All and whole have similar meanings but the grammar is different. They can both be used with singular nouns to mean ‘every part of’. All goes before the determiner and the noun whereas whole goes between the determiner and the noun.
Fill in the blanks with all, whole, the whole or all the.
1We can’t spend ............... time arguing.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "the whole time" and "all the time" can mean the complete period here; "whole" needs an article before "time".
2Why do you argue ............... time?
Wrong!
Use "all the" in the fixed expression "all the time".
3............... thieves have been caught.
Wrong!
Use "All the" before a plural countable noun to mean every member of the group.
4............... family attended the function.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "All the" and "The whole" can refer to every member of one family.
5You are ............... responsible for this.
Wrong!
Use "wholly" as an adverb before the adjective "responsible".
6You have eaten ............... loaf.
Wrong!
Use "a whole" before a singular countable noun to mean one complete item.
7............... London was talking about her affairs.
Wrong!
Use "All" before a place name to mean everyone in that place.
8That is ............... point.
Wrong!
Use "the whole" in the phrase "the whole point" to mean the main point.
9It is ............... in the mind.
Wrong!
Use "all" in the expression "It is all in the mind".
10If I were a millionaire, I would travel ............... world.
Wrong!
Use "the whole" before the singular noun "world" to mean the complete world.
Exercise complete
0 out of 10
correct answers
Answers
- We can’t spend the whole / all the time arguing.
- Why do you argue all the time?
- All the thieves have been caught.
- All the / The whole family attended the function.
- You are wholly responsible for this.
- You have eaten a whole loaf.
- All London was talking about her affairs.
- That is the whole point.
- It is all in the mind.
- If I were a millionaire, I would travel the whole world.