Test your understanding of English grammar with this exercise. Complete the following sentences.
1Don’t you ............... listen to what I say?
Wrong!
Use "ever" in a negative question to mean at any time.
2............... matters.
Wrong!
"Nothing" is the natural subject meaning not anything in this sentence.
3I opened the door, but I ............... see nobody.
Wrong!
Use "could" because the negative meaning is already in "nobody".
4Neither of my brothers ............... here.
Wrong!
"Neither" takes the singular verb "is" in this sentence.
5Ruth didn’t turn up, and James didn’t ...............
Wrong!
Use "either" after a negative auxiliary to mean also not.
6She was only talking like that because she ............... nervous.
Wrong!
Use "was" because the sentence is talking about a past situation.
7I have only ............... to India once.
Wrong!
Use "been" for a completed visit when the person has returned.
8He ............... given a medal for living with her.
Wrong!
The correct passive form after ought is "ought to be".
9She ran ............... the room.
Wrong!
Use "out of" before a noun phrase such as "the room".
10He has got no ideas of ...............
Wrong!
The fixed phrase is "his own" when we mean belonging to him personally.
Answers
- Don’t you ever listen to what I say?
- Nothing matters.
- I opened the door, but I could see nobody.
- Neither of my brothers is here.
- Ruth didn’t turn up, and James didn’t either.
- She was only talking like that because she was nervous.
- I have only been to India once.
- He ought to be given a medal for living with her.
- She ran out of the room.
- He has got no ideas of his own.