3. Variants
The use of “your” versus the use of the contraction
“you’re”
There was misuse of the term your in place of the term
you’re
There was no misuse of the term you’re in place of the term
your
Variants are broken down by
Gender
Age
Education
Ethnicity
5. Age
8
7
6
5
people
Number of
4
3
2
1
0
18 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 35 40 44
Age in
Years Total Number of People
People who used incorrect form of “Your”
6. Education
Master's Degree
College Degree
Type of
Some College
High School Degree
No High School Degree
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Number of
Total Number of
People
People
Incorrect use of “Your”
7. Ethnicity
Total Number of Incorrect use of
People “Your”
White = White = 8
23 Black = 5
Black =
Other = 2
11
Other = 6
8. ESL Resources for Teaching
Your v. You’re
I didn’t find many lesson plans geared towards teaching
the use of “your” versus “you’re” … however, these
following websites could be used a references when
creating lessons.
1. Common Mistakes in English: Your vs. You’re
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/cm_your.htm
2. Education Bug: Your vs. You’re
http://www.educationbug.org/a/your-vs--you-re.html
3. Love Learning: Your vs. You’re
http://child-1st.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/tips-for-teaching-your-
and-youre.html
4. How to use You’re and Your
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-You%27re-and-Your
9. Implications
How to Teach this Skill:
Teachers Should:
Use visuals that show the
Review the concept of
contractions with students difference …
Thoroughly explain teach term;
including grammatical factors
Pre- and Post-test students’
comprehension of your vs. you’re
Use activities and tasks that keep
students engaged with the lesson
content
Model the proper use with
meaningful examples
Have students correct written
examples to demonstrate
understanding
10. Conclusions
• I was surprised by the data I collected while doing my
observations.
• I thought there would be a significantly greater amount
of individuals who incorrectly used “your” instead of
“you’re.”
• I learned that people – despite
age, gender, education, and ethnicity – are aware that
there is a difference between “your and “you’re” and
11. Appendix
Incorrect use of Incorrect use Utterance Gender Age Education Ethnicity
“Your” of “You’re”
“It's your turn to impress me now” Male 27 High School Degree White
X “Glad your good” Male 31 College Degree White
X “Your still here” Female 28 No High School Degree Native
American
“… On your iPod” Male 23 Some College Black
“Call your mother” Female 30 College Degree White
“What’s your story” Male 27 College Degree Asian
“Is that your book?” Female 23 Some College White
“You hid your face” Male 27 Some College White
X “If your free on the weekend” Female 35 Some College White
“Who is your favorite team?” Female 24 College Degree White
X “Your interested in purchasing it” Male 26 High School Degree White
“You’re interested in music” Female 25 High School Degree Black
12. Appendix (continued)
Incorrect Incorrect Utterance Age Gender Education Ethnicity
use of use of
“Your” “You’re”
“If you’re going to cut one hair” 24 Female College Degree White
“Mind your grammar” 25 Female College Degree White
X “If your a lady” 23 Male High School Degree Black
X “Your still reading that” 44 Male Some College Black
“You’re curious” 30 Female Master’s Degree Black
“You’re a nice guy” 32 Male Master’s Degree Asian
X “If your around” 40 Male College Degree White
White
“Hope you’re having a good one” 21 Female No High School
Degree
X “Your not thinking correctly” 40 Female High School Degree Black
Black
“You’re going home?” 27 Male College Degree
“I hope you’re able to go see a show” 23 Male College Degree Filipino
13. Appendix (continued)
Incorrect use Incorrect use Utterance Age Gender Education Ethnicity
of “Your” of “You’re
X “Your cool” 25 Female College Degree Black
“Email me your resume” 28 Female College Degree White
“Go your own way” 26 Male Some College Black
“Follow your dreams” 18 Female High School Asian
Degree
“You’re very artistic” 21 Female Some College Black
X “Your interested in comics” 31 Male High School White
Degree
X “Your looking for me” 30 Male Some College White
X “Your such a legend” 18 Female High School White
Degree
“You’re pretty funny” 25 Female Master’s Degree White
14. Appendix (continued)
Incorrect use Incorrect use Utterance Age Gender Education Ethnicity
of “Your” of “You’re”
X “Your welcome” 25 Female College Degree White
X “Your welcome” 27 Male College Degree Indian
“If you’re looking for a good folk band” 21 Male Some College White
“You’re not always negative” 26 Male College Degree White
Black
X “Are you saying your special” 25 Male College Degree
“You know what you want to do with your 44 Female High School White
life” Degree
“Listen to what your boss says” 25 Male College Degree White
“Bring me pictures of your dog” 24 Female College Degree White
