary verb) to form the past continuous to talk about things that happened in the past.

• The children were playing outside. (Past continuous; refers to a past action.)

It is also worth noting that the verb were plays an important role in the subjunctive mood (click here to see more about the subjunctive).

• If I were taller, I could reach it. (Subjunctive mood; refers to a hypothetical situation)
If I were taller, I could reach it. (Subjunctive mood; refers to a hypothetical situation)

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We're (with the apostrophe) is an abbreviation (a contraction OR contracted form OR shortened form) of two words: we are.

• We're going to the party tonight. (Expanded Form: We are going to the party.)
• Don't worry, we're almost there. (Expanded Form: We are almost there.)
• Look at us! We're learning so much. (Expanded Form: We are.)

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Why are Where, Were, and We're So Confusing?

Unlike there, their and they're, our three words – where, were and we're – are not homophones. However, they are commonly confused words.

Part of the confusion comes from their very similar spellings:

• The difference between where and were is just the letter h.
• The difference between were and we're is just the apostrophe.
• The two differences between where and we're are the letter h and the apostrophe.

Another source of confusion comes from the meanings of the words and how they are used. Where and were are both used in contexts that give us information about place:

• We were at the beach yesterday.
• The beach is where we spent yesterday.

(Of course, there are other ways in which were is used, but the point here is to show how it can be confused with the word where.)

Were and we're are linked through we:

• Were is the past simple form of the verb be that is used with the pronoun we (e.g. we were happy yesterday)
• We're also involves the pronoun we, BUT it involves the present tense (g. we're happy today = we are happy today)

Where and we're are both used in contexts that relay information about place:

• We're at the beach today.
• The beach is where we are now.

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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, 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 "We're"):

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

• Example: _______ happy to help.
• Try adding we are: We are happy to help.
• This makes sense, so the missing word is we're.

2. The "Here" Test (for "Where"):

• When you are unsure if you need the word where, 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 where is usually correct.

• Remember, where contains the word here!

• Example: ______ is Paula?
• Try adding here: Here is Paula?
• While it sounds odd, the question seems to ask about the place to find Paula.
• So, try adding where: Where is Paula?

• Example: I know ______ you put it.
• Try adding here: I know here you put it.
• Again, while it sounds odd, the sentence seems to talk about the place of something.
• So, try adding where: I know where you put it.

3. The "Past Tense Test" (for "Were"):

• When you're unsure if the word you need is were, ask yourself whether the sentence is talking about something that was true in the past, or something that happened in the past.
• If it does, then were is likely to be the correct word.
• Do a final check to make sure that we are (for we're) and here (for where) are definitely incorrect as well.

• Example: They ______ happy yesterday.
• The word yesterday refers to the past, so it is likely to be
• Try using were: They were happy yesterday.
• This seems right, but we need to double-check.
• Now test the sentence with we are: They we are happy yesterday.
• This is obviously wrong.
• Now test the sentence with here: They here happy yesterday.
• This is obviously wrong as well.

• Example:: We ______ playing football in the park.
• This time there is no word that makes it clear that the sentence is in the past, so we simply must try each word.
• Try using were: We were playing football in the park.
• This seems right but we need to double check.
• Now test the sentence with we are: We we are playing football in the park.
• This is obviously wrong.
• Now test the sentence with here: We here playing football in the park.
• This is obviously wrong as well.

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Beyond Where, Were, and We're: Commonly Confused Words

Understanding where, were, and we're (and the differences between them) will help your child get to grips with and master other groups of commonly confused words (like there, their and they're). This is partly because there are similarities between different groups – and partly because your child will have more strategies to help them navigate the areas of confusion.

It is important to repeat that while these three words are commonly confused words, they are not homophones.

As noted elsewhere, commonly confused words is a broad term for 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, on the other hand, are a specific type of commonly confused words: 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 like homonym and heteronym. For more on these types of words, please click here.

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RELATED WORKSHEETS & QUICK GUIDES

There, Their & They're Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents

Its & It's Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents

Many & Much Worksheets & Quick Guide for Parents