*Adapted
from English Exercises: English as a Foreign Language by Angela
Paratore.
1. The –s ending
The correct forms of the
words follow.
a. five thousand dollars b. several months c. two hundred
d. some shoe polish e. one of the most
beautiful cities
f. a lot of g.
one and a half years h. one of the
things
i. a few tables j.
a year and a half
2. Articles
The correct articles are
in parentheses.
a. Can you tell me where (blank)
b. (The) steak we ate was
very good.
c. (blank)
d. (The)
e. Tell me (the) story of
your life.
f. He was (a) very nice
teacher.
g. We have (blank) plenty
of food.
h. I’ll wait (a) few
minutes.
i. At (blank) first I was
homesick.
j. We had (a) wonderful
time.
3.
This/that/these/those
The correct word is in
parentheses.
a. Can you pass me (that)
book? b. Can you pass me
(those) books?
c. (That) bread was
delicious. d. (This)
bread is delicious.
e. Did you make (these)
cookies here? f. Did you make (those)
cookies there?
g. (This) dog here is
vicious. h. (That)
dog there is friendly.
i. Who owns (these) shoes
here? j. Are (those) your
shoes over there?
4. Word Order
The words in parentheses
are at the proper place in each sentence.
a. He has (a violin
lesson) every week.
b. Two (other) people were
there as well.
c. The children received
presents (from them).
d. I enjoyed seeing those
things (very much).
e. I have been attending
(some extra classes) these days.
f. We spent (the whole
day) there.
g. We have (many fine
beaches) in my country.
h. The sky is gray (almost
all the time).
i. He (always) used to
come and see us.
j. He has a (very large)
family.
5. Verbs
The proper form of the
verbs are in parentheses.
a. I (left) my job when I
came here.
b. I don’t know if I will
like winter because I (have never seen) a winter here.
c. American movies (do not
always represent) a true picture of American life.
d. Since that time I (have
been) living in an apartment.
e. I (have made/ will
make) many friends during this semester.
f. On our last trip to
Paris we (stayed) three days.
g. When I decided to come
to the United States I (was) afraid when I (thought) that I (would have to)
speak English all the time.
h. Tell me some
experiences that you (have had) since you arrived here.
i. In your last letter you
(asked) me when I (am coming) to see you again.
j. We (have never
disagreed) since I have known her.
6. Prepositions
The correct prepositions
are in parentheses.
a. (on) the night of
February 12 b. I usually study (at) night.
c. Did you attend (blank)
that meeting? d. Her birthday is (in)
April.
e. the best (in) the world f. Her voice
appeals (to) me.
g. (in) the third year h.
I was impressed (by) its beauty.
i. She is excited (about)
going to California. j. (in) 1935
7. No, not
The correct form is in
parentheses.
a. There’s (no) place like
home. b. I have (not =
haven’t) seen her anywhere.
c. There is (not = isn’t)
much time. d. There’s (no) time.
e. (Not) all the students
are going. f. (not) yet
g. (Not) so fast! h.
There are (no) students there.
i. There is (no)
possibility that it will happen.
j. It’s (not) possible
that it will happen.
8. Interrogative words
The correct interrogative
word is in parentheses.
a. John (who) b. John’s (whose) c. in the drawer (where)
d. the last one (which) e.
tomorrow (when) f. because I have
to study (why)
g. in the air (where) h. backwards (how) i. mine (whose)
j. by working hard (how)
9. Pronouns
The correct forms of we,
you, and they are in parentheses.
a. (our, your, their)
customs b. for (us,
you, them)
c. The house is (ours,
yours, theirs). d. It belongs to
(us, you, them).
e. (We, you, they) live in
that house.
The correct forms of she,
he, and I are in parentheses.
f. with (her, him, me) g. (her, his,
my) friend
h. That is (her, his, my)
car. i. (she, he, I)
own(s) the car.
j. for (her, him, me)
The correct pronoun is in
italics.
k. (people) their
political ideas l.
(library) the first of its kind
m. (my city) its
climate n. (boys) their
girlfriends
o. (my family) I promised
to write them often.
10. Some, any, no,
every in compound words
The correct word is in
italics.
a. I understood nothing
at all. b. Jim
understood everything (all)
c. Is everybody
invited? (all) d. anyone
can go (indiff.)
e. Nobody was at
the house. (neg.) f. There is nothing
left. (neg.)
g. anybody
(indiff.) h.
somebody has taken my book.
i. Is something
missing? j.
There isn’t anything wrong with it.
11. What’s wrong?
The corrected portion is
in parentheses.
a. No one (may be)
admitted.
b. It is one of the best
(high schools in) my country.
c. That was (the first time
I saw) Niagara Falls.
d. I (haven’t seen) him
since October.
e. I don’t feel well, but
this (doesn’t mean) that I am sick.
f. I see now (how)
different American food is (from) ours.
g. I was (amazed) to see
the winter sports here.
h. The thing that surprised
me (blank) was the tall buildings.
i. My sister lives (in
another city).
j. (most of) the
inhabitants
k. the people (who) were
there
l. (Most houses) are made
of wood.
m. the man (in whose
restaurant I used to work)
n. She (can speak/speaks)
English very well.
o. I (hoped) I could see
it again.
p. the (best) university
in my country
q. Foreigners are people
who (come) from other countries.
r. three times (a day)
s. He (told me to come)
back later.
t. I enjoyed (the vacation anyway).