Prepositions
Grammar 1
Grammar 2
Grammar 3
Writing
Miscellaneous
Facts about America
100
What is the missing preposition in the following sentence: "The party starts ____ 7:00 p.m."
The missing preposition is "at." We use "at" when referencing specific times.
100
What do we call a sentence that lacks a subject or a verb or is not a complete thought?
Every English sentence must have a subject and a verb. It must also express a complete thought. If a sentence lacks a subject or a verb or is not a complete thought, it is called a fragment.
100
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
A) I am living here since 2020.
B) I live here since 2020.
C) I have lived here since 2020.
D) I was live here since 2020.
C) I have lived here since 2020.
100
What is the correct article for the word missing in this sentence:
"He brought ___ umbrella because it was raining."
The correct article is "an." We use "an" instead of "a" because the next word, umbrella, begins with a vowel sound.
100
The first and most important sentence in a paragraph is called what?
The topic sentence is the first and most important sentence in a paragraph because it tells the reader what the paragraph is discussing.
100
What do we call a word that is similar in meaning to another word, such as "mad" and "angry?"
A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as another word. They help us say the same thing in different ways. They make speaking and writing more interesting.
100
What is the capital of the United States?
The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C.
200
What is the missing preposition in the following sentence: "My birthday is ___ September 28th."
The missing preposition is "on." We use the preposition "on" when referencing days of the week, such as "on Thursday" or when referencing a specific date, such as "My birthday is on September 28th."
200
Connect the following two sentences with an appropriate conjunction: "Richard likes tea." "Richard prefers coffee."
Several possibilities exist. For example:
Although Richard likes tea, he prefers coffee.
Richard likes tea, but he prefers coffee.
200
What is the correct verb tense for the word missing in this sentence:
"Sarah (eat) _____________ breakfast at 6:00 every day."
The correct verb tense is "eats." This is the simple present tense, which is used to discuss things that are always true and habits.
200
What is the correct verb tense for the word missing in this sentence:
"Be quiet! The baby sleep ___________!"
The correct verb tense is "is sleeping." This is the present continuous tense which is used for things that are happening now.
200
There are three types of sentences in a paragraph. Name them.
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentences
200
What do we call a word that is opposite in meaning to another word, such as "cold" and "hot?"
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
200
What is the American holiday that celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. It announced the separation of 13 British North American colonies from Great Britain. We celebrate this day on Independence Day, which is on July 4th every year.
300
Correct the following sentence: "The lamp is sitting in the table which is under the couch."
The prepositions "in" and "under" are incorrect. The correct sentence is "the lamp is sitting ON the table which is NEXT TO (or beside) the couch."
300
Choose the correct sentence:
A) She suggested to go to the market.
B) She suggested going to the market.
C) She suggested go to the market.
D) She suggested gone to the market.
B: She suggested going to the market.
300
Correct this sentence:
"I'm here since two hours."
The correct sentence is "I've been here for two hours."
300
Fill in the missing word with the appropriate infinitive or gerund:
"I would really like ________(take) a break."
"I would really like to take a break." This is an infinitive and follows the pattern of verb + infinitive. We use an infinitive after verbs such as agree, decide, need, wait, want, and would like.
300
Which sentence is the best topic sentence for a paragraph about learning English?
A) I study English on Monday and Wednesday.
B) Many people around the world speak English.
C) Learning English can open up many opportunities.
D) English grammar has many confusing rules.
C) Learning English can open up many opportunities.
This sentence tells the reader the subject of the paragraph.
300
Define an "idiom" and provide an example.
An idiom is a word or expression with a separate meaning that is not obvious from the individual words. Examples include: "It's raining cats and dogs," "break the ice," "hit the nail on the head," "spill the beans," and " let the cat out of the bag."
300
What is the popular American sport that is played with a bat and a ball and is known as "America’s pastime."
Baseball.
400
What are the missing prepositions in the following sentence: "___ the weekend, I will be ___ the bar ___ Chicago."
The correct sentence is "ON the weekend, I will be AT the bar IN Chicago.
ON is a preposition of time.
AT and IN are prepositions of place.
400
What do we call a common error made by joining two simple sentences with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction?
This is a comma splice. A common mistake is to join two simple sentences with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction.
400
Fill in the missing word with the appropriate gerund or infinitive:
"You should consider ______ (apply) for a promotion."
"You should consider applying for a promotion." Applying is a gerund and follows the pattern of verb + gerund. We use a gerund after verbs such as enjoy, discuss, finish, recommend, and consider.
400
Fill in the missing word in this sentence:
"I plan on ____ (get) a better job soon."
"I plan on getting a better job soon." We use a gerund (verb + ing) after a preposition.
400
To avoid a run-on sentence, sentences should be limited to how many separate thoughts?
To avoid a run-on sentence, it is safe to limit your sentence to no more than three thoughts.
Example: "I went home, fed the cat, and got ready for bed."
400
What is the name of the football team that represents the Washington, D.C. area?
The team name is the "Commanders."
400
What is a popular American food that is often eaten at barbeques and baseball games and is usually served in a bun with ketchup or mustard?
Hot dog
500
Fill in the missing prepositions: "___ 7 a.m., she arrived __ the city. She rode ___ the subway, and met her friend ___ noon."
The correct sentence is "AT 7 a.m., she arrived IN the city. She rode ON the subway, and met her friend AT noon."
at 7 a.m. (preposition of time)
in the city (preposition of place)
on the subway (preposition of place)
at noon (preposition of time)
500
What do we call a common error made by joining multiple thoughts in one sentence that is too long?
This is a run-on sentence that happens when two sentences are joined together incorrectly, without punctuation or a connecting word, or when too many thoughts are put into one very long sentence.
500
Using the words or phrases below, write a sentence using the present perfect or the simple past:
since he began the job / He / happy / not / be
He has not been happy since he began the job.
500
Fill in the missing words in this sentence:
"The crime rate in my neighborhood is _____ (alarm) and I am ______ (worry) about the future."
"The crime rate in my neighborhood is alarming and I am worried about the future." These are participial adjectives. An adjective ending in "ing" describes the thing that causes the feeling and an adjective ending in "ed" describes how a person feels.
500
What is a complex sentence? Provide an example.
A complex sentence contains both a dependent and an independent clause. There are many examples such as "Although I left the house on time, I was late due to a traffic accident."
500
Name three synonyms for the word "cold."
Possible synonyms for the word "cold":
chilly, freezing, icy, frosty, cool, frigid, nippy, bitter, wintry, raw, brisk, chilled, polar, snowy, coolish
500
What is the most watched American sporting event of the year that is held on a Sunday in February?
The Super Bowl
600
Fill in the missing prepositions: "We met ___ noon ___ Saturday ___ the park ___ the fountain."
"We met at noon on Saturday in the park near (or by or in front of or beside) the fountain."
Prepositions of time: AT noon, ON Saturday
Prepositions of place: IN the park, NEAR the fountain
600
Identify an article, noun, pronoun, verb, preposition, and adjective in the following sentence: "She found a small cat hiding under the porch."
She - Pronoun Found / Hiding - Verb
A / The - Article Small - Adjective
Cat / Porch - Noun Under - Preposition
600
Identify an article, noun, pronoun, verb, preposition, and adjective in the following sentence: "The small cat followed her under the old table."
Article: The Adjective: small, old
Noun: cat, table Pronoun: her
Verb: followed Preposition: under
Adjective: old
600
Fill in the missing words in this sentence:
"I wish I ______ (have) a car" and I wish _____ (can) drive to work."
"I wish I had a car and I wish I could drive to work." To talk about things we want to be true in the present, we use "wish + past tense" ("wish I had"). To talk about things we would like to be true in the future, we use "wish + would/could + present tense verb" ("wish there would be").
600
Fill in the blanks: To satisfy the rubric requirement for low intermediate English students, a writing assessment for students in level 4.1 should contain at least ___ sentences. For level 4.2 students, a writing assessment should contain at least ___ sentences.
To satisfy the rubric requirement for low intermediate English students, a writing assessment for students in level 4.1 should contain at least 8 (EIGHT) sentences. For level 4.2 students, a writing assessment should contain at least 10 (TEN) sentences.
600
Name four antonyms for the word "big."
Possible antonyms for the word "big" include:
small, tiny, little, mini, miniature, petite, minor, compact
600
Name one U.S. state that borders Canada.
Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are all states that share a border with Canada.