Quiz · Easy
Their/there/they're, affect/effect, who/whom, lie/lay, subject-verb agreement, comma splices and dangling modifiers. Quick practice for school, the SAT and ACT, and everyday writing.
The dog wagged ___ tail.
it's
its
its'
it is
Its (no apostrophe) is possessive. It's always means 'it is' or 'it has.' Its' is never correct.
___ going to the store after school.
Their
There
They're
Theyre
They're = they are. Their shows possession (their car), and there refers to a place or 'there is.'
The new medicine had a strong ___ on her.
affect
effect
effects
affection
Effect is usually a noun (the result). Affect is usually a verb (to influence). Here we need a noun after 'a strong.'
How will the new schedule ___ your plans?
effect
affects
affect
effecting
A verb is needed after 'will,' so affect. Trick: Affect = Action, Effect = End result.
She is taller ___ her brother.
then
than
that
as
Than compares; then refers to time ('first this, then that').
Which supermarket sign is grammatically correct?
10 items or less
10 items or lesser
10 items or fewer
10 items or little
Fewer goes with things you can count (items); less goes with amounts you cannot count (less water, less time). Many real signs get this wrong.
To ___ should I address the letter?
whom
who
whose
who's
Whom is an object (here of 'to'). Test: answer with he/him. 'Address it to him' → whom. If 'he' fits, use who.
Neither the teacher nor the students ___ ready for the fire drill.
was
is
has been
were
With neither/nor and either/or, the verb agrees with the closer subject: 'students' is plural → were.
Each of the players ___ a new uniform.
has
have
are having
were having
'Each' is the singular subject; 'of the players' is just a prepositional phrase. Each... has.
Just between you and ___, the test was easy.
me
I
myself
mine
'Between' is a preposition, so it takes object pronouns: between you and me. 'Between you and I' is a common hypercorrection.
___ and I went to the movies.
Him
Me
He
Himself
The subject needs subject pronouns. Drop the other person to check: 'He went' (not 'Him went').
Which sentence is a comma splice?
I was tired, I went to bed.
I was tired, so I went to bed.
I was tired; I went to bed.
Because I was tired, I went to bed.
A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix it with a conjunction (, so), a semicolon, a period, or by making one clause dependent.
Which sentence fixes the dangling modifier in 'Walking to school, the rain soaked me'?
Walking to school, the rain soaked me badly.
Walking to school, my clothes were soaked by the rain.
The rain, walking to school, soaked me.
Walking to school, I got soaked by the rain.
The person doing the walking must come right after the modifier. In the original, the rain is walking to school. 'My clothes' also cannot walk.
I'm going to ___ down for a nap.
lay
lain
laid
lie
Lie = recline (no object). Lay = put something down (needs an object: lay the book down). You lie down; you lay a book down.
Yesterday she ___ the book on the table.
lay
lied
laid
lain
She put an object down, so the verb is lay; its past tense is laid. Confusingly, 'lay' is also the past tense of lie (recline).
The blue scarf ___ her eyes perfectly.
compliments
compliment
complement's
complements
Complement = complete or go well with. Compliment = praise. A scarf cannot praise anyone.
The school ___ announced a new phone policy.
principle
principal
principals'
principles
Principal = the head of a school (or 'main'). Principle = a rule or belief. Memory trick: the principal is your pal.
Twelve students left their backpacks in the hall. The ___ backpacks were piled by the door.
student's
students
students'
students's
For a plural noun ending in -s, add only an apostrophe: students'. Student's would mean one student.
Which sentence is correct?
I could of gone to the party.
I could have gone to the party.
I could've went to the party.
I could had gone to the party.
'Could of' comes from mishearing 'could've.' After could/should/would, use have plus the past participle (gone, not went).
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
I have a test tomorrow; so I can't go out.
I have a test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
I have; a test tomorrow.
Because I have a test tomorrow; I can't go out.
A semicolon joins two complete, closely related sentences. It should not come before a coordinating conjunction like 'so,' or after a dependent clause.
