Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
Think you know your verbs and pronouns well enough? Take this English grammar quiz and find out how well you score. Illustration by Uttam Ghosh
Can you differentiate between 'Your' and 'You're'?
Is it software or softwares?
Do you pay a 'compliment' or a 'complement' to someone?
Take this quiz and tell us what you think is correct.
1. Is this sentence correct?
My aunt spends a lot of money on furnitures
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
My aunt spends a lot of money on furniture
Why:
There is no such word as furnitures. The plural of furniture is just that -- furniture. You could have several pieces of furniture in your apartment but its collective won't ever be furnitures!
Correct!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
My aunt spends a lot of money on furniture
Why:
There is no such word as furnitures. The plural of furniture is just that -- furniture. You could have several pieces of furniture in your apartment but its collective won't ever be furnitures!
Please click NEXT to proceed to the next question...
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
2. Is this sentence correct?
Its rather too cold today to go for a swim.
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
It's rather too cold today to go for a swim.
or
It is rather too cold today to go for a swim.
'Its' is a possessive pronoun which more or less refers to 'belonging to it'. For instance: 'That dog is known for its loyalty to its master.
'It's' on the other hand is a short form of sorts to the phrase 'it is' or 'it has'. The easiest test is to replace 'it's' with 'it is' or 'it has' and see if the sentence makes sense.
For instance: 'It's been the most wonderful evening'
Correct!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
It's rather too cold today to go for a swim.
or
It is rather too cold today to go for a swim.
'Its' is a possessive pronoun which more or less refers to 'belonging to it'. For instance: 'That dog is known for its loyalty to its master.
'It's' on the other hand is a short form of sorts to the phrase 'it is' or 'it has'. The easiest test is to replace 'it's' with 'it is' or 'it has' and see if the sentence makes sense.
For instance: 'It's been the most wonderful evening'
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
3. Is this sentence correct?
My pants are so loose they could fall off any moment!
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
This is a correct sentence.
Why:
'Loose' refers to something not being firmly fixed in place.
'Lose' on the other hand is the present tense of 'lost'
So if you don't take mind your loose pants, chances are you'll lose them!
Correct!
Why:
'Loose' refers to something not being firmly fixed in place.
'Lose' on the other hand is the present tense of 'lost'
So if you don't take mind your loose pants, chances are you'll lose them!
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
4. Is this sentence correct?
She and me are getting married today!
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
She and I are getting married today!
Why:
'Me' and 'I' are both personal pronouns. However 'I' is a subject pronoun. 'Me' is an object pronoun.
Other examples of subject pronouns are: he, she, we, it, they and who
Other examples of object pronouns are: me, him, her, us, them and whom
Here's how you can use them:
We went to see him at the clinic. He told them that he would be home soon
'You' can be both a subject and an object pronoun.
In this case it is a subject pronoun:
You and I must go out for a movie someday
In this case it is an object pronoun:
I love you!
Correct!
Also, the correct sentence must read as follows:
She and I are getting married today!
Why:
'Me' and 'I' are both personal pronouns. However 'I' is a subject pronoun. 'Me' is an object pronoun.
Other examples of subject pronouns are: he, she, we, it, they and who
Other examples of object pronouns are: me, him, her, us, them and whom
Here's how you can use them:
We went to see him at the clinic. He told them that he would be home soon
'You' can be both a subject and an object pronoun.
In this case it is a subject pronoun:
You and I must go out for a movie someday
In this case it is an object pronoun:
I love you!
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
5. Is this sentence correct?
Your a darling!
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
You're a darling!
Or
You are a darling!
Why:
The same logic that applied to 'its' and 'it's' applies here too.
'Your' is a possessive pronoun.
'You're' is a short form for 'you are'
To use both in a single sentence:
You're very careless about your umbrella!
Correct!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
You're a darling!
Or
You are a darling!
Why:
The same logic that applied to 'its' and 'it's' applies here too.
'Your' is a possessive pronoun.
'You're' is a short form for 'you are'
To use both in a single sentence:
You're very careless about your umbrella!
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
6. Is this sentence correct?
Mr James Britto was a very strict school principle.
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
Mr James Britto was a very strict school principal.
Here's why:
'Principal' in this case refers to the head of the institution.
'Principle' on the other hand can refer to one's ideals or a fundamental truth or law.
For instance:
I have written a book on the principles of management.
or
Mr James Britto, our school principal refused to compromise on his principles.
Correct!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
Mr James Britto was a very strict school principal.
Here's why:
'Principal' in this case refers to the head of the institution.
'Principle' on the other hand can refer to one's ideals or a fundamental truth or law.
For instance:
I have written a book on the principles of management.
or
Mr James Britto, our school principal refused to compromise on his principles.
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
7. Is this sentence correct?
He drives his bike really fast!
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
He rides his bike really fast!
This one's a common mistake many of us commit.
Why:
You drive a car but you ride a bike. That's also the reason why those who ride bikes are called riders and those who drive cars are called drivers.
The simplest way to get it right is to remember that Nicholas Cage starred in a movie called Ghost Rider (and not Ghost Driver)!
Correct!
He rides his bike really fast!
This one's a common mistake many of us commit.
Why:
You drive a car but you ride a bike. That's also the reason why those who ride bikes are called riders and those who drive cars are called drivers.
The simplest way to get it right is to remember that Nicholas Cage starred in a movie called Ghost Rider (and not Ghost Driver)!
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
8. Is this sentence correct?
I and Rajesh have been working really hard.
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
Rajesh and I have been working really hard.
Why:
Simply because 'I' must always be the last in a string of pronouns/nouns.
For instance :
Pooja, Rasesh, Priyanka and I went to the party.
not
I, Pooja, Rasesh and Priyanka went to the party.
and
She and I got married last week.
not
I and she got married last week.
Correct!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
Rajesh and I have been working really hard.
Why:
Simply because 'I' must always be the last in a string of pronouns/nouns.
For instance :
Pooja, Rasesh, Priyanka and I went to the party.
not
I, Pooja, Rasesh and Priyanka went to the party.
and
She and I got married last week.
not
I and she got married last week.
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
9. Is this sentence correct?
Ramesh paid Sunaina a lovely compliment.
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
Compliment is something nice that someone says about you (or any other person for that matter)
The ideal response to a compliment has to be 'Thank you!'
Complement is when you add or supplement something that exists already.
Merriam-Webster's first definition of it is 'something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect'.
For instance:
Uttam Ghosh's illustrations complement the text written by Rediff's journalists.
Correct!
Compliment is something nice that someone says about you (or any other person for that matter)
The ideal response to a compliment has to be 'Thank you!'
Complement is when you add or supplement something that exists already.
Merriam-Webster's first definition of it is 'something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect'.
For instance:
Uttam Ghosh's illustrations complement the text written by Rediff's journalists.
Up for a challenge? Take this English grammar quiz
Last updated on: September 25, 2013 18:53 IST
10. Is this sentence correct?
I couldn't have been more better!
Yes, it is!
No, it is not!
Wrong!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
I couldn't have been better!
Why:
'Better' is the comparative degree of 'good'; its superlative is 'best'.
Adding 'more' to 'better' is redundant… not to mention incorrect.
Correct!
No, it is not!
The correct sentence must read as follows:
I couldn't have been better!
Why:
'Better' is the comparative degree of 'good'; its superlative is 'best'.
Adding 'more' to 'better' is redundant… not to mention incorrect.
Your score is: 0
