Stuart's Daily Word Spot: We're, were or where?

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We're, were or where?Homonyms (words that soundalike but which have different meanings) cause much misunderstanding amongstthose learning the language. They should be familiar to native speakers, butseem to confuse a lot of folk. Here are some suggestions to help in rememberingthe correct usage for each.
'We're' is a contractionof the phrase 'We are.' If the phrase can be used in place of the word, thenthis is the one you need.'We're (we are) all goingto march on Parliament to protest about the way MPs have been making fraudulentclaims for living expenses.'
'Were' is the past tenseof 'are' and is used to describe something that has happened in the past.'We were going to theHouses of Parliament to protest, but we are now going to the pub instead.'
'Where' is a locationalterm, in common with 'here' and 'there'. It can be used in a question about thelocation of something or it can identify the placing of a person or object.'Where are the houses ofParliament?' 'Here they are; on the banks of the Thames, in London.''The Houses of Parliamentare where British MPs sit to make laws intended to keep them in power and positionsof privilege.'
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Published on October 16, 2011 07:30
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