Download 1 Two, Too, and To! Which one should I use? HOMOPHONES Two

Two, Too, and To! Which one should I use?
HOMOPHONES
Two, too, and to are homophones that are frequently mixed up. Homophones
are words that sound alike but have different meanings and are spelled
differently. To remember the term, homophone, think telephone! (Phone is a
Greek word meaning sound.) If you really want to remember the term and don’t
mind a puppet doing the singing, go to this link and listen to the Homophones
Song (it’s really cute): http://pbskids.org/lions/videos/homophones.html
TWO
Two is usually the easiest of the three words to keep straight. Two is a number,
as in “one, two, three…” For example, you might notice that your patient takes
two medications with his breakfast. If you can put the number 2 in the sentence,
then use the spelling: two.
My patient takes two (2) medications at breakfast, a vitamin and a heart
medication.
TOO
Too is an adverb that can mean also:
My patient, Mrs. Baker, wants to go for a walk, too.
Too is an adverb that can mean more than enough or excessive:
The walk might be too much for Mrs. Baker.
TO
To is used in 2 (or two) ways!
To show direction: Mrs. Baker walked with the group to the park.
As part of a verb: Mrs. Baker decided to read rather than to walk.
Basically, you use “to" when the word you are looking for is not a number and
does not mean also or more than enough.
For more practice: (Answers listed on page 2)
1.
a.
b.
c.
There were _____ patients that needed to have blood drawn this morning.
two
too
to
2.
a.
b.
c.
We usually go _____ the movies on the weekends.
two
too
to
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3.
a.
b.
c.
The test question was _____ hard for some of us to answer.
two
too
to
4.
a.
b.
c.
My best subject in school is math but I’m good at writing, _____.
two
too
to
5. Many of the students would like _____ become a health care provider, like a
nurse, an occupational therapist or a respiratory therapist.
a. two
b. too
c. to
6.
a.
b.
c.
I don’t have _____ much time for housework when I am preparing for a test.
two
too
to
7.
a.
b.
c.
The easiest way _____ get directions is by using Mapquest.com.
two
too
to
8. When I have difficulty doing assignments, I make an appointment ____ visit
my professor.
a. two
b. too
c. to
9. I am an auditory learner so it is helpful _____ study in a small group after
class.
a. two
b. too
c. to
10. Do you need more practice? Try:
http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/homophones3.htm
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[Answers: 1a, 2c, 3b, 4b, 5c, 6b, 7c, 8c, 9c]
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