If you ever find yourself hesitating about whether to use “your” or to use “you’re” just remind yourself of their meanings.
Contractions in conversation
You’re is a contraction of you are. The apostrophe indicates that a letter is left out. You’re is a construction of a subject you and a verb are. It is just a shortened form or contraction of the two words you and are into one word. Other common contractions are I’m for I am and we’re for we are.
Here are examples of how you should use you’re.
You’re such a generous person.
Did you know that you’re the first to complete the hike?
You’re making the cat fat when you feed him so often.
Contractions such as you’re are used in everyday speech in conversations and in informal writing. You can also use contractions when you are writing dialogue in a short story because the dialogue is conversation being written.
Look at this sample dialogue. Notice how you’re is used.
“I’m packing for college”, announced Kay.
“I hope you’re not taking that old teddy bear with you”, warned Alice.
This belongs to you.
Now be aware that your is a very different word with a different function and meaning to the word you’re.
Your is a possessive adjective.
Definition according to Cambridge Dictionary is:
1. belonging to or relating to the person or group of persons being spoken or written to
Examples:-
Is your dog friendly?
Your tyre is flat.
2. belonging or relating to people generally.
In this case you would be using your as if you were talking to everybody in general
Examples:
Exercise is good for your health.
Banks are expected to protect your money.
In each case whether you are speaking to one person or a group or you mean the whole world, the word your is always followed by a noun. That is because your is showing ownership or possession so something is owned by you or something or someone is related to you.
Tips to test yourself
It is a very good tip to remember that your is always followed by a noun.
Your aunt makes delicious cakes.
Your picture is on the cover of the magazine.
Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
Your faithful dog chased my cat.
Similarly you can check whether you are using “you’re” correctly by substituting those two words “you” and “are” and see whether your sentence makes sense.
Go on- now you know the difference
Pay attention when you write. Use the words your and you’re appropriately. Remember the difference. One of them you’re is a contraction of a subject and verb while the other your is a possessive adjective always followed by a noun to show that something belongs to you. The you could be an individual or group or everybody generally. The noun can be an animal, place, thing, person and an abstract quality or feeling.
I admire your courage.
You will find it easy to remember the difference and now you can confidently use both expressions your and you’re when you talk and when you write.