A Difficult Grammar Handout

1. My uncle used to play _______ a semi-professional basketball team in Californial.

a. on b. in c. at d. of

2. John F. Kennedy ___________ in 1963.

a. assassinate b. was assassinate
c. is assassinate d. was assassinated

3. Those people have been talking for hours. I wish they __________.
a. would shut up b. would shut up
c. shut up d. do shut up

4. I anticipate ________ back home in a few weeks.

a. to go b. go c. to be go d. going

5. I just heard on the news that the main post office is _______ fire!
a. on b. at c. in d. to

6. If I ______ you, I would take that uniform to the cleaners.

a. am b. are c. would be d. were

7. If you _______ sick last night, you should have gone to the hospital.
a. was b. is c. are d. had been

8. Columbus landed on the Caribbean Islands ________ 1492.

a. in b. on c. of d. at

9. Why are you carrying an umbrella?

a. Because it is late. b. Because I am unhappy.
c. Because it is cold. d. Because it might rain.

10. Which of the following is NOT a tool?

a. a wrench b. a screwdriver c. a wart d. a pair of pliers

11. Joe is reviewing a handout of phrasal verbs __________.

a. tomorrow b. right now c. next week d. yesterday

12. Mr. Johnson is ________ Mr. Monroe.

a. more old than b. more older than
c. more older d. older than

13. You should avoid _________ to those clip-joints again.

a. going b. to go c. go d. for go

14. We will be ________ in a four-star hotel in Paris.

a. stays b. stayed c. stay d. staying

15. The parachutist _______ his legs when he landed roughly among some rocks.
a. hurt b. hurted c. hurting d. hurts

16. It is I who _____ your next teacher.

a. is b. am c. are d. were

17. We didn’t play soccer yesterday _______ it was raining.

a. because of b. due to c. because d. since because

18. I usually take my big vacation ______ August.

a. in b. at c. on d. to
19. He didn’t wear a helmet when he rode his motorcycle, thereby _______ severe injury in case of an accident.
a. risk b. risking c. risks d. risked

20. He made _________ mistakes during my speech, so he got a 100.

a. few b. fewer c. less d. lesser

21. Do you live ______ base?

a. in b. at c. of d. on

22. When I was a child, I used to _______ candy all day long.
a. eating b. eat c. ate d. eats

23. To _____ were you speaking a few minutes ago?

a. who b. whose c. whom d. who’s

24. Neither the students nor the teacher _____ much energy today.
a. have b. has c. having d. is having

25. Joe does not like his job as a policeman. He now wishes he _________ the police force.
a. weren’t joined b. hadn’t joined c. didn’t joining d. not join

26. Tom is feigning interest in the professor’s lectures.

a. gaining b. faking c. losing d. expressing

27. I think my brother is _______ work right now.

a. in b. on c. to d. at

28. He hurt his shin, so it’s hard for him to __________.

a. eat b. kneel c. speak d. yawn

29. I could have helped you if you _____________ here yesterday.

a. were b. was c. are d. had been

30. The teacher’s not here. I don’t know where she _______.
a. go b. goes c. going d. went

31. My daughter never tells a lie.

a. She is pretty. b. She is young. c. She is angry. d. She is honest.

32. If I had not eaten so much cake and pie last night, I _________ so sick today.
a. wouldn’t be b. won’t be c. am not d. will not be

33. The general ordered that Sgt Smith ______ in his office at 0600.
a. be b. is c. was d. being

34. I wish I could ______ things without my glasses, but I’m as blind as a bat.
a. see b. seeing c. seen d. be see

35. You have to wear your uniform on all academic tours, except for the Fredericksburg one.
a. should b. must c. ought to d. may

36. The Concorde ________ across the Atlantic faster than any other commercial airliner.
a. fly b. is fly c. can fly d. flying

37. My cousins ___________ next week.

a. is visited b. visited c. visits d. will be visiting

38. I called home yesterday, and my mother said that it ________ a lot yesterday.
a. rain b. is raining c. rained d. will be rain

39. Before the medics could arrive, the victim ___________.

a. die b. was died c. had already died d. will be dead

40. My son wanted to go to the beach _______ the heavy rain.

a. in spite b. despite of c. in spite of d. in despite

41. By the time I graduate in six weeks, I __________ at least 20 tests here at DLI.
a. will have taken b. took c. had taken d. would have taken

42. Don’t try to shoplift from the BX.

a. barter b. browse c. argue d. steal

43. Lt Jones got 100 on the ECL; ______, she was transferred to the Advanced Class.
a. however b. thus c. yet d. but

44. ________ five or six glasses of water right before bedtime is not a very good idea.
a. Drinking b. He drinks c. Drink d. Being drinmk

45. We will meet you _____ the corner of Fifth Avenue and Market Street at 11:30.
a. at b. for c. in d. to

46. Before the firefighters could put out the flames, five people __________.
a. perish b. were perish
c. had already perished d. already did perish

47. I rarely stay up beyond midnight.

a. never b. almost never c. always d. frequently

48. If you had been shot, what ___________?

a. will you do b. would you have done
c. would you do d. do you do

49. The philanthropist donated millions of dollars.

a. stole b. earned c. embezzled d. gave

50. The police ______ here twice looking for you.

a. has been b. are c. have been d. was

51. I have been here at DLI ______ seven weeks.

a. since b. beginning c. for d. at

52. Don’t point a weapon of any kind _____ anyone.

a. to b. of c. by d. at

53. Some of the furniture in these rooms ______ to be replaced.

a. need b. needs c. is needed d. needing

54. I ________ too sick to go to the game last night.

a. fell b. feel c. fall d. felt

55. Pepito has made the teacher angry because he keeps ________ everybody.
a. interrupt b. interrupts c. interrupted d. interrupting

56. There is a slight possibility of snow tomorrow night. It _______ snow.

a. might b. will c. must d. has to

57. We have to study a lot before the next ECL, _______?

a. have we b. aren’t we c. don’t we d. must we

58. If today is Tuesday, then tomorrow _____ Wednesday.

a. were b. am c. was d. is

59. A saw _________ to cut wood.

a. is used for cut b. is used to cutting
c. is use to cut d. is used to cut

60. By the time he finally passes the OPI, he _________ at least six times.
a. will be interview b. will have been interview
c. will have been interviewed d. will be been being interviewed

61. I ate a lot of salty food, so now I’m ________.

a. generous b. taller c. thirsty d. lonely

62. My neighbor’s dog is always _______ holes in my flower beds.

a. dig b. digging c. digs d. be dig

63. The price of computers, printers, and scanners ______ rather reasonable at Tom’s Computer Center.
a. is b. are c. were d. am

64. “It’s like a meatlocker in that classroom!” The speaker thinks the temperature in the room is _________.
a. moderate b. hot
c. very cold d. mild

65. Before I could write any of the vocabulary words in my notebook, some _______ the board completely.
a. erased b. is erase c. is erasing d. was erase

66. They have been laughing in that classroom for a long time.
a. They will be tell jokes.
b. They must be telling jokes.
c. They should be tell jokes.
d. They are being telling jokes.

67. Your flight will depart at 10:45 a.m.

a. take on b. take over c. take apart d. take off

68. I ________ a great movie on TV last night, but I can’t remember the name of it now.
a. see b. am see c. saw d. was see

69. I’m sure that when I get home, my son _______ his homework.
a. has did b. does c. will be doing d. doing

70. The man cannot see.

a. He is lame. b. He is blind.
c. He is mute. d. He is deaf.

71.All of the questions ______________ by Mr. Williams.

a. was written b. are wrote c. were wrote d. have been written

72. Do these questions as homework, not ________ class.

a. in b. to c. of d. by

73. The teacher is waiting for you _______ Lab 5.

a. to b. on c. in d. of
74. Lt Szxszsxsky anticipates __________ to his FOT as soon as he finishes Specialized.
a. go b. to go c. going d. for to go

75. Some of the pies _______ by my aunt.

a. are bake b. is baked c. were baked d. baked

76. I ate a huge lunch, ______ I’m too full to eat any supper.
a. because b. so c. but d. however

77. Students from Brazil _______ Portuguese, don’t they?

a. speak b. speaking c. spoke d. speaks

78. Some of the pie ________ before we cut it.

a. was eaten b. were eaten c. got ate d. got eat

79. Before _______ to sleep, make sure you have set your alarm clock.
a. go b. goes c. going d. you are go

80. Mary dislikes turnips, _________?

a. don’t she b. doesn’t she c. do she d. can’t she

81. There ________ a lot of difficult questions up to this point, but I’m sure you have answered most of them correctly.
a. was b. were being c. has been d. have been

82. He gets most of his information ______ the Internet.

a. off b. at c. of d. to

83. My father is very ill.

a. healthy b. well c. sick d. comfortable

84. The teacher just said that I got 98 _____ the ECL!
a. of b. in c. to d. on

85. I finally got my son ______ his bedroom.

a. clean up b. cleans up c. to clean up d. cleaned up

86. The news about the tornados in Oklahoma and Kansas _________ very bad.
a. is b. were c. are d. have been

87. The Supervisor made Lt Porporano ______ another ECL.

a. to take b. take c. taking d. takes

88. Give these pictures to ________ wants them.

a. whomever b. whoever c. whatever d. whomsoever

89. Because he refused to study for the Book Quiz, he _______ a score of 48.
a. getting b. got c. get d. was get

90. I hope the weather ________ good tomorrow.

a. will be b. must to be c. would be d. will being

91. I am taking another ECL next week, __________?

a. amn’t I b. don’t I c. aren’t I d. will I

92. Once I succeeded in getting my car started, I discovered that my fuel gauge ________ on empty.
a. is sit b. was sitting c. has been sit d. sitted

93. The police ________ just here to question you again about the fire.
a. is b. was c. am d. were

94. If Joe had studied for the test, he would have passed it.
a. Joe studied for the test.
b. Joe passed the test.
c. Joe didn’t study for the test.
d. Joe didn’t flunk the test.

95. I want my brother ______ the military.

a. enjoin b. to enjoin c. to join d. joining

96. I would study Friday nights in the Learning Center _________.

a. were I you b. was I you
c. if I am do d. be I you

97. The fire was ______ the third-floor men’s restroom.

a. in b. of c. at d. on

98. Nuclear physics _______ a difficult subject.

a. are b. were c. am d. is

99. When I was a child I used to watch TV seven or eight hours per day.
a. would b. will c. can d. shall

100. Of your two daughters, which one is ________.

a. the old b. the older c. oldest d. the oldest

101. The cost of the tomatoes, beans, onions, and apples _____ a lot less than I expected.
a. was b. are c. have been d. were

102. If I had not watched two videos last night, I ________ so tired right now.
a. will not be b. am not c. should not have been d. would not be

103. I _______ last night. I was bored.

a. didn’t do nothing b. done nothing
c. didn’t do anything d. didn’t do something

104. I will never get used _______ Inuit food.

a. to eat b. to eating c. eat d. of eating

105. There ______ a lot of cars illegally parked in the teachers’ parking lot yesterday.
a. is b. was c. are d. were
106. My sister’s car is _________ mine.
a. newer than b. new than c. more new than d. newest than

107. Should you happen to see the Supervisor during the next break, _________ tell her I need to see her before lunch?
a. please tell b. please to tell
c. will please you tell d. could please you tell

108. I found two __________ in the parking lots behind the Amigo Inn.
a. hundred-dollars bills
b. hundred dollars bill
c. hundred-dollar bills
d. hundred dollar bill

109. I have _______ problems right now.

a. a lot b. some of
c. too much d. too many

110. Tom gave Mary a couple of cute teddy bears. Then, he gave her _______ roses.
a. a dozen of b. a dozen c. dozen d. dozen of

111. _________ Lt Zyszsyzky didn’t study for the test, he got 100 on it.
a. Because b. Although c. If d. However

112. It is absolutely essential that Joe ______ 80 on his next ECL.

a. get b. gets c. to get d. got

113. Because of all the ice on the road, my car ______ out of control.
a. spin b. span c. spinned d. spun

114. Tom is brilliant, while Frank is an idiot.

a. so b. whereas c. because d. since

115. Joe just asked, “Where is the Sheraton Hotel?”

a. Joe wants to know the Sheraton Hotel is where.
b. Joe wants to know the Sheraton Hotel where is.
c. Joe wants to know where is the Sheraton Hotel.
d. Joe wants to know where the Sheraton Hotel is.

116. I could not have completed the project if Joe hadn’t helped me.
a. I could not have completed the project because Joe helped me.
b. I could not have completed the project without Joe’s help.
c. Since I completed the project, Joe helped me.
d. Due to completing the project, Joe helped me.

117. Tom took a pratfall and tumbled down the stairs.

a. Tom got a tool and repaired the stairs.
b. First, Tom had something to eat, and then he worked on the stairs.
c. Tom fell down the stairs.
d. Tom got a beverage and sat on the stairs.

118. Steve has many outstanding attributes, not the least of which is his impeccable appearance.
a. Steve looks bad most of the time.
b. Steve has no outstanding attributes.
c. Steve is usually neat and clean.
d. Steve would be outstanding if he weren’t sloppy.