What’s the difference between your and you’re? Your presence on this page means you’re about to find out.

Your

Your is the second person possessive adjective, used to describe something as belonging to you. Your is nearly always followed by a noun.

What is your name?

Is this your pen?

Your book is on the table.

This is your chair and this is mine.

What happened to your dog?

Your being here is causing some problems.

You’re

You’re is the contraction of "you are" and is often followed by the present participle (verb form ending in -ing).

You’re going to be late.

Is that what you’re wearing?

I think you’re lying.

If you’re ready, we can go.

I can’t believe you’re a doctor!

When you’re my age, you’ll understand.

The Bottom Line

The confusion between your and you’re occurs because the two words are pronounced pretty much the same.

The ironclad rule – no exceptions – is that if you’re able to replace the word with "you are," you’re saying you’re. Otherwise, your only choice is your.