Grammar Basics

Video Lesson

BASICS (BUT ESSENTIALS!!) VIDEO LESSON

Goals for Lesson:

1. Master the most common errors in English – the its/it’s, your/you’re, etc. dilemmas
2. Know in which situations to use where, when, which, that, and who as modifiers
3. Learn the correct words to use with comparative and superlative conditions

Topic One: The Most Common Errors in English

Its / It’s / Its’

1. Its = The possessive form of “it” (yes, it DOES NOT have an apostrophe even though it’s
possessive)
a. I knew what car I wanted, but I hadn’t yet decided on its color.
2. It’s = The contracted form of “it is”
a. It’s up to you, but I think it’s too hot to go outside.
3. Its’ = NOT A WORD

There / Their / They’re

1. There = (1) At or in a place (2) Toward, to, or into a place
a. There are no excuses this time; we’re going there to eat dinner tonight whether you like it
or not!
2. Their = The possessive form of “They”
a. It’s their car, so we should treat it with respect.
3. They’re = The contracted form of “They are”
a. I wonder where they’re going after the movie.

Your / You’re
1. Your = Describing the possessor as “you”
a. Your way of talking to me is really cute.
2. You’re = The contraction of “You are”
a. You’re so funny that I can’t believe you’re only 15-years-old.

Quick Practice:
1. It’s/Its unknown whether its/it’s origin is verified.
2. Regardless of when they arrived, there/their accomplishments are well-known.
3. Let’s stay in touch while your/you’re gone.
4. When their/they’re back from dinner, I’d like to get your/you’re opinion about there/their
haircuts.
5. Your/You’re very welcome. Its/It’s a pleasure working for your/you’re family.

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Would Have / Would Of

1. Would’ve = Contraction of would have **would of = not correct!
2. Should’ve = Contraction of should have **should of = not correct!
3. Could’ve = Contraction of could have **could of = not correct!
4. Must’ve = Contraction of must have **must of = not correct!

To / Two / Too
1. To = (1) before infinitive verb, (2) preposition
a. Let’s go to the store to buy bananas to give to our children.
2. Two = number 2
a. I have two siblings.
3. Too = (1) “also” or “in addition” (2) excess or degree
a. You’re too funny! I can’t believe your two sibling want to go, too!

Affect / Effect
1. Affect = VERB – to cause change
a. Exercise affects your health in a positive way.
2. Effect = NOUN – a change
a. The effects of exercise can be seen in your skin.

Farther / Further
1. Farther = referring to “far” distances
a. Parking farther away from the entrance will force you to walk a little more each day.
2. Further = referring to figurative or nonphysical distance
a. Sometimes ideas we hope will fix issues end up causing further damage.

Than / Then
1. Than = referring to a comparison
a. I am taller than she. He has more integrity than I do.
2. Then = referring to time
a. She went to the store and then drove home.

Quick Practice:
1. The new skin cream would of/would have had an affect/effect if you used it more than/then
one time. Your/You’re supposed to/two follow instructions.
2. There are to/too many factors affecting/effecting my concentration, so I am concerned I won’t
be able to/too take this company farther/further then/than we envisioned.
3. Then/Than, two/to minutes later, she must of/must’ve heard the burglar come inside because
she ran farther/further than/then I have ever seen her run.
4. Its/It’s to/too bad their/they’re so late. They should of/should’ve been on time.

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Topic Two: Where, When, Which, That, Who

Where = place
When = time
Which/that = thing or an idea
Who = people

Where, When, Which, That, Who Practice Questions

1. The first people that/who reached America were elated.

2. The symphony contains many difficult passages where/in which the novice player may struggle.
3. I was so angry when/that my mom said I had to stay home and baby-sit.
4. Cognitive science is a new field where/in which aspects of several disciplines are combined.
5. It’s the first map of North America where/in which Canada and Mexico are depicted as distinct
from the U.S.

Topic Three: Comparative and Superlative

Two Three or More

More Most
-er (slower, older, kinder) -est (slowest, oldest, kindest)
Between Among

Comparative and Superlative Practice Questions

1. Between/Among the group of gorillas/guerillas at the zoo, Pegasus is the most cutest/cutest.
2. Among the candidates for the job, Alex is the more/most qualified and the younger/youngest.
3. Between/Among the two candidates for mayor, the most/more experienced applicant is the
smarter choice.
4. Between/Among the five answer choices, I would choose B.
5. She is the more older/more old of the two of us.
6. My math teacher in sixth grade was the most nicest/most nice of all my teachers.

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Summary of Lesson:

❖ Cross out the troublesome pairs/trios when you’re 100% on their difference:
Its / it’s / its’ There / their / they’re Your / you’re
Would’ve / would of To / two / too Affect / effect
Further / farther Than / then
❖ Recognize when to use where (place), when (time), which/that (thing or idea), and who
(people) to modify appropriately
❖ Ensure proper use of more/most, –er/–est ending, and between/among whether you’re
comparing 2/3+

Mixed Practice Questions:

1. Between/Among my two kids, Blake is older/more older but Brent is more wise/wisest.
2. After receiving such a kind compliment from her coach, Jackie pushed herself farther/further
then/than I have seen before.
3. Your/You’re GPS seems to be malfunctioning; perhaps you’re/your due for a new one.
4. We had a little to/too much fun in the photobooth at the wedding, putting on weird hats and
wearing silly clothes.
5. There is a special relationship between a conductor and his or her orchestra, when/which at
its/it’s/their best is creative and at its/it’s worst, disruptive.
6. If receiving proper care and maintenance, a 100-year-old organ will produce a fuller/more fuller
sound than it did when/which it was first made.
7. Nearly driven to/too extinction twenty years ago, the owl’s population has increased from 15 to
more then/more than 10,000.
8. The novel is about toxins and their/there/they’re affects/effects on a developing fetus.
9. Along with more then/than twenty of my classmates, I jumped in the freezing lake despite the
cold weather.
10. The science museum has an astonishing collection of light affects/effects.
11. He knows that his mom would of/would have been there if she could of/could have caught the
earlier plane leaving Seattle.
12. Since the final paper deadline had passed, the teacher couldn’t have been more nice/more nicer
to accept it late.
13. Of all the major football venues in Europe, Manchester United’s Old Trafford is perhaps one of
the most revered because of it’s/its rich history.

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14. Your/you’re mom told me that the restaurant is known for it’s/its/its’ décor and fun vibes.
15. If your/you’re sure that you want to buy such an expensive car, than/then you should go for it
and enjoy it.
16. One house had stone walls and an overhead roof made of tiles. The most prettiest/more
prettier/prettiest home was mostly glass with spectacular views.
17. When listening to an orchestra, one can appreciate it’s/its/its’ brilliance.
18. When listening to orchestra musicians, one can appreciate there/their/they’re brilliance.
19. If your/you’re not careful with what you say, you could hurt there/their/they’re feelings.
There/Their/They’re sure to be sad if you say something so cruel.
20. The song spread around the world, it’s/its/its’ lyrics resonating with all who listened.
21. If only people could of/could have escaped from than/then dictator Adolf Hitler.
22. By law, the boat must slow to fewer than/fewer then five knots in the harbor.
23. After thinking more about the skydive, Lindsey decided it might be to/too/two dangerous.
24. Today, dogs herd sheep in much the same way as its/it’s/their/there ancestors did centuries ago.
25. Remember to position your/you’re subject in the center of the frame. This affect/effect, my
mom explained, guarantees fewer errors.
26. There is a feud at my office over parking; there are to/too/two many cars and to/too/two few
parking spaces.
27. We buried our family dog in the backyard, placing flowers over its/it’s/its’ grave.
28. It’s/Its/Its’ amazing how a bubble keeps its/it’s/its’ spherical shape.

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Ready for Real World Practice? In the real world, sentences do not come with underlines guiding us to areas
that may or may not be correct. Once you’re very comfortable with the information, try out these sentences that do not
have underlines and see how you do. For an extra challenge, some are correct as written and others require changes.
Good luck!

1. You’re going to be so surprised when I tell you who ran the farthest distance.
2. When considering the men in my past three relationships, I would say that Mike is the more fun,
Jake is the most cutest, and Victor is the more smarter.
3. I am quite sensitive too the strong smell of cleaning products; I never thought I could be
effected so much.
4. You’re too kind to treat us to such a lovely dinner. I would of brought dessert had I know what
an elegant meal you were cooking.
5. My child is for sure the more qualified of the two candidates.
6. By midnight, its’ going to be an escalated incident for the police to control.
7. Whether or not teenagers think its fair, their not allowed home passed their curfews.
8. The man that lives here knows we are spying on him. I feel like we should have been more
careful to ensure that he didn’t know what we were up to.
9. Lindsey is someone special that works so hard in school.
10. After transferring to a new school my sophomore year, I could not have felt farther removed
from my new peers as I struggled to make new friends.