Word Choice – Their, There, and They're

Nothing makes Diane’s cat Big Toe Joe happier than a laundry basket full of fresh warm towels. (a)   he will sleep, purring in contentment and shedding long white hair on the clean terry cloth.

• their

• there

• they're

Behind the sofa (a)   is a collection of desiccated broccoli spears that Simon, the family cocker spaniel, carries away for Noel, who cannot stomach the vegetable.

• their

• there

• they're

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—their, there, or they're. The knives in Roseanne’s kitchen are encrusted with bits of brownie and smears of dried mustard. (a)   is no way a doctor would ever consider operating with any instrument that Roseanne had washed!

• their

• there

• they're

Bentley, our neighbor’s basset hound, has toenails that are so long that (a)   curled like macaroni noodles at the ends of his paws.

• they're
• their
• there

Noel carefully sliced each Brussels sprout in half, carefully scrutinizing the heart of the little cabbage. He always worries that (a)   might be a worm buried in the middle.

• there
• their
• they're

Casey and Tamara had plenty of privacy for kissing because (a)   were six sheets drying on the clothesline in the backyard.

• there
• their
• they're

Warren hates cleaning the bathroom because his brothers always leave globs of toothpaste in the sink, and (a)   dirty underwear hangs from the doorknobs or lies in damp piles on the tile floor.

• their
• there
• they're

Raymond’s parakeets love to sit on his head; (a)   droppings litter his shoulders like flakes of dandruff.

• their
• there
• they're

After a few ineffective swipes across the kitchen floor, Kristy returned the mop to the closet. (a)   it would remain for another six months.

• there

• they're

• their

In a frenzy of packing, the Gonzalez family even boxed their poodle, Chiquita. (a)   moving into a new home tomorrow, and everything must be ready to go.

• they're
• their
• there