Grammar-Quizzes.com

Accept / Except

Accept / Except: Is the action one of approving or rejecting? (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Accept v. Except
• Accept – Other Meanings
• Except – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1
• Practice 2

They accepted my 40% off coupon when I bought my TV.  (They agreed to take it.)

They excepted televisions on the back of the 40% off coupon. (TVs weren't included in the coupon offer.)

Affect / Effect

Affect / Effect: Is it the cause or result?  (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Affect v. Effect
• Affect – Effect Verbs
• Affect – Other Meanings
• Effect – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice
   

Seeing thin models affects a young girl's self image.

An emotional effect may be self-hate or anorexia (not eating).  (result)

Another/ The other

Another/ The other: Is it one more or the rest? (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Another / Other
• Common Mistakes
• Any v. Any other
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice

She ate one.  (a cookie)

Then she ate another.  (one more)

Then she ate the others.  (the rest)

Because / Though

Because/Though: Is it an expected or contrary outcome?  (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Because/Though
• Transition words
• Adverbial prepositions
• Clause/Noun Phrase
• Punctuation
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
• Practice 3 – multiple choice
   

He wore his winter pants because it was snowing.
Schools were closed because of the snow.
It was snowing.  For this reason, the schools were closed.

He was biking in his shorts though it was snowing.
The schools were open in spite of the cold temperature.
It was snowing.  Nevertheless, the schools were open.

During / In

"During" vs. "in": Is it and activity with duration or an exact time (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• During – Period of Time
• During – Duration
• In – Exact Time
• Verbs for Duration
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice
   

We are on vacation during July.
We went to the beach several times in our stay.
They are on vacation in July.
*They stayed there during July, not during May.

Indeed / Even

Indeed / Even:  emphasizing unexpected or extraordinary details  (Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Indeed
• In Fact
• Even/Even though
• Even if/Even though
• Common Mistakes
• Punctuation
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
• Practice 3 – multiple choice
   

His work is indeed more amazing than before
His work is in fact more amazing than before
His work is even more amazing than before

For / Since

For/ Since: Indicating a quantity of time vs. a specific time (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• For v. Since
• Quantity of Time Expressions
• For– Additional Meanings
• Since – Meanings
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
   

We have been coming to this beach for fifteen years.

We have been coming to this beach since July, 1995.

Fewer / Less

Fewer / Less:  decreasing the amount of something (Beg.-Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Fewer (count) / Less (noncount)
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice
   

*Do you want fewer lines and wrinkles on your face?
fewer lines and wrinkles  / less wrinkling

*Less people are able to find help.

If / In Case

If / In Case: stating a conditioned vs. a precautionary action (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Condition v. Precaution
• Tense Agreement
• Commas
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
   

Keep some extra batteries and bottled water In case there is an earthquake.
Get away from falling objects if there is an earthquake.

If only / Only If

If only / Only if: Is it a regretful wish or a particular condition? (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Only If
• Only If / If Only

Also see:  Wish / If only
 

If only  I had more time!

Only if  you dry your dishes with a towel, will they be spotless! (word order change)

If / Unless

If / Unless: expressing a specific condition for an outcome (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• If / Unless
• Commas
• Tense Agreement
• Connectors – Condition v. Outcome
• Only If
• Only If / If Only
• Even if / Whether
• Practice – multiple choice

If you cook your turkey like this, you will have a tender turkey.
(if this condition is met)
Only if you cook your turkey like this, will you have a delicious dinner.
(under this condition - emphasizes this specific condition) .
Unless you cook your turkey like this, you will have a tough turkey.
(if this condition is not met)
Cook your turkey like this. Otherwise, you will have a tough turkey.
(if using other methods)

If / Whether

If / Whether:  is it a condition or an alternative? (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Condition v. Alternative
• Two Alternative Options
• Whether after Prepositions
• Whether before Infinitives
• I don't know if/whether
• Formal / Informal
• Initial Sent. Position
• Practice – multiple choice
   

I don't know if my cell phone will work here.
I don't know whether my cell phone will work here.
I don't know whether my cell phone will work if I use it here.
       (alternative - whether or not)                           (condition)

Lie / Lay

Lie / Lay:  Who is lying down – the subject or the object? (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Lie v. Lay
• Lie – Other Meanings
• Tell a Lie
• Lay – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
       

The baby is lying on the couch.

I am laying the baby down for a nap.

Like / As

Like / As:   Are you comparing something to a noun or to a clause? (Int.-Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Like v. As
• Like – Other Meanings
• As – Other Meanings
• Common Mistake
• Practice – multiple choice

My brother is like me.  (prep.)
My brother thinks as I do. (conj.)

He's smart like a fox.  (prep.)
He is as smart as a fox .  (idioms)

Little / Few

Little / Few: indicating insufficient quantity for count and noncount nouns (Beg.–Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Little / A Little
• Little / Few
• A little / A few
• Sufficient vs. Insufficient
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – select all
• Practice 3 – select all
   

Few people can give to food programs this year.
A few people will work with food programs.

Little water is in my glass. (not much)
A little water is in my glass.  (enough)

Loose / Lose

Loose / Lose: is it not fastened or gone??  (Beg.–Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Loose v. Lose
• Loose – Other Meanings
• Loosen – Other Meanings
• Lose – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – correct / incorrect
• Practice 2 – fill in paragraph

Sophie's tooth is loose.  (not securely fastened)
Sophie will lose her tooth in a day or so.  (become unattached)
Sophie is loosening her tooth with her finger.

Make/ Do

Make / Do: Is the action "creating" or "performing"?  (Beg.–Adv. ESL)

• Make v. Do
• Make – Other Meanings
• Do – Other Meanings
• Make / Do Causative
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice

She is making a cake.  (is creating, preparing)
He is doing the dishes.  (is washing)

He is making travel plans.  (is arranging)
He is doing the accounts.  (performing the accounting job)

Do me a favor?

Quantity Phrases

Quantity Phrases: indicating how much or how many (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Quantifier / Phrase Noun
• Quantifier – every, each any, none
• Phrase Noun – several, some, half, a number of
• A half/Half a
• Negatives
• Each/Each of
• A number/The number of
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – select all
• Practice 3 – select all
   

Each of the kids knows the answer.

Most of the kids know the answer.
Most of the class knows the answer.

A number of kids know the answer.
The number of kids is ten.

Much / Many

Much/ Many: indicating quantity for count and noncount nouns (Beg. – Int. ESL)

• Much/Many Ques & Neg.
• Much/Many Pos. Statement
• Much of / Many of
• So Much/So Many
• Much More/Much Many
• So Much/Such
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – select all
• Practice 3 – select all
   

Not many good snacks are in the refrigerator.
Not much junk food is in the refrigerator.

Are there many good snacks in the refrigerator?
Is there much junk food in the refrigerator?

There are many good snacks in the refrigerator. (ok)
*There is much food in the refrigerator. (awkward)

Much / More

Much / More: increasing the amount of something (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Much/ Many More
• Too Much / Too Many
• Much More + Adj
• Much / Far – Too –  a bit too, rather too
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice

People have much more knowledge about eating right.
Many more people are eating healthier diets.

People eat too much fat, sugar and salt.
People eat too many chips, cookies and candy bars.

He is much too old for her. 
She is far too young for him.
 

Rise / Raise

Rise / Raise: Who or what is rising – the subject or the object? (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Rise v. Raise
• Rise – Other Meanings
• Raise – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – rise or raise

The sun rises at 6:00 a.m. 
We raise the flag up the pole at 6:00 a.m.

The rise of the middle class was easy to predict.
My grandparents raised me. (fostered)

Did you get a raise?

Say / Tell

Say / Tell:  Are you quoting or reporting? (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Say v. Tell
• Say – Other Meanings
• Tell – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – say or tell
   

She said, "Hello, I am the your guide".  (quoted speech)
She told us that she was our guide.  (indirect speech)

She said "Follow me."  (request / command)
She told us to follow her.  (request / command)

Sit / Set

Sit / Set:  Who/What is sitting – the subject or the object? (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Sit v. Set
• Sit – Other Meanings
• Set – Other Meanings
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1– multiple choice (transitive v. intransitive)
• Practice 2– multiple choice
     

My dog is sitting by the door.   (no object)

The woman is setting the pup next to its mother.  (requires an object)

So phrases

"So" Phrases: expressing purpose, cause-effect, or result (Int.– Adv. ESL, Native Speaker)

• So that/so…that
• Because/So
• Punctuation
• so…could
• So expressions
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
• Practice 3 – multiple choice
   

The baby reached up so that he could get some candy.

He has to pull down on the lever in order to get some candy to come out.

The baby got nothing, so he cried.

Some / Any

Some / Any: referring to an indefinite quantity or number (Beg. ESL)

• Some/ Any
• Expressing Doubt
• Interpreting an Offer
• Indefinite Pronouns
• A Vague One
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice

I'd like some tea.
I didn't get any tea.

Would you like some / any tea?

I doubt that there are any oranges here.
Not one of the shops has any tea.
I don't think that any oranges are left.

—What kind of tea is it? 
—I don't know… some tea he bought last week.

There / Their

There / Their: indicating location, existence or possession (Beg.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• There v. Their
• They're v. Their
• There – Exists / Location
• Theirs v. There's
• Common Mistakes
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – correct/incorrect 
• Practice 3 – edit
   

Each week there is an event. location
Chefs prepare gourmet food-to-go. Their menus vary.

There's a new way to order lunch.

Used to / Be used to

Use to / Be used to: Is it a former habit or a habit you are becoming accustomed to? (Beg.–Int. ESL)

• Used to – Be used to
• Used to – Examples
• Be used to – Examples
• Common Mistakes
• Practice – multiple choice 
  

We used to go camping every spring.  (We would go camping every spring).

We are used to going camping every spring.  (We do it often.)

When / While

When/While: joining clauses with same-time activity (Int. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Same-time Events — when, while
• Punctuation
• Common Mistake
• Practice – multiple choice
   

When you called, he picked up his cell phone.
While he was talking on the phone, the baby slept.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs: using verbal expressions made up of verbs and prepositions (Beg.– Adv. ESL, Native Speakers)

• Adverb v. Phrasal Verb
• Separable v. Inseparable
• Phrasal Verb Grid
• Phrasal Verb List
• Do–
• Get–
• Go–
• Have–
• Make–
• Take–
• Think–
• Practice 1 – multiple choice
• Practice 2 – multiple choice
   

Look up. 
Look up the word in the dictionary.

He took his coat off.
He took off his coat. 
The airplane took off.