Are You Grammatically Incorrect?

[Guest]

This is quite a good little quiz, which I found on another forum. It tests some of the basic grammar rules. MG's thread about 'its' and 'it's' made me think of posting it here, and, yes, an example of that particular grammatical headache (for some) is included.

Here's a link:Are You Grammatically Incorrect?

This is my result, I'm peeved I got one wrong

Nice work!
Do you diagram sentences in your spare time? You got 9/10 correct.

I won't say which one I got wrong, until others have taken the test, but I will say that the answer to that particular question is debatable, but that's just my opinion. I'll be interested to see what others think about it.

Lou

 

[gauchecritic]

I feel awfully for the test setter.

Apparently you can't have feelings of awe, for anything.

Only the modern usage of the word is allowed. I'd guess he thinks 10 out of 10 would be awesome.

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Hey, Loulou. I got one wrong too, wonder if it's the same as yours. I hesitated and didn't go with my instinct.

Perdita

 

[Black Tulip]

Lou,

I could not resist the challenge.

Guess what: two wrong.

I is very proud of me.

 

[oggbashan]

Oops- 10 out of 10 and I know my grammar ain't perfect.

Og

 

[whispering_surrender]

I can't believe I got THAT one wrong.....*shakes head*

Whisper

 

[dee1124]

I can't believe I got THAT one wrong.....*shakes head*

Whisper

Me, neither. Whichever one it was.

-- Dee

Edited to clarify ... not yours, Whisper, the one I missed. Feh.

 

[whispering_surrender]

Me, neither. Whichever one it was.

-- Dee

Edited to clarify ... not yours, Whisper, the one I missed. Feh.

*laughs softly*

Whisper

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmm

It said the answers wot I wrote were all correct, which is pretty good going seeing as how I guessed half of them

 

[Pure]

10. on those ten, *not a mark of perfection.

 

[Guest]

Re: Hmmmm

It said the answers wot I wrote were all correct, which is pretty good going seeing as how I guessed half of them

Of course you got them all right, love; you're an Oxford man .

Perdita

(However, I do not believe anything the poster below you says.)

 

[Lauren Hynde]

10/10 for me, but #4 was blind luck. I always get that wrong.

 

[Icingsugar]

8/10.
Got one wrong that I should had known.
Got one "wrong" that honestly had two right answers.

But regardless of this test. Am i gramatically incorrect?
Hell yeah!
On purpose. And proud of it.

/Ice - do did does done duh!

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Sadly, I must declare this test to be fraudulent. I got 10 of 10 and that means something is not kosher

-Colly

 

[Boxlicker101]

You got 9/10 correct

Hi, Lou. I also had nine right and I think for the the one that was said to be wrong, #7, any answer could be correct, depending on the context.

First Scenario:
Two high school girls are talking about a classmate.
First girl: He is the coolest guy I know.
Second girl: He acts like he is the coolest guy in school.

Second scenario
At the tenth reunion, same two are taling about the same guy.
First woman: He was the coolest guy I knew.
Second woman: He acts as he was the coolest guy in school.

Since the subject of the discussion is or was a contender for the distinction, that is the correct use.

Third Scenario.
The same two people are talking about another classmate.
First: He is the king of the dorks.
Second: Yeah, but he acts as if he were the coolest guy in school.

This is the one the testers favored but without knowing the context, you can't tell.

 

[DarkLight]

Sadly, I must declare this test to be fraudulent. I got 10 of 10 and that means something is not kosher

-Colly

The test is definitely fraudulent.... I will admit to scoring a lowly 7/10.

The shame of it!

 

[raphy]

9/10 here, for the same reason as Boxlicker.

 

[Mhari]

10/10 for me. I'd've been ashamed to get any other score, seeing as how I teach this stuff for a living!

I'm gonna disagree with you lads on #7. The words "as if" generally signify the subjunctive. *ducks*

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm gonna disagree with you lads on #7. The words "as if" generally signify the subju

I think generally "were" would be used to describe an impossibiity such as "If I were king of the world"; "If I were a famous move star" etc. When something is true, is or was could be used. "G. W. Bush acts as if he is president" or "Willie Mays sounds as if he was a star baseball player". Of course, you wouldn't normally phrase a known fact that way.

 

[jpschust]

not to hijack this thread, but it's along the same lines as what you all have been talking about. read this the other day and just about fell out of my chair laughing.

"Words and Phrases Commonly Misused by Insipid Brothers-in-Law"

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2003/11/10diclaudio.html/

 

[Guest]

That was mucho funny, JP, so I don't call it a highjack.

cheerier now,

Perdita

 

[Boxlicker101]

That was mucho funny, JP, so I don't call it a highjack

That IS funny, even though it is vocabulary, not grammar, and don't worry about hijacking a thread. They all get hijacked sooner or later.

 

[Gary Chambers]

It was a bit of fun for a few minutes, but I agree with those who say the test contained some flaws, and was subject to one acceptable habit of usage versus another. For example, I try not to use the word could've in my speech let alone my writing. I don't condemn those who do use it, but it strikes me as a slovenly word so I avoid it. I think 'could of' or 'could have' both work in its place and pass muster with most editors. Could have is technically correct due to the clarity of tense, but 'could of' is used so widely that it's surely part of the language by now. Let's not forget that some of the worst writing in the world is in academic texts and journals, and it may be grammatically correct even though it's unreadable. Another consideration is the evolution of language. English is the most widely used language on Earth, so it is spoken and written in many different dialects filled with a multitude of coloquialisms. Some become acceptable in a certain region, others are adopted world wide, still more never achieve acceptance. A dismal 5/10 here, which shook me up a little until I realised the test itself was flawed. I suppose it depends whose style book you keep at hand. I have Strunk and White in a box somewhere, but my main usage texts before I start digging for S&W are Rudolp Flesch's Art of Plain Talk, and the Century Handbook of Writing for anything Flesch glosses over too easily. They're both getting a bit ancient, but so am I so they fit like old bedroom slippers.