Concept 6

Choose correct word forms (affect/effect, its/it’s, their/there/they’re) in context.

Core Idea

Near-match word forms can look interchangeable, but context decides which one actually fits the sentence.

Understanding

Rule: These questions reward part-of-speech awareness. Ask whether the sentence needs a possessive, a contraction, a noun, or a verb before you look at what sounds familiar.

  • Then use the nearby words as clues. A noun after the blank often points to a possessive form, while a verb after the blank may call for a contraction.

Step by Step

  1. Decide what grammatical job the blank has to do in that sentence.
  2. Use the word immediately after the blank for clues about whether you need a possessive, contraction, noun, or verb.
  3. Choose by meaning and grammar, not by sound alone.

Misconceptions

  • Choosing between sound-alike options only by pronunciation.
  • Confusing a possessive form such as "its" with a contraction such as "it's."
Question

Worked Example

Which choice best completes the sentence?

"The robotics club recalibrated the sensor after noticing that _____ readings kept drifting during the test run."

Select an answer to see the explanation