1.
This is probably the __________ dress in the store.
Correct Answer
B. Fanciest
Explanation
"Fancy" is an adjective ending in -y, therefore to form the superlative (comparing the dress to all other dresses), we:
* change the -y to an "i"
* add -est
2.
Uncle Bob is really __________ man.
Correct Answer
A. A sweet old
Explanation
Rule 1: Cumulative adjectives
"Sweet" describes the "old man", so the two adjectives are working together to describe the noun. We do not use a comma to separate cumulative adjectives.
(We do use a comma with coordinate adjectives, which each separately describe the noun.)
Rule 2: Adjective order (determiner, opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose)
So "sweet" (opinion) comes before "old" (age).
3.
They grew up in __________ house in the country.
Correct Answer
B. A comfortable little
Explanation
Rule 1: Cumulative adjectives
"comfortable" describes the "little house", so the two adjectives are working together to describe the noun. We do not use a comma to separate cumulative adjectives.
(We do use a comma with coordinate adjectives, which each separately describe the noun.)
Rule 2: Adjective order (determiner, opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose)
So "comfortable" (opinion) comes before "little" (size).
4.
Avatar is the ___________ movie I've ever seen.
Correct Answer
C. Most exciting
Explanation
"Excited" (past participle adjective) refers to the feeling a person has. "Exciting" (present participle adjective) refers to the thing that makes a person feel this way.
"Exciting" is a two-syllable adjective (does not end in -y), therefore to form the superlative (comparing the movie to all other movies), we use "most".
5.
Of all of the accountants in the company, Norman is surely the __________.
Correct Answer
C. Least competent
Explanation
"Competent" is a two syllable adjective (does not end in -y), therefore to form the superlative (comparing the accountant to all other employees), we:
* use "most" for the positive superlative (much, more, most)
* use "least" for the negative superlative (little, less, least)
6.
Check the box next to each correct answer.
For the last ten years, Jack and I __________ for the same hockey team.
Correct Answer(s)
B. Have played
D. Have been playing
Explanation
Both present perfect (simple) and present perfect continuous can be used to indicate an situation that started in the past, continues up until present and likely into the future.
We need to use the correct subject-verb agreement. "Jack and I" (we) is plural, so we conjugate the verb accordingly: "have", not "has".
7.
Check the box next to each correct answer.
Jack is a better player than I am, but recently he __________ some trouble with his left knee.
Correct Answer(s)
C. Has had
D. Has been having
Explanation
Both present perfect (simple) and present perfect continuous can be used to indicate an situation that started in the past, continues up until present and likely into the future. We do not use present simple or past simple.
We need to use the correct subject-verb agreement. "Jack" (he) is singular, so we conjugate the verb accordingly: "has", not "have".
8.
Now he __________ it difficult to play a full game.
Correct Answer
B. Finds
Explanation
"Now" tells us this is a current situation, so we need to use the present simple tense.
We need to use the correct subject-verb agreement. "Jack" (he) is third person singular, so we conjugate the verb accordingly: "finds", not "find".
9.
Neither of us __________ able to predict the outcome of today's game.
Correct Answer
A. Was
Explanation
We need to use the correct subject-verb agreement. "Neither" (not one of us) is singular, so we conjugate the verb accordingly: "was", not "were".
10.
Most of the milk __________ gone bad, but two litres of milk __________ still in the fridge.
Correct Answer
D. Has... are
Explanation
We need to use the correct subject-verb agreement.
"Milk" is uncountable, so we conjugate the verb for singular: "has", not "have".
"Litres" is countable and plural, so we conjugate the verb accordingly: "are", not "is".
11.
I can't find my glasses so I think I'll have __________ replaced.
Correct Answer
B. Them
Explanation
"It" is a singular object pronoun; "them" is a plural object pronoun.
Although glasses are one item, they are considered grammatically plural.
"These" is a plural demonstrative pronoun for items close to the speaker.
"That" is a singular demonstrative pronoun for items far from the speaker.
12.
Do you want this juice; I don't like _____ taste.
Correct Answer
A. Its
Explanation
"It's" is the contracted form of "it is".
"Its" is the possessive adjective/possessive pronoun.
13.
_____ up to you.
Correct Answer
A. It's
Explanation
"It's" is the contracted form of "it is".
"Its" is the possessive adjective/possessive pronoun.
14.
I went to my _________ office, but she was out to lunch.
Correct Answer
C. Boss's
Explanation
The possessive form of a singular noun takes: 's
The possessive form of a plural noun takes an apostrophe after the -s.
15.
We looked for our _________ cars, but they had not arrived yet.
Correct Answer
D. Bosses'
Explanation
The possessive form of a singular noun takes: 's
The possessive form of a plural noun takes an apostrophe after the -s.
16.
_________ are no excuses for arriving late.
Correct Answer
B. There
Explanation
"They're" is the contracted form of "They are."
"Their" is a plural possessive adjective.
"There" is an adverb, and is also used as a dummy subject.
17.
_________ expected to arrive at 12:00.
Correct Answer
A. They're
Explanation
"They're" is the contracted form of "They are."
"Their" is a plural possessive adjective.
"There" is an adverb, and is also used as a dummy subject.
18.
_________ expected arrival time is 12:00.
Correct Answer
C. Their
Explanation
"They're" is the contracted form of "They are."
"Their" is a plural possessive adjective.
"There" is an adverb, and is also used as a dummy subject.
19.
Check the box next to each correct answer.
These factors __________ our decisions.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Influence
D. Have an influence on
Explanation
We use the dependent preposition "on" when "influence" is used as a noun. We do not use the preposition when "influence" is used as a verb.