Set 8
Find the error in each sentence and type the corresponding letter in the box.
-
We heard [a] that they had left [b] for London. If only we went [c] with them too [d]!
Error in:
Explanation
For regret about the past, use If only + past perfect: If only we had gone with them too!
-
We heard [a] the alarm to go off [b] at night and saw two guards running [c] towards the entrance to the bank [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After verbs of perception such as hear, we use the bare infinitive or the -ing form: heard the alarm go off / heard the alarm going off.
-
You must follow [a] the instructions, and under no circumstances you must [b] press this button [c], whatever happens [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After negative fronting, we need inversion: under no circumstances must you press this button.
-
Mum must be waiting [a] for you outside the club [b]. — And she must be waiting [c] there since six [d].
Error in:
Explanation
With since six, we need the perfect continuous form: she must have been waiting there since six.
-
He simply couldn’t do [a] it! He can’t [b] be that stupid [c], can he [d]?
Error in:
Explanation
For a deduction about the past, use couldn’t have + past participle: He couldn’t have done it!
-
No matter when he will come [a], he is always [b] welcome here [c], and everyone is glad to see him [d].
Error in:
Explanation
In time/concession clauses referring to the future, we normally use the present simple: No matter when he comes...
-
It turned up [a] that he had left for Denver [b] without us. I can’t understand how [c] he could have done that [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The correct phrasal verb here is turned out: It turned out that he had left for Denver.
-
He stopped [a] the car so that the children could sit [b] into it and fasten [c] their seat belts safely [d].
Error in:
Explanation
We say get into a car, not sit into a car: so that the children could get into it.
-
He couldn’t help [a] to tell [b] her how beautiful [c] she was that evening [d].
Error in:
Explanation
Can’t help is followed by a gerund: couldn’t help telling her.
-
There is no point [a] in contradict [b] women, is there [c]? — No, it is useless [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After there is no point in, use a gerund: in contradicting women.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Set 9
Find the error in each sentence and type the corresponding letter in the box.
-
They say you did very well [a] in the exam yesterday [b]. Congratulations for [c] passing it so successfully [d]!
Error in:
Explanation
The correct preposition is on: Congratulations on passing the exam.
-
She is so [a] silly as [b] she is beautiful [c], which makes her rather dangerous [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The correct comparison is as silly as she is beautiful. In affirmative comparisons, use as...as, not so...as.
-
The more I get to know [a] people, more [b] I like dogs [c], strange as it may sound [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The structure is the more..., the more...: the more I like dogs.
-
Nobody knows [a] people [b] who came here [c] yesterday, so we cannot identify them [d].
Error in:
Explanation
We are talking about a specific group, so the article is needed: the people who came here yesterday.
-
No sooner Anna had said [a] a word than [b] the old woman disappeared [c] without a trace [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After No sooner at the beginning of a sentence, we need inversion: No sooner had Anna said a word...
-
I had the films developed [a] and paid for it [b] a whole fortune [c], which seemed rather unfair [d].
Error in:
Explanation
With plural films, the pronoun should be plural too: paid a fortune for them.
-
Every woman knows [a] that if she is in a bad mood [b], she should buy something new or make her hair [c] done [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The natural phrase is have/get her hair done, not make her hair done.
-
The paintings that had been hanging [a] in Hall Five are now [b] restored [c] by a team of specialists from abroad [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The process is happening now, so use the present continuous passive: are now being restored.
-
He can never [a] wash the dishes without [b] not breaking [c] something valuable [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The correct phrase is without breaking something. The extra not creates the wrong meaning.
-
It is raining [a] for a whole week [b] and seems not to be going [c] to stop any time soon [d].
Error in:
Explanation
With for a whole week, use the present perfect continuous: It has been raining for a whole week.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Set 10
Find the error in each sentence and type the corresponding letter in the box.
-
When Mum saw [a] Tom and Bob, they looked very pleased [b]. They were explained [c] how the little problem should have been done [d].
Error in:
Explanation
In English, we do not normally say they were explained. Correct: They were shown/told how... or It was explained to them how...
-
What is the matter [a]? You are soaking wet [b]. — I have been washing the dog. She usually washes [c] on Fridays [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The dog does not wash herself here. We need the passive: She is usually washed on Fridays.
-
I wonder who does live [a] in the house opposite us [b]. — None of us [c] knows that [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After I wonder, use indirect-question word order: I wonder who lives in the house opposite us.
-
I watched him trying [a] to start the car. I wonder how long it will take him [b] to make the engine to work [c] properly [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After make + object, use the bare infinitive: make the engine work. More naturally: get the engine going.
-
Having read [a] the telegram twice, he realized that urgent measures had to be undertaken [b] at once [c], as there was no time to lose [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The usual collocation is take measures: urgent measures had to be taken.
-
We were offered [a] to go [b] to the country, but we refused because the weather was [c] absolutely awful [d].
Error in:
Explanation
We do not normally say someone was offered to do something. Correct: We were invited to go or We were offered a chance to go.
-
She prefers to drive [a] there than [b] walk, especially when the weather is bad [c] and the road is muddy [d].
Error in:
Explanation
Use prefer doing to doing or prefer to do rather than do: She prefers driving there to walking or She prefers to drive there rather than walk.
-
I don’t mind being told [a] what to do. — And I can’t stand being told [b] how must I [c] live my life [d].
Error in:
Explanation
This is an indirect question-like structure after being told, so use statement word order: how I must live / more naturally, how to live.
-
You need to have [a] your suit pressed [b]. It is all crumpled [c]; take it in the dry cleaner’s [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The correct preposition is to: take it to the dry cleaner’s.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Set 11
Find the error in each sentence and type the corresponding letter in the box.
-
I hate animals to be kept [a] in cages. — So [b] do I; I have always found it cruel [c] and unnecessary [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After hate in this structure, the gerund is natural: I hate animals being kept in cages.
-
Mark asked whether Tom had arrived [a] or whether we would have had [b] to start without him. But no one knew [c] anything for sure [d].
Error in:
Explanation
Reported future necessity is would have to, not would have had to: whether we would have to start without him.
-
I could not believe [a] that she could really had meant [b] what she said [c] then [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After a modal verb, use have + past participle: could really have meant.
-
You can’t talk to neither [a] Jack nor his sister. Neither of them [b] is at home [c] right now [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After a negative verb, use either...or: You can’t talk to either Jack or his sister.
-
A student came [a] and asked if she could use [b] your library. I allowed her it [c], and she must still be there [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The natural phrase is I let her or I allowed her to use it. We do not say allowed her it.
-
He did not know that the work on which he spent [a] his whole life was not destined [b] to be recognized [c] one day [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The spending happened before “he did not know,” so the past perfect is needed: on which he had spent his whole life.
-
Could you repeat [a] that, please? I did not quite understand what is [b] the main idea of your plan [c], to be honest [d].
Error in:
Explanation
In an indirect question, use statement word order: what the main idea of your plan is.
-
Last night Tom went to the station [a] to meet Anna. When he got there, Anna was already waiting him [b], as her train had arrived unexpectedly [c] early [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The verb wait needs the preposition for: Anna was already waiting for him.
-
The driver said he could not make head or tail from [a] why his car had broken down during the race [b]. It had passed the test [c] before the competition [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The idiom is make head or tail of something, not from something.
-
I did not feel like working [a], because [b] I suggested spending the day in the garden, lying in the sun [c] and making small talk [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The logical connector should be so, not because: I did not feel like working, so I suggested...
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Set 12
Find the error in each sentence and type the corresponding letter in the box.
-
Anna is hard to deal with [a]! — So does [b] her mother. Both of them love arguing [c] and never listen to other people’s arguments [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The first sentence uses is, so the reply should use is too: So is her mother.
-
Did you see him before the meeting [a]? — No. He had not arrived [b] when the meeting began [c]. He was late almost for half an hour [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The natural word order is almost half an hour late or late by almost half an hour.
-
There is nothing harder [a] than trying to change what you are used to do [b] regularly [c] over a long period of time [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After be used to, use a noun or gerund: what you are used to doing.
-
What happened to the car that was standing [a] by the entrance a minute ago [b]? — I saw some man to get into [c] it and drive away [d].
Error in:
Explanation
After see + object, we use the bare infinitive for a complete action: I saw some man get into it and drive away.
-
I apologize for having upset [a] her. I didn’t expect her to take [b] it so close to heart [c]; I didn’t mean to hurt [d] her.
Error in:
Explanation
The correct idiom is take something so much to heart or take something so personally. So close to heart is a calque and sounds unnatural here.
-
He stood motionless [a], peering into the darkness [b], afraid that he would be seen [c]. Suddenly he felt how someone touched [d] his leg.
Error in:
Explanation
After feel when we describe physical perception, we normally use object + bare infinitive or object + -ing: he felt someone touch his leg / he felt someone touching his leg.
-
We got so wet in the rain [a] that we could not get warm [b]. We tried running and jumping [c] over the fire, but it did not make [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The correct phrase is it did not help. It did not make is incomplete and does not work in this meaning.
-
When are you going to have your hair cut [a]? — I have already had them cut [b]. — Sorry, I didn’t notice [c]. Where did you have it done [d]?
Error in:
Explanation
Hair, when we mean all the hair on someone’s head, is normally uncountable. The correct phrase is I have already had it cut.
-
I heard that an interesting exhibition of contemporary portraiture [a] has opened [b] in Moscow the other day [c]. Let’s go and see it [d], shall we?
Error in:
Explanation
With the other day, we normally use the past simple because the time is finished: opened, not has opened.
-
She never lets anyone [a] touch anything [b] in her room without her permission [c]. — So does he [d].
Error in:
Explanation
The first sentence is negative because of never, so agreement should also be negative: Neither does he or He doesn’t either.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0