Year 3 · Unit 6 · Lesson 5 of 5
Mixed Drills at Speed: Beat the Clock
We discussed about the problem.
Many students write this every day, and every time it loses a mark. Can you see why?
Discuss already means "talk about", so it never takes about. Write: We discussed the problem.
The 45-second method
Step 1
Read the whole sentence.
Not just the words around the gap.
Step 2
Name what is being tested.
Tense, concord, preposition, tag, word order or meaning.
Step 3
Eliminate.
Cross out the options that break the rule you named.
Step 4
Choose and move on.
Still unsure after 45 seconds? Mark your best guess and come back at the end.
12 errors that lose marks most often
discuss about the matter
discuss the matter
Discuss takes no preposition.
comprises of four rooms
comprises four rooms / consists of four rooms
Comprise never takes of.
good in mathematics
good at mathematics
We are good at a subject or skill.
prefer rice than potatoes
prefer rice to potatoes
Prefer pairs with to.
accused for stealing
accused of stealing
Accused takes of.
congratulate for his success
congratulate on his success
Congratulate takes on.
married with a nurse
married to a nurse
Married takes to.
senior than me
senior to me
Senior, junior, superior and inferior take to.
looking forward to see you
looking forward to seeing you
To here is a preposition, so the -ing form follows.
return back / repeat again
return / repeat
Back and again are already in the meaning.
If I was you
If I were you
Use were in unreal conditions.
If he had come, he would see
If he had come, he would have seen
Third conditional.
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the option that best completes each sentence. Try to answer each one in 45 seconds or less.
1.We ___ the problem for an hour.
Not quite. Discuss takes a direct object with no preposition: discussed the problem. Answer: B. discussed.
Correct. Discuss takes a direct object with no preposition: discussed the problem.
Not quite. Discuss takes a direct object with no preposition: discussed the problem. Answer: B. discussed.
Not quite. Discuss takes a direct object with no preposition: discussed the problem. Answer: B. discussed.
2.If I ___ you, I would apologise.
Correct. In unreal conditions, use were for every subject: If I were you.
Not quite. In unreal conditions, use were for every subject: If I were you. Answer: A. were.
Not quite. Was is common in speech, but examinations expect were in unreal conditions. Answer: A. were.
Not quite. In unreal conditions, use were for every subject: If I were you. Answer: A. were.
3.She is good ___ mathematics.
Not quite. We are good at a subject or skill. Answer: D. at.
Not quite. We are good at a subject or skill. Answer: D. at.
Not quite. We are good at a subject or skill. Answer: D. at.
Correct. We are good at a subject or skill.
4.The house ___ four bedrooms.
Not quite. Consist needs of after it. Answer: C. consists of.
Not quite. Comprise never takes of. Answer: C. consists of.
Correct. Consist always takes of: consists of four bedrooms.
Not quite. Consist is not used in the continuous form. Answer: C. consists of.
5.If he had studied harder, he ___ the examination.
Correct. Third conditional: if + had + past participle, then would have + past participle.
Not quite. Third conditional: if + had + past participle, then would have + past participle. Answer: A. would have passed.
Not quite. Third conditional: if + had + past participle, then would have + past participle. Answer: A. would have passed.
Not quite. Third conditional: if + had + past participle, then would have + past participle. Answer: A. would have passed.
6.By the time we arrived, the film ___.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived, so use the past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: D. had already started.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived, so use the past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: D. had already started.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived, so use the past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: D. had already started.
Correct. The film started before we arrived, so use the past perfect for the earlier action.
7.I prefer rice ___ potatoes.
Not quite. Than goes with comparatives (better than). Prefer takes to. Answer: B. to.
Correct. Prefer pairs with to: prefer rice to potatoes.
Not quite. Prefer pairs with to: prefer rice to potatoes. Answer: B. to.
Not quite. Prefer pairs with to: prefer rice to potatoes. Answer: B. to.
8.Neither of the two boys ___ guilty.
Not quite. Neither, used on its own as the subject, is singular. Answer: C. is.
Not quite. Neither, used on its own as the subject, is singular. Answer: C. is.
Correct. Neither, used on its own as the subject, is singular.
Not quite. Neither, used on its own as the subject, is singular. Answer: C. is.
9.He was accused ___ stealing the money.
Not quite. We say accused of. Answer: D. of.
Not quite. We say accused of. Answer: D. of.
Not quite. We say accused of. Answer: D. of.
Correct. We say accused of.
10.This is the boy ___ father is a pilot.
Not quite. Whose shows possession: the boy's father. Answer: B. whose.
Correct. Whose shows possession: the boy's father.
Not quite. Whose shows possession: the boy's father. Answer: B. whose.
Not quite. Whose shows possession: the boy's father. Answer: B. whose.
Find and correct eight errors
The paragraph below contains eight errors. Rewrite it correctly in the box, then check your answers below.
Last week, my class go on an excursion to the Science Museum. Each of the students were excited. Our teacher, as well as the driver, were waiting for us at six o'clock. The journey was very interested. When we reached, the guide explained us the history of the museum. Neither the boys nor the girls was bored. We returned back to school in the evening.
1. go → went (past tense)
2. Each of the students were → was (each is singular)
3. Our teacher, as well as the driver, were → was (as well as does not change the subject)
4. interested → interesting (the journey caused the interest)
5. When we reached → When we arrived (or "reached there")
6. explained us → explained to us
7. Neither the boys nor the girls was → were (nearer subject: girls)
8. returned back → returned
Next: the Lesson 5 exit quiz, then the unit test. The unit test has 25 questions and takes about 25 minutes.