Fill in the blanks.
1English is ............... of the people of England.
Wrong!
Use "the language" because it identifies the specific language of the people of England.
2He is ............... .
Wrong!
Use "an American, not a European" because "American" begins with a vowel sound and "European" begins with a consonant sound.
3That was ............... stupid thing to do.
Wrong!
Use "a" before the singular countable noun phrase "stupid thing" when it is not specific.
4Ceylon is ............... island in the Indian Ocean.
Wrong!
Use "an" before "island" because it begins with a vowel sound.
5There isn’t ............... sugar left.
Wrong!
Use "any" in this negative sentence to mean no sugar at all.
6She didn’t show ............... interest in my work.
Wrong!
Use "any" in this negative sentence to mean no interest at all.
7Don’t make a noise; I need to get ............... sleep.
Wrong!
Use "some" in the positive expression "get some sleep" for an indefinite amount.
8In many parts of the world, May is ............... hottest month of the year.
Wrong!
Use "the" before the superlative phrase "hottest month".
9He spent ............... hour or so in the library.
Wrong!
Use "an" before "hour" because the initial "h" is silent.
10Yesterday I heard ............... best story I have ever heard.
Wrong!
Use "the" before the superlative phrase "best story".
11We want ............... official inquiry into the incident.
Wrong!
Use "an" before "official inquiry" because "official" begins with a vowel sound.
12That was not ............... right thing to do.
Wrong!
Use "the" in the common phrase "the right thing to do".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- English is the language of the people of England.
- He is an American, not a European .
- That was a stupid thing to do.
- Ceylon is an island in the Indian Ocean.
- There isn’t any sugar left.
- She didn’t show any interest in my work.
- Don’t make a noise; I need to get some sleep.
- In many parts of the world, May is the hottest month of the year.
- He spent an hour or so in the library.
- Yesterday I heard the best story I have ever heard.
- We want an official inquiry into the incident.
- That was not the right thing to do.
