Fill in the blanks
1A turtle ............... many eggs at one time.
Wrong!
Use "lays" because an animal lays eggs.
2............... the cartons one on top of the other.
Wrong!
Use "Lay" when you mean put something down.
3I ............... the plates on the table.
Wrong!
Use "laid" as the past tense of lay meaning put something somewhere.
4She was angry with me because I ............... to her.
Wrong!
Use "lied" for saying something untrue in the past.
5Please ............... down.
Wrong!
Use "lie" when you mean put your body in a horizontal position.
6I ............... down and closed my eyes, but I could not sleep.
Wrong!
Use "lay" as the past tense of lie meaning be in a horizontal position.
7Sam earns the most money in our family; James earns ...............
Wrong!
Use "the least" for the smallest amount of money earned.
8The essay with ............... errors is not always the best.
Wrong!
Use "the fewest" with the plural countable noun errors.
9She always arrives when you ............... expect it.
Wrong!
Use "least" in the fixed phrase least expect it.
10I am ............... interested in this offer.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "not in the least" and "not at all" mean no interest here.
11............... people cook their own meals these days.
Wrong!
Use "Fewer" with the plural countable noun people.
12The most effective way to lose weight is to eat ............... food.
Wrong!
Use "less" with the uncountable noun food.
Answers
- A turtle lays many eggs at one time.
- Lay the cartons one on top of the other.
- I laid the plates on the table.
- She was angry with me because I lied to her.
- Please lie down.
- I lay down and closed my eyes, but I could not sleep.
- Sam earns the most money in our family; James earns the least.
- The essay with the fewest errors is not always the best.
- She always arrives when you least expect it.
- I am not in the least / not at all interested in this offer.
- Fewer people cook their own meals these days.
- The most effective way to lose weight is to eat less food.