Correct the Mistake

One word is wrong in each sentence. Find this word, then click on the answer button to see the correct answer.

1. I eat Japanese food for lunch yesterday.
   AnswerI ate Japanese food for lunch yesterday.

2. I will borrow you $100.
   AnswerI will lend you $100.

3. He's hobbies are listening to music and fishing.
   AnswerHis hobbies are listening to music and fishing.

4. Two of my sister are students.
   AnswerTwo of my sisters are students.

5. She don't like taking a trip with her family.
   AnswerShe doesn't like taking a trip with her family.

6. My father name is John Kelly.
   AnswerMy father's name is John Kelly.

7. Please borrow me your car.
   AnswerPlease lend me your car.

8. At the second floor of my house is my bedroom.
   AnswerOn the second floor of my house is my bedroom.

9. I want to visit Europe, but I don't decided when to go.
   AnswerI want to visit Europe, but I haven't decided when to go.

Copyright (C) 1996 by Lucy Kelly

Common Mistakes

How would you fix these mistakes? Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. He speaks well Germany.
   Answer He speaks German well. He speaks good German.

2. I said him he had done a mistake.
   Answer I told him he had made a mistake. I told him that he had made a mistake. I said to him that he had made a mistake.

3. He travelled with boat and arrived to Helsinki yesterday.
   Answer He travelled by boat and arrived in Helsinki yesterday. He went to Helsinki by boat and arrived yesterday.

4. She is a too clever woman to stay in a so boring job.
   Answer She is too clever a woman to stay in such a boring job. She is too clever to stay in such a boring job.

5. In last years the Finnish economy has improved markedly.
   Answer The Finnish economy has improved noticeably recently. During recent years, the Finnish economy has improved noticeably. During the last few years, the Finnish economy has improved markedly.

6. Never I have seen such an excited film.
   Answer Never have I seen such an exciting film. I have never seen such an exciting film.

7. We arrived to Stockholm for two hours ago.
   Answer I arrived at Stockholm (the harbour) two hours ago. I arrived in Stockholm two hours ago.

8. The news are in the television soon.
   Answer The news will be on (TV) soon. The news is coming soon. The news will be coming soon.

9. I will another cup of coffee, please.
   Answer I'd like another cup of coffee, please. Another (cup of) coffee, please. May/Can I have another cup of coffee, please? Could I have another cup of coffee, please?

10. What means gibberish please?
    Answer What does gibberish mean, please? Could/Can/Will you tell me what gibberish means, please?

11. In spite of he was tired,his wife made him to wash dishes.
    Answer In spite of his/him being tired, his wife made him wash the dishes. In spite of the fact that he was tired, his wife made him wash the dishes.

12. He is living by his aunt on the country.
    Answer He is staying (for a while) with his aunt in the country. He is staying at his aunt's (place)in the country. He is living (permanently) with his aunt in the country.

13. I was given lots of advices about buying new furnitures.
    Answer I was given lots of advice about buying new furniture. I was given a lot of advice about buying new furniture

14. I could not be without laughing when he explained it me.
    Answer I couldn't help laughing when he explained it to me.

15. He got married with a Swedish in last year.
    Answer He got married to a Swedish girl last year. He got married to a Swede last year. He married a Swedish girl/woman last year.

16. She is waiting now her second child.
    Answer She is now expecting her second child.(She is pregnant) She is expecting her second child now.(She is pregnant) --The following answers are possible, but not very usual.-- She is waiting for her second child now. (The first one has finally arrived, e.g. home from school) She is now waiting for her second child. (The first one has finally arrived, e.g. home from school)

17. They have spared carefully their money.
    Answer They have saved their money carefully.

18. They are living there during six months.
    Answer They have been living there for six months. They have lived there for six months

19. Are you still interesting to do a trip to Lapland.
    Answer Are you still interested in doing a trip to Lapland? Are you still interested in taking a trip to Lapland? Are you still interested in going to Lapland?

20. The city of Tampere is full of fabrics, though it is surrounded by some lovely nature.
    Answer The city of Tampere is full of factories, but the surroundings are beautiful. The city of Tampere is full of factories; the surroundings are beautiful though. The city of Tampere is full of factories, though the surroundings are beautiful.

21. The company was grounded in 1903.
    Answer The company was established in 1903. The company was founded in 1903

22. There are many cheap things at the realisations in the warehouses behind the corner.
    Answer There are many cheap things at the sales in the department store around the corner.

23. In near future I shall be going to abroad in every case.
    Answer In the near future I shall be going abroad anyway. I shall be going abroad in any case in the near future

24. In Finland we are used to live in a cold climate.
    Answer In Finland, we are used to living in a cold climate. We Finns are used to living in a cold climate.

25. We shall not go unless we shall be asked.
    Answer We won't go unless we're asked. We won't go unless we are asked.

26. Between you and I, I think his plan is crazy.
    Answer Between you and me, I think his plan is crazy.

27. Thank you for everything.You have been the most generous.
    Answer Thank you for everything. You have been most generous.

28. I can a little Swedish.
    Answer I know a little Swedish. I understand a little Swedish. I can speak/write/read a little Swedish.

29. What do you like Finland?
    Answer How do you like Finland? What do you like about Finland? What do you think of Finland/Finnish people?

Copyright (C) 1997 by Ruth Vilmi

What's the Right Verb I?

Use the boxes on the left to write your choices.
Then click on the answer button to see if your answer is correct.

1. Can you ___ over to our place on Saturday? 2. Don't worry. The scandal will soon ___ over. 3. It's been hard for her to ___ over the loss of her husband. 4. Who will ___ over the company when the boss dies? 5. We must ___ over the applications before we hire someone. 6. You should have paid more attention not to let the milk ___ over. 7. A snowmobile isn't really stable. It might ___ over and hurt you badly. 8. Be strong! You can't ___ yourself over to despair.

a. give b. come c. take d. boil e. look f. turn g. get h. blow

Answers 1-b 2-h 3-g 4-c 5-e 6-d 7-f 8-a

What's the Right Verb II?

Use the boxes on the left to write your choices.
You can check your answers at the bottom of this page.

1. ___ out for that car, darling. 2. I can't remember whose name he asked me to ___ out. 3. Could he ___ out all the candles on his birthday cake. 4. If you make a mistake, just ___ it out. 5. I can't ___ out the meaning of this word. 6. Please ___ out this form before you enter the room. 7. The firemen finally ___ out the fire. 8. You can ___ it out before you buy it.

a. figure b. put c. fill d. watch e. leave f. try g. blow h. cross

See Answers 1-d 2-e 3-g 4-h 5-a 6-c 7-b 8-f

(C) 1998 Vera Mello

Bits and Pieces

Vocabulary Quiz

Make a choice by clicking on the radio button, then compare it with the correct answer hidden under the answer button.

1. Who judges points in a soccer match?
   a. a judge
   b. a referee
   c. a proctor
   Answerb
2. Which word means fortunate?
   a. genial
   b. lucky
   c. lively
   Answerb
3. Which word means behave badly?
   a. act up
   b. act out
   c. act on
   Answera
4. Which word completes the expression: "dead as a _____ nail".
   a. finger
   b. toe
   c. door
   Answerc
5. When you put in for a job, you are _____ .
   a. an applicant
   b. a customer
   c. a claimant
   Answera
6. When a person says: "I took it with a pinch of salt", he means:
   a. he ate it with some salt.
   b. he sprinkled the food with salt.
   c. he felt some doubt whether it was altogether true.
   Answerc
7. What is the person who pays rent called?
   a. an occupant
   b. a tenant
   c. a landlord
   Answerb
8. Which word does not mean lazy?
   a. idle
   b. inactive
   c. industrious
   Answerc

(C) 1997 Vera Mello

L or R?

L & R Minimal Pair Quiz

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. Are phone calls cheaper ___ at night?
   a. late
   b. rate
   Answera
2. The evening prayer begins "Now I ___ me down to sleep".
   a. lay
   b. ray
   Answera
3. Home owners are advised to ___ their doors at all times.
   a. rock
   b. lock
   Answerb
4. That oak-paneled door is as solid as a ___.
   a. rock
   b. lock
   Answera
5. I am sorry to ___ behind but I am too tired to keep up.
   a. lag
   b. rag
   Answera
6. Use a ___ to wipe the dirt from your shoes.
   a. lag
   b. rag
   Answerb
7. The ___ in Spain falls mainly on the plain.
   a. rain
   b. lain
   Answera
8. Light the kerosene___ before you go outside.
   a. lamp
   b. ramp
   Answera
9. Use a ___ to move heavy objects from one level to another.
   a. lamp
   b. ramp
   Answerb
10. Please sit on my ___.
    a. rap
    b. lap
    c. wrap
    Answerb
11. Instead of saying "Let"s talk" one can say "Let's ___".
    a. rap
    b. lap
    c. wrap
    Answera
12. To save money and resources ___ packages in newspapers.
    a. rap
    b. lap
    c. wrap
    Answerc
13. A dangerous disease carrier is the common ___.
    a. rat
    b. lat
    Answera
14. I will see you ___, after I finish work.
    a. later
    b. rater
    Answera
15. Purple is considered a ___ color, the color of Kings.
    a. loyal
    b. royal
    Answerb
16. I would ___ be healthy than rich, but both would be nice.
    a. lather
    b. rather
    Answerb
17. Work up a good ___ with the soap before you rinse.
    a. lather
    b. rather
    Answera
18. It is against the ___ for teenagers to smoke and drink.
    a. law
    b. raw
    Answera
19. Stop! You are going the ___ way on a one-way street!
    a. wrong
    b. long
    Answera
20. This is the ___ way to the library but I know how to go there.
    a. wrong
    b. long
    Answera

(C) 1998 Donna Tatsuki