Fill in the blanks
1. A turtle ………………………… many eggs at one time.
Lay means produce or bear.
2. …………………………. the cartons one on top of the other.
To lay something is to put it down carefully.
3. I ………………………. the plates on the table.
Laid is the past tense of lay.
4. She was angry with me because I ……………………… to her.
Lied is the past tense of lie. To lie is to say something untrue.
5. Please ……………………….. down.
Lie can mean be horizontal.
6. I …………………….. down and closed my eyes but I could not sleep.
When lie means be down, lay is its past tense.
7. Sam earns the most money in our family; James earns …………………….
The least is the opposite of the most. It is used with uncountable nouns.
8. The essay with ………………………. errors is not always the best.
With plural nouns we use fewest and with uncountable nouns we use least.
9. She always arrives when you …………………………. expect it.
When least is used as an adverb, it is used without the.
10. I am ………………………….. interested in this offer.
Both expressions mean the same.
11. ……………………….. people cook their own meals these days.
We use fewer with plural nouns.
12. The most effective way to lose weight is to eat ……………………… food.
Less is the comparative of little.
Answers
1. A turtle lays many eggs at one time.
2. Lay the cartons one on top of the other.
3. I laid the plates on the table.
4. She was angry with me because I lied to her.
5. Please lie down.
6. I lay down and closed my eyes but I could not sleep.
7. Sam earns the most money in our family; James earns the least.
8. The essay with the fewest errors is not always the best.
9. She always arrives when you least expect it.
10. I am not in the least / not at all interested in this offer.
11. Fewer people cook their own meals these days.
12. The most effective way to lose weight is to eat less food.
