2. Who’s, Whose; Theirs, There’s Week 1
Two words which give problems are who’s and whose. They sound the same but mean different things.
Who’s with an apostrophe is short for who is. If you want to ask ‘Who’s coming with me?’ or ‘Who’s going to tell
him?’ this is the one you use.
It can also be short for who has, as in ‘Who’s let the cat out?’ It’s easier to remember this word by thinking of its
full meaning – who is or who has – and this will also tell you when to use who’s and when to use whose.
The second word – whose – means something belonging to someone.
‘It’s the woman whose car is outside.’ Or ‘Whose book is this?’
You use it in all situations like these. Remember that it’s a word in its own right, not two words combined, like
who’s – that way you shouldn’t get confused about them.
There’s and theirs are also confusing.
Theirs means simply something which belongs to them, as in ‘The party was theirs.’
Think of whose and theirs together, the first (whose) asking a question about ownership, and the second
answering it. ‘Whose is it?’ ‘It’s theirs’.
There’s is short for there is or there has – as for example, in ‘There’s been an accident.’ Like who’s, it’s much
easier to get right if you think of it as two words shortened to one.
WHOSE WHO’S THEIRS THERE’S
‘It’s all very well to say it’s t______,’ I said, ‘but t______ such a thing as responsibility. W____ going to pay for
it? If it’s t_____ t_____ no reason why they shouldn’t.’
‘I don’t know w______ it is,’ he said, ‘and there’s no need to take it out on me.’
‘If it’s t______,’ I said, ‘they’ve got to move it, and if it it isn’t, we’ve got to find out w_____ it is. T_____ no
more to be said,’ I said. Well, today it has gone – and we still don’t know if it was t_____, or w_____ it was, or
w_____ paid to move it. T_______ something funny going on …
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3. Week 2
YOUR, YOU'RE
It's easy to get muddled about your and you're - but they are really quite different.
The first one shows that something belongs to you, (possessive) as
in 'your money or your life'.
The robber meant business! ‘Give me your money or your
life!’ he shouted to the owner of the house.
YOUR
You're, on the other hand, is a shorter version of you are. Try saying you are quickly
a few times, and you'll soon see how the a gradually disappears: it's much easier to say
you're than you are.
Example: ‘You are an idiot!’ becomes ‘You’re an idiot!’
YOU’RE
_____ a rat, Luigi. ______ face is gonna get changed, you bet your life. Not that
_______ fit to live, Luigi. When the boss hears of ______ mistakes, ______ a dead
parrot. It’d be sad if all ______ windows got broken, wouldn't it? But ______ not
gonna put us to that trouble, are ya? ______ not worth the price of a brick, anyway.
Don't get _____ library books renewed, Luigi, 'cos ______ not gonna get to read
them.
_______ bottle’s gone Luigi, and _______ gonna join it soon. So mind ______ step;
friends are watching you. We’re fond of ya, Luigi baby - so fond we're gonna put ya
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4. out of ______ misery, soon as we get the chance. _____ miserable life's as good as
over. Say _____ prayers, Luigi: _____ gonna need to, 'cos ______ a dead man, Luigi.
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5. Week 3
Connectives
Write out a sentence or two containing each of these connectives.
DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS
And – together with
Although – even though
Consequently – as a result
However – but, even so
Therefore – for that reason
Nonetheless/Nevertheless – in spite of that
Accordingly – because of this
But – except that, or unless
Furthermore – in addition, moreover
On the other hand – looking at it from another point of view…
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6. Week 4
Homophones
Words that sound the same but that are spelt differently are called
homophones. The name comes from the Ancient Greek words:
homos (same)
phone (sound)
If the wrong homophone is used a passage might be quite difficult to read, like
the one below. However, if you do manage to read it aloud (allowed!), other
people will be able to understand it perfectly.
For example:
I maid my weigh down the rode. Suddenly eye sore a wight
hoarse.
”Ware are ewe off two?” aye asked
“Too sea the see and watch the son go down.”
“Isle come with yew,” I said.
Sew, I court him and wee road together, wile the wind
blue in hour hare.
There are 25 homophones in that short passage. Can you find them and say how
the words should have been spelt?
1. 20.
2. 21.
3. 22.
4. 23.
5. 24.
6. 25.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
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7. Pupils to spend 10 mins on
these spellings, memorising
them or working with a partner.
Teacher to test them after the
time. OR Word Games (word Week 5
searches – hangman)
1. “It’s a good thing I happened to be passing,” the
window cleaner said.
2. “What height do you think you are?” the giraffe
seemed to be asking.
3. “Ghosts are imaginary!”
4. “This is an interesting pack of cards,” she cried,
turning them over in her hands.
5. “What a lovely mosaic,” he said. “Must be Roman.”
6. Many people believe that marriage is a good idea.
7. Portsmouth scored to make it 4-3. Meanwhile, at
Old Trafford, Alan Smith put United ahead against
Rochdale.
8. “I know there were two people involved in this
dastardly crime. Moreover, I know exactly who you
are!”
9. – Knock! Knock!
– Who’s there?
– Isabel!
– Isabel who?
– Is a bell really necessary on a bike?
10. The police tried to bring a peaceful end to the
protests.
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8. Pupils to spend 10 mins on
these spellings, memorising
them or working with a partner.
Teacher to test them after the Week 6
time. OR Word Games (word
searches – hangman)
1. We tried to find accommodation when we got
to Paris.
2. He told us that he was actually our lost uncle.
3. Alcohol should not be consumed in public
places.
4. Although there were fifty firemen, it took
twenty minutes to get Tiddles out of the tree.
5. The analysis of the fossil proved that it was
one hundred million years old.
6. The argument between the men lasted for five
hours.
7. At the end of the school year there will be an
assessment.
8. Earth’s atmosphere is full of oxygen.
9. Only the dripping water was audible.
10. The audience watched in wonder.
11. Autumn begins in October.
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