Threw vs. Through: What’s the Difference?

The words threw and through are homophones — they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Threw → past tense of throw (an action).
• Through → shows movement from one side to another (a direction or preposition).

1. Threw: The Past Tense of “Throw”

Meaning

“Threw” means to toss, hurl, or send something through the air in the past.
It’s a verb — the past form of throw.

Examples (10 total)

1. She threw the ball to her friend.
2. He threw his jacket on the chair.
3. The child threw sand into the air.
4. They threw rocks into the lake.
5. I threw away the old magazines.
6. She threw a party for her birthday.
7. He threw a fit when he lost the game.
8. We threw all the trash into the bin.
9. The player threw the ball across the field.
10. The magician threw cards into the crowd.

🧠 Tip:
If it’s something you tossed or did, use threw.

2. Through: Movement or Completion

Meaning

“Through” means moving in one side and out the other, or finishing something completely.
It can be a preposition, adverb, or adjective.

Examples (10 total)

1. The mouse ran through the hole.
2. We drove through the tunnel.
3. He walked through the forest.
4. She looked through the window.
5. I read through the report carefully.
6. The train went through the city.
7. The sun shone through the clouds.
8. They worked through the night.
9. I’m already halfway through the book.
10. We made it through the storm safely.

🧠 Tip:
If it’s about passing across or completing something, use through.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Threw = action → you threw something.
👉 Through = direction or process → you went through something.

💡 Memory Trick:

“Threw” has an E — think “energy” to throw.
“Through” has “rough” inside — think “moving through rough things.”

5. Common Mistakes

❌ She through the ball to me.
✅ She threw the ball to me.

❌ He threw the tunnel quickly.
✅ He went through the tunnel quickly.

6. Why It’s Easy to Confuse Them

They sound identical and both appear in movement contexts, but one is about an action (threw) and the other about a path or process (through).
Even advanced writers mix them up — but Humanizey can help you correct subtle grammar mistakes like these automatically.

FAQs

1. Is “threw” a verb or noun?

It’s a verb — the past tense of throw.

2. Can “through” be used as an adjective?

Yes, like in “a through road” (meaning a road that connects two places).

3. Are they ever interchangeable?

Never. Their meanings are completely different.

4. What’s the past tense of “throw”?

It’s threw.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Threw” or “Through”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. She ___ the paper in the trash.
2. The dog ran ___ the open gate.
3. He ___ the keys across the table.
4. They walked ___ the park at sunset.
5. I ___ the ball but missed the target.
6. The bird flew ___ the window.
7. We made it ___ the hard times together.
8. The child ___ his toy on the floor.
9. He looked ___ the hole to see inside.
10. The pitcher ___ a fastball right down the middle.

Answers

1. threw
2. through
3. threw
4. through
5. threw
6. through
7. through
8. threw
9. through
10. threw