Common Mistake: are vs our

One of the most common grammar mistakes made by English language learners is confusing "are" and "our." These words may sound similar, but they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. Understanding the difference between these two words is important for proper English communication.

1. "Are"

The word "are" is a form of the verb "to be" and is used to refer to multiple people or things in the present tense. It is the second person singular and plural form or the third person plural form of the verb.

• Example 1: "You are my best friend." (referring to the second person singular)
• Example 2: "They are going to the park." (referring to the third person plural)

2. "Our"

The word "our" is a possessive adjective that shows that something belongs to a group of people, including the speaker. It is used to indicate ownership or possession.

• Example 1: "Our house is located on the corner." (indicating that the house belongs to the speaker and other people)
• Example 2: "Let's put our books on the shelf." (referring to the books belonging to the speaker and other people)

Using "are" instead of "our" or vice versa can lead to confusion and inaccuracies in your writing or speech. Therefore, it is essential to understand when and how to use each word correctly.

If you want to avoid making this common mistake and many others, you can use the Linguix grammar checker, which provides real-time suggestions and corrections to improve your writing skills.