How to Use There, Their and They're

from WikiHow.com

The English language is full of problems like the one presented by there, their and they're. Most native English speakers pronounce these words the same way; therefore, it is difficult for some to judge in which situation to use which spelling. Each spelling means a very different thing; if you'd like to learn the difference, read on!

1. Use there when referring to a place, whether concrete ("over there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live there").

There is an antique store on Camden Avenue.

The calculus books are over there on the floor.

2. Use their to indicate possession. It is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them.

My friends have lost their tickets.

Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly.

3. Remember that they're is a contraction of the words they and are. It can never be used as a modifier, only as a subject (who or what does the action) and verb (the action itself).

Hurry up! They're closing the mall at 6 tonight!

I'm glad that they're so nice to new students here.

4. Test your usage. When you use any of these three words, get in the habit of asking yourself these questions:

If you wrote there, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with here? If so, you're using it correctly.

If you chose their, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with our? If so, you've chosen the correct word.

If you used they're, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with they are? If so, you're on the right track!

5. Recognize incorrect examples and learn from the mistakes. By looking over others' work with a critical eye, especially by offering proofreading or copyediting help, you can become more sensitized to correct usage and practice it yourself.

Wrong: Their is no one here.

Wrong: Shelley wants to know if there busy.

Wrong: The dogs are happily chewing on they're bones.

RIGHT: I can't believe they're leaving their children there alone!

6. Practice, practice, practice! Get your English teacher or friend to say several sentences aloud that include one of these three words and write down which version they are using. Hire a private English tutor if you're still having trouble.

On-line Quiz 1: There, Their, They're

Complete these sentences. Write the letter of your answers as a comment. Don't forget to include your name and section. The first to get a perfect score will receive a surprise.

1. ___ dog is a husky called Snowy.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're

2. ___ once was a bird called a Dodo.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're

3. My aunt and uncle are arriving today. ___ coming from New York.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're

4. Many years ago ___ weren't any cars so people used to travel by horse and carriage.
a. their
b. there
c. they're

5. Our neighbors have bought a second car. ___ new one is red.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're

6. Both of the cars are made by Ford. ___ both 4WD.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're

7. If you look over ___ you can see the sea.
a. their
b. there
c. they're

8. Can you see where ___ building the new road.
a. their
b. there
c. they're

9. Do you know what _____ phone number is?
a. their
b. there
c, they're

10. ___ address is 65 Ilang-ilang St., Legazpi City.
a. Their
b. There
c. They're


Congratulations to Sushmita De Leon of II-Acacia!

How to Improve your Vocabulary

from DailyWritingTips.com

Make it a priority to learn new words. If you want to improve your vocabulary more quickly, you have to make at least a small commitment. Decide to learn one new word every day or two.

Make your vocabulary practical. Start by learning the words that can express what’s most important to you. For example, learn more of your trade language - the words that are commonly used in your business or hobby or vocation. Go beyond the jargon and cliches. Find better, fresher, clearer words to express what your peers are talking about.

Find the right word for you and use it. When you’re writing something, use a thesaurus frequently. That will help you express yourself better. And every time you do that, you’ll learn a new word and you’ll use that new word. Start learning where you are. As you read, if you come across an interesting word that you don’t understand, don’t just bleep over it. See item number 1. Take the time to look it up in a dictionary. Write it down and use it later.

Learn roots. Most English words are built from common roots, prefixes and suffixes, often with Greek or Latin origins. They’re highly reusable. When you learn one root, you’ll start to understand the many other words that use that root.

When you learn a word, use it immediately and frequently. Make it a game. Slip your new word into conversation with as many different people as you can. Repeat it to yourself. Use it in sentences. Write it on a flashcard and practice it while waiting for red lights.

The key to a better vocabulary is regular practice and progress. Maybe you can’t learn a hundred new words a day, but you can learn one or two a day, totaling thousands of new words over the years.

How's your vocabulary?

Your Vocabulary Score: A+

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

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Have an amazing S.Y. 2008-2009!

More Personification Poems

Emotions
by Emma Luisa Pesebre, I-Venus

The worry that sits beside you
Speaks as fast as the sea
You were watching while
the sky is weeping
And a leaf burns to cry

It's hard to forget those worries
But tears are easy to weep
To let the people know
the emotion that speaks.



Happiness
by Lovely Mae Laborte, I-Mars

The beauty in happiness is that it never weeps
Though trouble keeps on groaning
Though dreams burn from giving up
Though beauty disappears because of age.
Why?
Because happiness knows
That she can always just dance with trouble
For it to slowly depart
that she can always bring dreams back
If dreams dance with her in regaining
confidence, perseverance and determination
For happiness surely does a lot of dancing
And she also knows that though one's beauty can wither...
The inner beauty can never fade.

Personification Exercise

I-Mars and I-Venus students came up with these short poems. They were given specific nouns and verbs which they randomly paired, allowing them to use personification as a literary device. These poems were written in less than thirty minutes.

Untitled

by Juvy Grace Garay, I-Venus

Ask the wind to swing with your life

The blanket of hope drinks all your tears

For you to see the wonderful world around.

Ask the beauty of the world to read your mournful story

And soon to wipe all your problems

Ask the moon to burn all the sorrowful pasts

For you to live in a world where

a beautiful life goes around.

Untitled

by Denvic Lensoco, I-Venus

One morning, the wind strongly weaves

As the train waits before it leaves

And as I wait outside I see

That all of the people are very busy

As I ride on the train, all are still busy

But they are still smiling at me

As I sit on the chair, I see from the window

The dusk that scatters from the meadow

As the train leaves and passes the shore

I see the waves swinging more

I feel that the time is so fast

Because I see that I’m on my way home at last.

Nature at Work

by Li-Anne Serrano, I-Venus

The tree folded his branches to pray,

And beside the rock, there he lay.

The stone yelled for he was hurt,

Then he complained to little Bert.

The sky swung his cloudy arms to signal,

To do a favor from his pal.

Dawn thinks it’s already time,

To brighten the day, what beautiful sunrise!

I Just Wrote This

by Marie Patricia Clemente, I-Mars

Happiness waits

As worry scatters

In every road of life

we pass by.

Dusk draws into the sky

Using the birds as its brush.

The windows hug the sceneries

That the curtain sees.

Happiness Builds on Me

by Ma. Jessica Joy Mantes, I-Mars

The leaf swims happily in the ocean,

The stone sleeps soundly on the shore.

As the nigh falls,

The morning sleeps.

As the sun rises,

Happiness builds on me.

My Teacher

by Jepee Jerome Celorico, I-Mars

The wind teaches you

As your anger waits.

The dusk weeps

And let your worries drown.

You just remember:

The wind teaches you

And let your worries drown.

Mahabharata Video Clips

Finally, here is the four-part video clip of Mahabharata.

Thanks to Justin for uploading the vid!


Part 1


Part2


Part 3


Part 4

Indian Literature

Congratulations to II-Acacia

for the wonderful presentations!

Mahabharata

Ramayana

Sakoontala

More photos here.

CDs of the videos are available for reproduction.

A Tribute to Mothers (from1-Mars)

My Mother
Jan Joseff B. Genduso

My Mother is like a butterfly
flutter,
flutter,
flutter,
Through the azure sky.

The Best Mom of All

Kyra Dominique A. Ballon

She wakes me up every morning
Prepares my food everyday
She combs my hair at night
And wipes my tears when I cry

She always makes me feel that she loves me
Though sometimes I am bad
She would always remind me to be good
But I just can’t follow her advice

She is my medicine when I’m sick
She is my blanket when it’s cold
She is my shade when it’s hot
And my light when it’s dark

Dear God I thank you for giving me
The best mom of all.

My Mother's Hands
Ma. Sushmita L. De Leon

How soft and gentle
My mother’s hands are
They put me at ease
When I am about to cry

Sometimes I am afraid
And filled up with fears
I don’t know what to do
So my eyes are ready for tears

But I know I shouldn’t fear
I have to be brave, you see
I know that she will come
Her hands will comfort me.