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Quiz / session

Homophones quiz: their, there, they’re and more

Their, there and they’re sound the same, and a spellchecker will not always catch the wrong one. In this quiz, students fill the gaps in short sentences and spot errors in others: 13 questions on their/there/they’re, your/you’re, its/it’s, to/too/two, whose/who’s, whether/weather and a few more pairs. After each answer, a quick test or memory trick, such as expanding they’re to “they are”, shows how to check the spelling.

Time including discussion:
10–15 min
For:
English teachers and students aged 11 to 14, or anyone who wants to check their spelling

English template · 13 questions

Use this template

Make your own copy and edit it. Sign in or create an account to open it in the editor.

Question 1 of 13

The twins left ___ bikes over ___, so ___ walking home.

What you can leave with

A short list of the pairs your class still mixes up, and a test for each that students can apply on their own when they proofread.

All questions in this template

Read the prompts now. Open a question to see its choices; the editor lets you adapt the wording and order.

  1. 1. The twins left ___ bikes over ___, so ___ walking home.
    • their … there … they’re
    • there … their … they’re
    • they’re … there … their
    • their … they’re … there
  2. 2. ___ late again! Don’t forget ___ coat.
    • You’re … your
    • Your … you’re
    • Your … your
    • You’re … you’re
  3. 3. ___ raining, so the dog is shaking water off ___ fur.
    • It’s … its
    • Its … it’s
    • It’s … it’s
    • Its … its
  4. 4. Ama wants ___ buy ___ tickets, but they are ___ expensive.
    • to … two … too
    • too … two … to
    • two … to … too
    • to … too … two
  5. 5. ___ turn is it to feed the fish?
    • Whose
    • Who’s
  6. 6. Nobody knows ___ the ___ will be sunny tomorrow.
    • whether … weather
    • weather … whether
    • whether … whether
    • weather … weather
  7. 7. Use the ___ to slow down your bike.
    • brake
    • break
  8. 8. Please ___ your name in the top ___ corner.
    • write … right
    • right … write
    • write … write
    • right … right
  9. 9. Which two sentences need “hear”? (two answers)
    • Speak up, I can’t ___ you.
    • Can you ___ the birds singing?
    • Come and sit over ___.
    • ___ is your ticket.
  10. 10. The reply “Your welcome!” is spelled correctly.
    • True
    • False
  11. 11. The sentence “There are two apples on the table.” is spelled correctly.
    • True
    • False
  12. 12. In “Let’s meet over their at noon.”, the word “their” is correct.
    • True
    • False
  13. 13. The sentence “I’d like a piece of pizza.” is spelled correctly.
    • True
    • False

How to run this activity

  1. 1

    Pick the pairs

    Read the questions in the editor and keep the pairs you have already taught. If a mistake keeps coming up in your students’ writing, add a similar sentence, without names or personal details.

  2. 2

    Launch it live

    Project the session and share the PIN or QR code. Ask students to read the whole sentence before choosing: several questions have two or three gaps, and every gap must be right.

  3. 3

    Say the test aloud

    After each reveal, read the trick and have the class apply it to a new sentence you make up on the spot. Expanding contractions such as it’s or you’re settles several pairs at once.

  4. 4

    Practise in writing

    Check the report for the questions with the fewest correct answers. Ask students to write three sentences of their own with those pairs, then swap and proofread a partner’s.

Make this activity yours

Keep what fits, rewrite what does not and set the pace for your group.

Use this template

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