Can You Pass This Difficult English Quiz?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Pass This Difficult English Quiz?
Image: Tom Merton/OJO Images/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The English language, while friendly to most, appears to baffle even the longtime speaker. Whether you are a native speaker or one who grew up with it fluently, there are still challenges to face in this ever-evolving mother tongue. 

A primary example of change pertains to even the most basic of grammatical rules. Even those born in countries where English is the official language would still find some snags in usage here and there. And why wouldn't they? Rules of languages often get rewritten or revised as decades pass by. Sometimes, there are also revisions within a certain decade, especially if the times are a-changin' ever so fast! 

Take for example today's fast lingo turnover, thanks - or no thanks, maybe - to the fast-evolving information and communication technologies we also have. Industry jargon from all sectors also seeps into the vernacular faster these days, so we also have that aspect to look into. 

But no matter where these changes come from, the most important thing is still the same: to be able to adjust and adapt to these changes. Thus, a simple language quiz might get you back to the basics, or it could also keep you in check as to what you actually know - or don't know.

Care to try? Come on, let's go!

Choose the right way to say this: ___ are very good friends.
Jacob and I
Me and Jacob
Jacobs and me
Jacob and myself
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The proper way to say this is: "Jacob and I are very good friends." A simple test if this is correct involves removing the name of the second person in the sentence, and see which pronoun works as a stand-alone subject.

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When sending regrets, what word should you use here? Sorry I couldn't be ___.
their
there
they're
theer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Sorry I couldn't be there" is the proper way to say this, as "there" is the word to use to state where you ought to be, or where you are. "Their" is used as a possessive pronoun, so never mistake one for the other.

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What do you do to "information" to convert the word into plural form?
Nothing
Add "s"
Add "es"
Add "ing"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Information" is an example of a noun that has similar singular and plural forms. It is a non-count noun, which means it's not quantifiable, so simply adding "s" won't do.

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As Roxette sang, "It must __ been love, but it's over now."
Of
Us
Have
Still
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"It must have been love" is the correct way, though some might mistake it as "It must of been love." The use of "must of" is grammatically incorrect, and the mistake may have been caused by hearing the contraction "must've."

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Is it right to say "irregardless?"
Yes
No
It depends on who's speaking.
It depends on the situation where it was used.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While "irregardless" may actually exist as a word, it is not widely used due to how it is constructed. Linguists frown upon the double negative that the prefix "ir" and suffix "less" form; that's why it's best to use "regardless" instead, which already states a negative thought that means "without regard."

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When responding to grateful people who give thanks, what do you reply?
You welcome
Your welcome
You're welcome
Youse welcome
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The right reply should be "You're welcome," where "you're" is a contraction of "you are." But many people often say "Your welcome," misusing the second person possessive pronoun.

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Possessively speaking, do you say "himself" or "hisself?"
Himself
Hisself
He's self
Himselves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When referring to a reflexive masculine pronoun, "himself" is the one often used. While "hisself" legitimately exists somewhere in the English lexicon, its usage is frowned upon, and therefore not advisable to use.

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When referring to just one dollar, which article could you use before the currency?
A
An
These
The
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since it's only one dollar being referred to, the proper article to use is the singular one. It should be "a" because it refers to a word that starts with a consonant. Therefore, "a dollar" is correct.

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In the USA, do you "colour" or "color?"
Color
Colour
Both can do
Neither
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Color" is the American English spelling while "colour" is the British English spelling. Therefore, when in the USA, use their English usage - no ifs and buts about this!

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Fill in the blank: First come, first ___.
Serve
Served
Service
Serves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The proper way to say this often misheard idiomatic expression is "first come, first served." It means those who arrive first will be the first ones to get serviced.

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Do you like it when you are given "free rein" or "free reign" by your boss?
Free rein
Free reign
Free rain
Free range
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The right term to use is "free rein," which pertains to being given the freedom or liberty to move or make decisions and take certain actions. It originates from the noun "rein" or those straps used to control and guide a horse.

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Is it right to say "ten year anniversary?"
It should be 10 year anniversary.
Sounds correct.
It should be the tenth anniversary.
It should be ten years anniversary.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Anniversary" already pertains to the annual or yearly event, so just mention how many years, in ordinal form, when using this term. The proper way of saying this example is "tenth anniversary."

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When you say “She want you," what is in disagreement here?
Subject-verb
Article-pronoun
Punctuation markings
Capitalization
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The subject-verb agreement in this statement is incorrect because the verb should be similar to the subject's number. Thus, since "she" is singular, "wants" should be used, like so: "She wants you."

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What is the plural form of equipment?
Equipments
Equipmentes
Equipmentses
Equipment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Equipment" is another form of non-count noun. The same word is used for the plural form.

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Choose the right term: Knut __ from Norway. Knut ___ to the USA from Norway.
immigrates, emigrates
immigrant, emigrant
emigrated, immigrated
emigrant, migrant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The terms to use are: Knut "emigrated" from Norway, and Knut "immigrated" to the USA from Norway. One emigrates away from a certain place, and one immigrates to a specific destination.

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When referring to __ ant, which article should you use?
A
An
The
Some
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The indefinite article "an" should be used here since it refers to a noun that starts with a vowel. "A" should be used if the noun starts with a consonant.

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We buy fragrant essential oils, but do we also say "crude oils?"
Yes
No
Depends on the brand
Depends on the nationality of the speaker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Oil" is an example of a variable noun, which means it can be both a countable noun and non-count noun, depending on the context. In "crude oil," it's in the context of a non-count noun; therefore, it should be "oil" only. If specifics are used, like in "essential oils" or "painting with oils," an "s" is added because it's countable.

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What’s the plural of “advice?”
Advicess
Adviceses
Advis
Pieces of advice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Just like the word "evidence," "advice" is considered an uncountable noun. Therefore, it has its original form as its plural form, or you can place qualifiers before it to make it countable, such as "pieces of advice."

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Is it "a mute point" or "a moot point?"
Mute
Moot
Moat
Mout
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mute" means to be quiet while "moot" means something is subject for debate. Thus, it should be "moot point" because it suggests to debate on a certain thing.

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When traveling, do we say “baggages” and “luggages?”
Yes
No
Depends on your flight details
Depends on the kind of trip you're going to
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both baggage and luggage are uncountable nouns. They do not have plural forms, so adding an "s" is ungrammatical.

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Fill in the blanks: “If __ too good to be true, __ probably is!"
I am, I
it’s, it
its, its
it, it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The answer should be "If it's too good to be true, it probably is." "It's" is a contraction of "it is" in this case, so it should have an apostrophe.

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How do we say it? “You would __ made it better.”
Have
Of
And
Or
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Would have" is the right answer here, but most people would mention "would of." This mistake is a corruption of the sound of "would've," which is short for "would have."

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A common error in supermarkets is having the sign “10 items or less.” How will you correct this?
8 items or less
10 items or fewer
10 items and less
10 items to less
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you can count things one by one, the term to use should be "fewer" since "less" is used to refer to things you can't individually count. Therefore, having "10 items or fewer" or "fewer than 10 items" should be the proper usage here.

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Would you take a "sneak peak" or a "sneak peek?"
Sneak peak
Sneak peek
Sneek peak
Sneak peck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Taking a "sneak peek" means looking at something before a big revelation, so it's the proper term to use here. "Peak" means the top of a mountain or high elevation, and you don't want to sneak there, at all.

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Fill in the blanks: “You were more __ enough, but __ he came into my life.”
Than, then
Then, than
Then, since
Than, done
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first word should be "than" because it's a comparison of two people. The second term is "then" because that part of the sentence indicates some sort of time passage.

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Choose the right way to say this: Leave it to ___ to look into the matter later.
Myself and Sam
Me and Sam
Sam and me
Sam and I
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When using the first person singular form of "me" in conjunction with another name, it should always be put after the proper noun name. Therefore, in this usage, it should be "Sam and me."

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When referring to something specific, which article should you use?
A
An
The
Of
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The" is the article that should be used when pointing at something specific. It's like saying "This is the car for me" upon seeing a Mini, instead of saying "This is a car for me," which connotes uncertainty.

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As James Blunt sang, “__ beautiful, it’s true.”
You’re
Your
Youse
You
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The song lyric uses the contraction "you're," which means "you are." It's not "your" only, which many people mistakenly use.

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Do you find yourself in the "throws of passion" or the "throes of passion?"
Throws of passion
Throes of passion
Thrones of passion
Throats of passion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The right expression is "throes of passion" because it means being caught at the intense point of some struggle. To throw means to discard it, which is quite the opposite.

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Do you send an "invite" or an "invitation?"
Invite
Invitation
Invited
Invites
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You send out an invitation, because that's the noun. "To invite" is to ask someone to come, therefore it's a verb.

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When sending a letter to an unknown recipient, we write this: “To __ it may concern."
Who
Whom
Who'll
Whose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whom is a relative pronoun, and is often used as the direct object of a preposition or a verb. In this usage, it should be "To whom."

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Fill in the blanks: “When the new law takes __, it will __ the poorest communities.”
Affect, effect
Select, deflect
Afect, Efect
Effect, affect
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A new law will take effect, meaning something will happen that will influence something. For the verb that refers to being influenced, you say "it will affect" the population concerned.

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Guess the term: Do you also wait with ___ breath?
Baited
Bated
Beated
Bitten
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We wait with bated breath, meaning your breathing is affected, to the point of nearly stopping it, because of an intense emotion. It's Shakespearean in nature and origin, that's why it sounds poetic and literary, too.

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Place the proper usage: “Francis __ here for five years.”
Works
Working
Has been working
Is works
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Has been working" is the proper term here. It is an example of a present perfect continuous tense, wherein an action started in the past but is still continuing in the present time.

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Do we write “followup” as one word?
Yes
No
Not in memos and formal papers
Only during speeches
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Follow-up" is used as a noun, whereas "follow up" is used as a verb. Followup as one word might be obvious in some social media postings, but it is not the correct form of this term, and therefore should not be used.

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You Got:
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