Tricky Words
Check yourself here. The answers (and explanations!) are below:
1.) “I’m never going to use this math in ___________ life!” Arnold shouted, throwing his homework to the ground.
a.) every day b.) everyday
2.) My mom thinks I go for a run _________ after school, but really I sit at home and eat.
a.) every day b.) everyday
3.) _______ should I vote for, Obama or Romney?
a.) Whom b.) Who
4.) _______ is going to teach me about confusing homonyms?
a.) Whom b.) Who
5.) I know I _________ done better on the test if I had studied instead of watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians all afternoon.
a.) could of b.) could have
6.) The picture ______ my dad painted is hanging in the living room.
a.) that b.) which
7.) The house, ______ my dad recently painted yellow, is located at the top of a hill.
a.) that b.) which
8.) “Ursula, ______ the plates down on the table!” my mother commanded.
a.) lie b.) lay
9.) Ursula is so exhausted after school that the first thing she does when she gets home is _____ down on her bed and take a nap.
a.) lie b.) lay
10.) One side ______ of the medicine is excessive hair growth.
a.) effect b.) affect
11.) I hope the “F” I just got on my math test doesn’t _______ my grade too much!
a.) effect b.) affect
12.) I cried ______ when the cat died in Ramona and Beezus.
a.) a lot b.) alot
13.) “Ha ha, I ran ______ than you!”
a.) farther b.) further
14.) “We should discuss your idea ______.”
a.) farther b.) further
1.) “I’m never going to use this math in ___________ life!” Arnold shouted, throwing his homework to the ground.
a.) every day b.) everyday
2.) My mom thinks I go for a run _________ after school, but really I sit at home and eat.
a.) every day b.) everyday
3.) _______ should I vote for, Obama or Romney?
a.) Whom b.) Who
4.) _______ is going to teach me about confusing homonyms?
a.) Whom b.) Who
5.) I know I _________ done better on the test if I had studied instead of watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians all afternoon.
a.) could of b.) could have
6.) The picture ______ my dad painted is hanging in the living room.
a.) that b.) which
7.) The house, ______ my dad recently painted yellow, is located at the top of a hill.
a.) that b.) which
8.) “Ursula, ______ the plates down on the table!” my mother commanded.
a.) lie b.) lay
9.) Ursula is so exhausted after school that the first thing she does when she gets home is _____ down on her bed and take a nap.
a.) lie b.) lay
10.) One side ______ of the medicine is excessive hair growth.
a.) effect b.) affect
11.) I hope the “F” I just got on my math test doesn’t _______ my grade too much!
a.) effect b.) affect
12.) I cried ______ when the cat died in Ramona and Beezus.
a.) a lot b.) alot
13.) “Ha ha, I ran ______ than you!”
a.) farther b.) further
14.) “We should discuss your idea ______.”
a.) farther b.) further
Answers
1.) B. Everyday
The word “everyday” is an adjective, describing something that happens each day.
2.) A. Every day
“Every day” is an adverbial phrase (multiple words acting as an adverb), and it means the same thing as “each day.”
3.) A. Whom
“Whom” is traditionally used in the objective case, which means that it is the object of a sentence, like “To whom” or “For whom.”
4.) B. Who
“Who” is used as the subject of a sentence.
5.) B. Could have
The phrase “could of” is never used, it is always incorrect. However, the mistake is often made because “could’ve,” the contraction of the correct form, “could have,” sounds like “could of.”
6.) A. That
“That” is used in a restrictive clause, which means that the clause defines the thing that is being described, or restricts reference to the thing that is being described. In this case, the picture is defined as painted by “my dad,” and the phrase “that my dad painted” refers only to that particular picture in the living room.
7.) B. Which
“Which” is used in a nonrestrictive clause, which means that the clause gives additional information and is not necessary to the sentence. In this sentence, the fact that “my dad” recently painted the house yellow is just additional information and is unnecessary to the sentence. Without the nonrestrictive clause, the sentence would read “The house is located at the top of a hill,” and still makes sense.
8.) B. Lay
“Lay” means to put something down. In this case, Ursula’s mother wants her to put the plates down on the table.
9.) A. Lie
In this sentence, “lie” means to assume a horizontal position. Be careful! The past tense of “lie” is “lay” when the word is defined as assuming a horizontal position. “Lie” also means to say something that isn’t true, and the past tense is “lied.”
10.) A. Effect
“Effect” is commonly used as a noun, in which case it means a result or consequence, as it does in this sentence, where excessive hair growth is a result of the medicine.
11.) B. Affect
In this sentence, “affect” is a verb that means to produce an effect on or influence. The student hopes that his “F” won’t have a negative effect on his grade (notice that affect essentially means to have an effect).
12.) A. A lot
“Alot” is not a word, only “a lot,” which means a great deal/amount. The mistake is made because of the word “allot,” which means to give or apportion.
13.) A. Farther
The word “farther” refers to physical distance. In this case, one person ran a greater distance than the other.
14.) B. Further
“Further” traditionally refers to figurative or abstract situations, and in this sentence signifies that the idea will be discussed in greater depth.
Sources:
Dictionary, Version 2.1.2. Apple. 2009. and The American Heritage Dictionary. New York: 2001.
1.) B. Everyday
The word “everyday” is an adjective, describing something that happens each day.
2.) A. Every day
“Every day” is an adverbial phrase (multiple words acting as an adverb), and it means the same thing as “each day.”
3.) A. Whom
“Whom” is traditionally used in the objective case, which means that it is the object of a sentence, like “To whom” or “For whom.”
4.) B. Who
“Who” is used as the subject of a sentence.
5.) B. Could have
The phrase “could of” is never used, it is always incorrect. However, the mistake is often made because “could’ve,” the contraction of the correct form, “could have,” sounds like “could of.”
6.) A. That
“That” is used in a restrictive clause, which means that the clause defines the thing that is being described, or restricts reference to the thing that is being described. In this case, the picture is defined as painted by “my dad,” and the phrase “that my dad painted” refers only to that particular picture in the living room.
7.) B. Which
“Which” is used in a nonrestrictive clause, which means that the clause gives additional information and is not necessary to the sentence. In this sentence, the fact that “my dad” recently painted the house yellow is just additional information and is unnecessary to the sentence. Without the nonrestrictive clause, the sentence would read “The house is located at the top of a hill,” and still makes sense.
8.) B. Lay
“Lay” means to put something down. In this case, Ursula’s mother wants her to put the plates down on the table.
9.) A. Lie
In this sentence, “lie” means to assume a horizontal position. Be careful! The past tense of “lie” is “lay” when the word is defined as assuming a horizontal position. “Lie” also means to say something that isn’t true, and the past tense is “lied.”
10.) A. Effect
“Effect” is commonly used as a noun, in which case it means a result or consequence, as it does in this sentence, where excessive hair growth is a result of the medicine.
11.) B. Affect
In this sentence, “affect” is a verb that means to produce an effect on or influence. The student hopes that his “F” won’t have a negative effect on his grade (notice that affect essentially means to have an effect).
12.) A. A lot
“Alot” is not a word, only “a lot,” which means a great deal/amount. The mistake is made because of the word “allot,” which means to give or apportion.
13.) A. Farther
The word “farther” refers to physical distance. In this case, one person ran a greater distance than the other.
14.) B. Further
“Further” traditionally refers to figurative or abstract situations, and in this sentence signifies that the idea will be discussed in greater depth.
Sources:
Dictionary, Version 2.1.2. Apple. 2009. and The American Heritage Dictionary. New York: 2001.