Homophones are words that sound the same in speech but have different spellings and meanings. In English, homophones are common because many different spellings can represent the same sounds. This module focuses on how to tell homophones apart by using meaning, grammar, and typical sentence patterns rather than pronunciation alone.

English spelling does not always match pronunciation, so two different spellings can produce the same spoken form. When you hear a homophone, you must choose the correct spelling based on what the sentence is about and what kind of word is needed. Listening gives you the sound, but the surrounding words tell you the role and meaning.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Description	🇨🇳 中文 描述	Notation	🇨🇳 中文 记号	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Many spellings share one sound	🔤 许多拼写对应同一发音	Different letter patterns can produce the same pronunciation, creating homophones.	🔤 不同的字母组合也能产生相同的发音，形成同音词	same pronunciation, different spelling	🔤 相同的发音，不同的拼写	meet and meat	🔤 meet 与 meat
Weak vowels increase similarity	🔤 弱元音增加相似性	Unstressed vowels often reduce to a neutral sound, making different words sound alike.	🔤 非重读元音常常简化为中性音，使不同词听起来相似	schwa in unstressed syllables	🔤 非重读音节中的 schwa	affect and effect in fast speech	🔤 fast speech 中的 affect 与 effect
Final consonants can merge	🔤 末尾辅音可能合并	Some final sounds are subtle, so words can be confused when spoken quickly.	🔤 某些末尾音很微妙，快速发音时词汇容易混淆	reduced final release	🔤 末音释放减弱	passed and past	🔤 passed 与 past

The safest way to choose among homophones is to check meaning: what is the sentence trying to say. Ask a simple question like who, what, where, or why, then pick the word that matches that idea. If you can replace the word with a synonym, that synonym can confirm which homophone you need.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
right	🧠 right	correct or a direction	🧠 correct or a direction	The answer is right.	🧠 The answer is right.
write	🧠 write	to put words on paper or a screen	🧠 to put words on paper or a screen	Please write your name.	🧠 Please write your name.
one	🧠 one	the number 1	🧠 the number 1	I have one ticket.	🧠 I have one ticket.
won	🧠 won	past tense of win	🧠 past tense of win	She won the match.	🧠 She won the match.

Homophones often belong to different parts of speech, so grammar helps you choose. Check whether the slot needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, and then pick the homophone that fits that grammatical role. Function words like articles, prepositions, and auxiliaries strongly predict what type of word comes next.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
After an article, a noun is likely	📌 冠词之后通常是名词	a piece of advice	📌 一条建议
After to plus base verb, choose a verb form	📌 加上 to 后跟随基本动词，选择一个动词形式	to write a letter	📌 to write a letter
Before a noun, an adjective is likely	📌 在名词前通常需要形容词	their car	📌 他们的车
After a subject, a verb is likely	📌 在主语之后通常需要动词	they’re leaving	📌 they’re leaving

There, their, and they’re sound alike for many speakers, but they do different jobs in a sentence. There is used for location or as an introductory word before a verb. Their shows possession, and they’re is the contraction of they are, so it must be followed by something that fits after are.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
there	📍 那里	location or introductory word	📍 位置或引导词	The keys are over there.	📍 钥匙就在那儿。
their	📍 他们的	belonging to them	📍 属于他们的	Their house is big.	📍 他们的房子很大。
they’re	📍 他们在	they are	📍 他们是	They’re ready now.	📍 他们现在准备好了。

Your and you’re are frequently confused because they share the same pronunciation in most accents. Your is a possessive determiner used before a noun, while you’re is the contraction of you are and is followed by an adjective, noun phrase, or verb form that can follow are. A quick test is to expand you’re to you are and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use your before a noun	🧩 在名词前使用你的	Your phone is ringing.	🧩 Your phone is ringing.
Use you’re for you are	🧩 将 you’re 视为你是	You’re late again.	🧩 You’re late again.
Expansion test: replace you’re with you are	🧩 展开测试：用 you are 替换你’re	You are welcome.	🧩 You are welcome.

Its and it’s are confusing because the apostrophe does not mark possession here. Its is possessive and means belonging to it, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has. If you can expand it’s to it is or it has, then the apostrophe form is correct.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use its for possession	🔎 使用 its 表示所有权	The dog wagged its tail.	🔎 The dog wagged its tail.
Use it’s for it is	🔎 使用 it’s 表示 it is	It’s cold today.	🔎 It’s cold today.
Use it’s for it has	🔎 使用 it’s 表示 it has	It’s been a long day.	🔎 It’s been a long day.

Then relates to time, sequence, or result, while than is used for comparisons. In speech they may sound similar, especially in fast conversation, but their meanings are different. Look for comparison words like more, less, -er adjectives, or phrases like rather, because those usually require than.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
then	⏳ then	time or next step	⏳ 时间或下一步	Finish, then call me.	⏳ Finish, then call me.
than	⚖️ than	comparison	⚖️ 比较	She is taller than me.	⚖️ She is taller than me.

To, too, and two are pronounced the same in many contexts, but each has a distinct function. To is most often a preposition or the marker before a base verb. Too means also or excessively, and two is the number 2, so it typically appears near countable nouns or number-related phrases.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
to	➡️ to	preposition or verb marker	➡️ 介词或动词标记	I want to go.	➡️ I want to go.
too	➕ too	also or excessively	➕ 也或过度	I want to go too.	➕ I want to go too.
2️⃣ two	2️⃣ two	2️⃣ the number 2	2️⃣ 数字 2	2️⃣ Two tickets, please.	2️⃣ Two tickets, please.

Hear is a verb connected to listening and sound, while here is an adverb connected to location. They are fully homophonous for most speakers, so spelling must come from meaning. If the sentence is about sound, choose hear; if it is about place, choose here.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
hear	👂 hear	perceive sound	👂 感知声音	Can you hear music?	👂 Can you hear music?
here	📍 here	in this place	📍 在这个位置	Put it here.	📍 Put it here.

To avoid homophone errors in writing, use a deliberate check: pause at the word, confirm its part of speech, and run a quick meaning test. Expanding contractions like they’re, you’re, and it’s often reveals mistakes immediately. Reading the sentence slowly and focusing on meaning rather than sound helps you notice when a homophone does not fit the grammar or the message.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Check part of speech before choosing spelling	📝 在选择拼写前检查词性	Their is followed by a noun: their plan	📝 Their 后面跟着一个名词：their plan
Expand contractions to confirm meaning	📝 展开缩写以确认含义	It’s raining → It is raining	📝 It’s raining → It is raining
Look for comparison signals for than	📝 查找 than 的比较信号	better than, more than	📝 better than, more than
Look for time signals for then	📝 查找时间信号用于 then	then, next, after that	📝 then, next, after that