Grammar Exam 1EN114 HT18

This grammar test is divided into six tasks (A-F). Before doing each task
make sure you read the instructions carefully. There is a maximum of 50
points. For a pass (grade E), you need to get 30 points or more. For most of
the tasks you just need to know what the grammatically correct answer is
(40 p). However, in tasks E and F you will also be asked to explain why the
answer is correct (10 p). This is because a better understanding of how the
English language works is required for the higher grades. You do not
necessarily need to know the specific grammatical terms as long as you can
give a clear explanation that shows that you are aware of the underlying
rules for how we use language.

Good luck to you all!

Oskar

These are example answers, for some of the questions other answers may be
acceptable as well.

A. Choose the form of the verb on the right that best fits the sentence. (10 p)

1. It was already 1 am when he finally crept home. (creep)

2. Have you eaten yet? (eat)

3. With that remark she dug/digs her own grave. (dig)

4. Have you chosen what college to go to? (choose)

5. This new brand of coffee is highly sought after. (seek)

6. Who shrank my favourite sweater? (shrink)

7. She flew to New York last week. (fly)

8. I discovered that I had torn my jacket. (tear)

9. Bob lent/lends me his lawnmower. (lend)

10. I was sick so I just lay in bed the whole day. (lie)
B. Put the following nouns in their plural forms (foot feet). (5 p)

1. analysis analyses

2. man men

3. criterion criteria

4. Chinese Chinese

5. enemy enemies

C. Insert in the following sentences either the definite article (the), the indefinite article
(a, an) or – (no article) (5 p)
1. It depends on whether it is a European company.

2. Even though she had surgery she came to work the next day.

3. President Kennedy was a / - Catholic.

4. - Summer/summer is my favourite season.

5. Bell once worked as a clerk in a patent office.

D. Subject-verb agreement. In the following sentences, please circle the correct verb
form to use (5 p).

1. The kids who live next door ( play / plays ) football every day.

2. All the advice she gave me over the years ( was / were ) really helpful.

3. These trousers ( is / are ) too small for me.

4. The point of all these questions ( is / are ) to give you a better understanding of the issue.

5. The furniture she bought really ( match / matches ) the room.

E. Spot the mistakes in the sentences below. Underline the mistakes and correct them.
(10p) Then explain briefly and concisely your corrections in the first five
sentences (5p) (Total 15 p) There is only one mistake in each sentence.

1 You cannot go around telling whoever you like!

You cannot go around telling whomever you like!

Explanation:
Since it is the object in the sentence we should use whom instead of who.

2 There are a lot of similarities between candy and junk food, they both have a lot
of sugar in them.

There are a lot of similarities between candy and junk food. They both have a lot
of sugar in them.

Explanation:
This is a run-on sentence. You should not join two main clauses with a comma.

3 If you have the money, then give them to me.

If you have the money, then give it to me.

Explanation:
Money is uncountable and therefore always treated as singular
4 Someone told me you´re teacher is really strict.

Someone told me your teacher is really strict.

Explanation:
You’re us short for you are and cannot be used here, we should use

the possesive pronoun your .

5 The most shocking was the way he did it.

The most shocking thing was the way he did it.

Explanation:
An adjective cannot be the head of a noun phrase when referring to

Something specific. It needs to be followed by a noun.

6 I did not ran the marathon yesterday.

_run_____________________________________________________________

7 The problem required the students full attention.

_student’s / students’ _______________________________________________

8 They had their doubts but did very good on the test.

__well___________________________________________________________

9 He slept lately and missed his first class.

__late___________________________________________________________

10 There were less people here than I thought there would be.

_fewer___________________________________________________________
F Answer the following questions briefly and concisely in English. (10 p)

1. Explain what the difference in meaning between these two sentences is.

(a) Have you seen any of these movies?

(b) Have you seen some of these movies?

_With any we are expecting a negative response (no), but when using some we are expecting a

positive response (yes) ________________________________________________________

2. Which is the more polite of (a) and (b)? Justify your choice!

(a) Can you tell me where the station is?

(b) Could you tell me where the station is?

_(b), because past tense forms are more polite and/or indirect. _________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Explain the difference between these sentences:

(a) What is your favourite movie?
(b) Which is your favourite movie?

_In (a) we have an unlimited choice (could be any movie), but in (b) the choice is limited to a

specific selection. _____________________________________________________________

4. Which of the following sentences is more correct? Explain your choice.

a) I told you never to go there.

b) I told you to never go there.

_(a) is more correct because (b) is a split infinitive. __________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Choose the correct verb form and motivate your choice.

a) I __________ her yesterday. (called/have called)

b) I __________ her every day since we met. (called have called)

_(a) is one action in the past that has been completed. (b) is a series of actions that started in the

past and continue until now. ___________________________________________________