word choice — exercise 1: their, there,...

Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 1: Their, There, and They're

This handout accompanies Exercise 1 of Grammar Bytes! Get the answers by doing the interactive version of the exercise at this address: http://chompchomp.com/exercises.htm

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—their, there, or they're. 1. Unable to tolerate the dust one moment longer, Elizabeth spent the afternoon cleaning the

living room tables and shelves. Now __________ slippery with furniture polish, glowing in the sunlight that spills through the open window.

2. "Oh, no! _________ are lima beans on my plate!" screamed Noel before he fainted with a

thud on the dining room floor. 3. Nothing makes Diane’s cat Big Toe Joe happier than a laundry basket full of fresh warm

towels. _________ he will sleep, purring in contentment and shedding long white hair on the clean terry cloth.

4. Mrs. O'Shea spent the day steam cleaning the living room floor. Now her children can hardly

find the kitchen without __________ trail of dirty footprints leading the way. 5. Dolly hates dogs more than snakes or cockroaches. She believes that canines are loathsome

creatures because _________ only goal in life is to kill her front lawn with urine. 6. Behind the sofa _________ is a collection of desiccated broccoli spears that Simon, the

family cocker spaniel, carries away for Noel, who cannot stomach the vegetable. 7. The knives in Roseanne's kitchen are encrusted with bits of brownie and smears of dried

mustard. _________ is no way a doctor would ever consider operating with any instrument that Roseanne had washed!

8. Bentley, our neighbor's basset hound, has toenails that are so long that ________ curled like

macaroni noodles at the ends of his paws. 9. Noel carefully sliced each Brussels sprout in half, carefully scrutinizing the heart of the little

cabbage. He always worries that ________ might be a worm buried in the middle. 10. Casey and Tamara had plenty of privacy for kissing because _________ were six sheets

drying on the clothesline in the backyard. 11. Warren hates cleaning the bathroom because his brothers always leave globs of toothpaste

in the sink, and _________ dirty underwear hangs from the doorknobs or lies in damp piles on the tile floor.

12. Raymond's parakeets love to sit on his head; _________ droppings litter his shoulders like

flakes of dandruff. 13. After a few ineffective swipes across the kitchen floor, Kristy returned the mop to the closet.

________ it would remain for another six months.

http://chompchomp.com/exercises.htm

14. In a frenzy of packing, the Gonzalez family even boxed their poodle, Chiquita. _________ moving into a new home tomorrow, and everything must be ready to go.

15. Willard loves going food shopping late at night. The aisles are free of people, so ________ is

no one to see him sneaking grapes in the produce section or filching cookies from the bakery. 16. Russell and his friend Ted dived into ________ car and sped out of the parking lot. Dripping

milkshake, Billy soon followed, shaking his fist and swearing revenge at the fleeing car. 17. Lolita heaped her brother's plate with barbecue chicken, potato salad, and baked beans.

_________ was so much food that Henry needed two hands to carry the plate to the table. 18. Eboni and Andrea can spend an entire paycheck during one trip to the mall. They eat at the

food court, shop for clothes and makeup, and buy popcorn and movie tickets with ________ last few dollars.

19. Maria gasped in horror when she looked at her new leather furniture. ________ were

scratches and punctures all over the armrests from the sharp claws of her cat Brandy. 20. After the long walk in the August heat, Norman's two dogs collapsed on the cool tiles of the

kitchen floor, tongues rolling from _________ mouths in exhausted panting.

©1997 - 2011 by Robin L. Simmons All Rights Reserved.

Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 2: Their, There, and They're


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—their, there, or they're. 1. Because Tamara and Casey are always smooching in their car, __________ friends expect

them to arrive at least fifteen minutes late to dinners and movies. 2. "Don't touch those cookies!" warned Mrs. Patterson. "__________ made with termites and

honey for Freddie, my pet anteater." 3. Mom was furious when she arrived home from work. __________ were muddy paw prints on

the new white sofa, a huge grape juice stain on the carpeting, and a message from the high school wanting to know why my little brother George wasn't in class.

4. The Mitchells cut __________ grass so infrequently that early in the morning, you can find

wild rabbits feasting on the long green shoots. 5. Dusty and Chris came to the essay exam without __________ dictionaries. The disapproving

look of Mrs. Mauzy, their teacher, haunted them for the entire test. 6. My dog Oreo loves to chase things, especially the lizards sunning themselves on the

sidewalk; __________ not as dangerous as the two family cats who will stand their ground and swipe her with sharp claws.

7. Despite the complaints from his girlfriend Gloria, Frank continues to wear his old, dirty, smelly

sneakers because __________ the most comfortable shoes that he owns. 8. Dallas and Kelly crammed until 4 a.m. for their final exam in accounting; __________ hoping

for As on the test to bump their wretched averages up to Cs. 9. I'm starving! Are __________ any more leftover honey-roasted grasshoppers in the fridge? 10. Paulette and Judi tried to eat the cafeteria hamburgers, but the brown lettuce, cold meat, and

stale buns were making __________ stomachs queasy. 11. Because my careless roommate Jennifer is always dripping grape juice, you will find purple

spots here and __________ on the carpeting. 12. Julia has put her house up for sale because the neighbors are driving her crazy. They play

loud music until 2 a.m., after which __________ German shepherd barks for another three hours.

13. Both of Clark’s grandfathers wear toupees because they don't want to blind any beautiful

women with __________ shiny bald heads. 14. Derrick's coworkers at Bernie’s Burger Emporium never get hungry because __________

always popping onion rings into their mouths when the managers aren't looking.


15. The students put __________ heads on the desks and groaned, for Professor Tighe had just assigned another four chapters of Moby-Dick, a novel that they all found tedious to read.

16. Is __________ a possibility that we can abandon our plans to rake the yard and spend the

day at the mall instead? 17. "Look over _________ !" shouted Lenny. In the direction he was pointing, we saw a funnel

cloud descending from the sky and roaring in our direction. 18. Kay has a huge collection of DVDs, everything from "How To" titles to Mae West movies.

__________ all lined up in alphabetical order, filling five bookcases in the living room. 19. Michael blasts hip hop music from his car stereo, annoying the drivers trapped beside him at

traffic lights. __________ looks of disapproval don't register, however, as he grooves with the heavy bass that pounds through his open windows.

20. Sheba and Cindy Sue, the family cats, keep Jeanne from sleeping past 6 a.m. __________

meows of hunger can wake her from the deepest sleep.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 3: Lose and Loose


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—lose or loose. 1. Pizza for lunch was such a treat that Clifford refused to __________ his place in the cafeteria

line—even though all of his money was in the car. 2. Clarissa ducked into a doorway, for the strong wind was blowing her long, __________ hair

onto her double scoops of rocky road ice cream. 3. Flying __________ in the house, Jacques visited every mirror where he chirped to the

handsome green parakeet who met him on the other side of the glass. 4. Gabrielle doesn’t want to __________ her locker key, so she wears it on her charm bracelet,

where it jingles with a diamond-eyed poodle, a gold skate, and an emerald-studded four-leaf clover.

5. If you __________ a sock in a washing machine, Mrs. Chen, the Laundromat owner, will

make a puppet with it to amuse the children who visit. 6. Everyone snickered as Bruce walked by, for __________ dog hair clung to the back of his

black pants. 7. Michael purchased a two-liter bottle of soda and a one-pound bag of chocolate-covered

peanuts so that he would not __________ momentum finishing his critical analysis of Melville’s Moby-Dick.

8. A __________ board on the back staircase squeals like a dying mouse whenever someone

climbs to the second floor. 9. If you have a fascination with ancient Egypt, don’t take a class with Dr. McConnell, whose

boring lectures make anyone quickly __________ interest. 10. Franklin fought to keep his eyes open, but the __________ structure of the plot and poor

characterization of the main characters made him fall asleep in the middle of the play. 11. Peggy smelled the faint odor of last summer’s barbecue as she lifted the __________ cover

draping the gas grill. 12. Aida hates to __________ her place in a book, so she not only turns down the corner of a

page but also adds “Start here” in pen, even to library books! 13. As Jane leaned over the potato salad, her __________ hair fell over her shoulders and

dragged through the mayonnaise. 14. So that Mrs. Hoff doesn’t __________ a single minute of class time, she watches the second

hand sweep across the twelve, indicating the hour has started, and then launches into her lecture.


15. __________ the dogs from their leashes, Rachel watched as her whippets streaked in circles in the dog park field.

16. Pulling a cantaloupe from the bottom of the pyramidal display will cause the rest of the

melons to crash to the floor, rolling __________ without organization imposed by the produce managers.

17. Because Gisela always borrows pens and then quickly __________ them, her friends no

longer volunteer their extras. 18. Grandma believes that clothing color indicates a person’s character. Wearing pinks, reds, or

oranges—whether male or female, whether shirts, socks, or ties—indicates __________ morals in Grandma’s book.

19. Jessie found enough __________ change in her book bag to buy either a root beer or a bag

of chips; she contemplated the difficult decision between sweet or salty. 20. Reggie will not __________ the 100-meter race because Bianca, the girl of his dreams, is

watching from the bleachers.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 4: Lose and Loose


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—lose or loose. 1. Stuffed with novels, the cheap bookcase sagged to the right, so Angela tightened the

__________ screws before the shelves collapsed. 2. Kamaria wiggled her __________ tooth, hoping to find a five-dollar bill under her pillow when

the incisor finally came out. 3. Because Regina removes her engagement ring to wash her hands, her fiancé Emilio is

certain she will ________ the beautiful diamond in a public restroom. 4. Glenda’s Yorkshire terrier escaped under the fence and ran __________ in the front yard,

yipping ferociously at cars that drove past the house. 5. If Terrence continues skipping class, he will not only fail Freshman Composition but also

__________ his scholarship. 6. With the __________ change Robert found on the bedroom table, he can buy a soda to drink

with his peanut butter sandwich. 7. Grandma decided to buy Jason a belt for Christmas. She disliked the __________ jeans that

hung on his hips, revealing his polka-dotted boxer shorts. 8. Raisin-sized droppings littered the living room floor, so Eric knew his roommate’s rabbit had

once again escaped her cage and was __________ in the apartment. 9. Old Professor Seymour will frequently __________ his train of thought in the middle of an

explanation; he must ask the class what they were discussing before he can continue the lecture.

10. If you leave the turkey on the cutting board, you will __________ it to Billy, the family’s Irish

wolfhound, whose head easily reaches the countertop. 11. The director warned Samuel that he would __________ computer lab privileges if she ever

again caught him downloading research papers at schoolsucks.com. 12. Everyone warned Dusty that he would __________ his girlfriend if he insisted on singing in

the car, but he continued belting out country ballads in his scratchy, off-tune voice. 13. Sanford untucked his __________ shirt, hoping to conceal his pockets bulging with bootleg

snacks that he wanted to sneak into the movie theater. 14. Kimberly thought she would surely __________ her mind trying to keep up with the pages

and pages of homework assigned by Dr. Frazier, her organic chemistry professor. 15. My basenji Oreo never misses an opportunity to meet another dog. Just yesterday, she

slipped out of her __________ collar and bolted after a dachshund trotting beside its owner.


16. Rachel prefers to wear __________ clothing but learned that a snug fitting shirt was best for

yoga class since it wouldn’t fall over her head during the downward dog pose. 17. Diane’s beagle Reliable loves to visit Kendon Horse Park, where he can run __________ in

the big pastures, tracking rabbits with his keen nose. 18. Because we often find Isabelle’s car keys or cell phone in the refrigerator, we wonder if she

has a screw __________. 19. Betsy’s grandmother hasn’t seen a movie since the 1970s because of the __________

morals she observed on screen. 20. Fall semester registration can be time consuming and frustrating. Bring a magazine and a

bottle of water so that you do not __________ your patience while waiting in the long lines for academic advising and financial aid.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 5: Loss and Lost


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—loss or lost. 1. A bolt of lightning crashed outside the window, disrupting the power and causing the

computer to reboot. Kim __________ two big paragraphs of her research essay and four new entries to the works cited page.

2. Chris searched the apartment for his Environmental Studies textbook. Its __________ would

mean spending another $75 in the bookstore so that he could study for his final exam. 3. After the Smiths moved, no one mourned their __________. Their noisy parties, unkempt

yard, and ferocious dogs had won them no friends in the neighborhood. 4. Madeline grabbed Kebo’s leash even more tightly as she read the flyer announcing a $100

reward for a __________ dog.

5. Rosita gave a wide smile to show the gap where she had wiggled out an incisor. In the

morning, she could expect a five-dollar bill under her pillow for the __________ tooth.

6. Richard ducked out of Tito’s Taco Palace when he spied Juan and Jessica sharing a large

order of nachos. Richard regretted not only the __________ of Jessica, his ex-girlfriend, but

also that of Juan, his best friend since middle school.

7. We looked everywhere for the pink sock—including under all the furniture and in the dryer.

The gurgling stomach of Chewbacca, Dana’s new puppy, might explain the __________.

8. The __________ set of keys eluded Sara, who was already behind schedule and couldn’t risk

angering her manager Mr. Latoya with another late arrival to work.

9. Bernard __________ thirty points from his essay grade for not parroting Dr. Grayson’s

analysis of the novel.

10. Cary stared at the top of his head in the bathroom mirror. He worried that the loose strands in

the sink signified impending hair __________ and eventual baldness.

11. __________ in the crowd of holiday shoppers, Melinda hoped to find her friends as she no

longer had money for a bus ride home.

12. After a strict diet of low-calorie dog food, Sylvia’s Labrador retriever no longer resembles a

beach ball on sticks. In fact, the __________ of weight enables Hooper to catch Frisbees in

midair again.


13. Unable to please Professor Markham with anything he wrote, Anthony withdrew from his

contemporary literature class. The three-credit __________ will make a summer semester

mandatory if he hopes to graduate next year.

14. __________ in a new sci-fi novel, Jerrod didn’t realize that the slices of pizza he was

reheating were blackening in the oven.

15. Esmeralda was forced to sneak peeks at Jeffrey’s chemistry exam because she had

__________ the crib sheet she had carefully prepared the night before.

16. When Jeffrey caught Esmeralda sneaking peeks at his chemistry exam, he immediately

__________ respect for his tablemate.

17. Jeffrey’s __________ of respect for Esmeralda means that she will not have his company at

next week’s homecoming festivities.

18. When Tamika left her biology notebook on the city bus, she regretted the __________ of her

twelve-page research paper more than the twenty-dollar bill tucked in a pocket.

19. The impending hurricane season inspired the Martinez family to cut down the huge oak tree

that towered over the house. The __________ of shade annoyed Mr. Martinez the most as he

had the responsibility of paying the higher electric bill.

20. In the homestretch, as competitors began reducing the distance of his lead, Charlie knew the

__________ of the race was inevitable as his legs had no more speed to give.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 6: Who and Whom


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—who or whom. 1. Kerry Ann, __________ hates spiders, wears bug-stomping boots wherever she goes. 2. Professor Borglum glared at Reggie, __________ spent the entire class drawing space aliens

in the margins of the lecture outline. 3. Into the dark apartment walked David, __________ we nearly killed with surprise when

everyone shouted “Happy Birthday” and jumped from behind the furniture. 4. In desperation, Belinda sought help from Professor White, __________ she knew preferred

playing solitaire on his computer to assisting students during office hours. 5. The doctor explained that Rex, __________ we had rushed to the veterinary clinic, would not

die after eating eight bananas that he stole off the kitchen counter. 6. Tim was too embarrassed to say anything to Deidre, __________ had sautéed spinach

caught between two teeth. 7. Grandma bought Freddie, __________ wears black T-shirts exclusively, a button-down white

oxford shirt and a navy blue blazer for Christmas. 8. Grandma, __________ Freddie loves despite her bad taste in clothing, believes that a blue

blazer is an essential component of a young man’s wardrobe. 9. __________ believes that Kyle will eat the tarantula fried in garlic and olive oil? 10. Kyle, __________ will take anyone’s dare, no matter how outrageous, smacked his lips in

anticipation of the fried tarantula. 11. The game show host presented a trophy and a $500 check to Kyle, __________ Sara

refused to give a congratulatory kiss. 12. Oliver, __________ hates to cut the lawn, pushed the heavy mower through the tall grass

rather than face a fine by the homeowners association. 13. With __________ will Scoobie attend the homecoming festivities, the handsome Jake or the

nerdy William? 14. We gave our crunchy apple cookies to Marilyn, __________ spit the first bite into a napkin

and declared our new recipe “crapples.” 15. Melissa searched the house for her little brother Morgan, __________ she found asleep on a

pile of clean towels. 16. __________ will you invite to dinner this Saturday? Warn the person that Rhonda has

promised to make squid eyeball stew!


17. Since she arrived late, Clarissa had to decide between __________ she wished to sit, the prankster boys or the gossipy girls.

18. If her humans are home, Santana will bark her head off should a stray leaf blow onto the

grass, but when the humans leave for work, she sleeps all day, no matter __________ enters the yard.

19. Richie, __________ tailgates so closely that he can rest his chin on the trunk of the car in

front of him, inspires many angry gestures from other drivers. 20. Ingrid, __________ we admire for her quick wit and repartee, was speechless when she

received a D- on her first paper for Professor O’Neil.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 7: Who and Whom


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—who or whom. 1. Diane insisted that her appointment was with Roberto, the only stylist __________ she would

trust with her hair. 2. To __________ has Michelle spilled the delicious gossip about Jude and Marie? 3. Juan dreaded another football camp with Coach Hayden, _________ insisted that players

collapse on the field before he would give them permission to leave a workout early. 4. Marina registered for American Literature, even though the professor was TBA. She prayed

that she would not find herself in a classroom with Dr. Carson, the one professor __________ no one can please.

5. __________ ate the leftover casserole? Everyone does know that Frederick is experimenting

with bugs as food for his sociology class, right? 6. Although Tom prefers Grandma’s company when gossiping at family barbecues, his

mother is the woman __________ he admires the most. 7. Joey contemplated his suck-up options as he waited for Professor Orson, the teacher

__________ might ruin Joey’s perfect 4.0 GPA. 8. For __________ has Jennifer cooked the delicious Italian dinner, complete with a fried squid

appetizer? 9. Mr. Martinez decided to fire Roseanne, the cashier __________ could never make correct

change. 10. __________ did you find to keep your noisy, smelly, annoying beagle while you are on

vacation? 11. Yolanda asked her fiancé Cesar to ride home with Brittney, __________ the other girls would

not trust with their own boyfriends. 12. Sylvia cringed when Dr. Frasier paired her with Seymour, the one lab partner __________ no

one can stand. 13. __________ else knows that Rhonda lost all her hair when she neglected to follow the

package directions on the home perm kit? 14. Ryan gave a dozen chocolate-broccoli muffins to his sweetheart Natasha, __________

declared them the most delicious treat that she had ever tasted. 15. Everyone at the gym stared at Kenny, __________ sang along at the top of his voice to the

Dolly Parton songs on his iPod.


16. When you are walking at the park, do not try to stand your ground against Marjorie, __________ will run you over with the baby carriage and then allow Moose, her sheltie, to nip your heels.

17. After a month of dating Ashley, Brad decided that he wasn’t ready for a relationship with an

entomologist __________ spent more time looking for bugs when they dined al fresco than listening to his football exploits.

18. Carmen shook her head in disgust as another moronic driver blabbing on a cell phone nearly

steered into a pedestrian __________ the driver was too distracted to notice. 19. Mrs. Ryerson, __________ is paranoid about identity theft, clutches her purse so tightly that

she has constant shoulder pain. 20. When Isabelle sat down in the computer lab, she cursed the previous user __________ left

the keyboard sticky with melted chocolate.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 8: Whoever and Whomever


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—whoever or whomever. 1. If you take biology with Professor Parker, be sure to read all of the assignment directions. He

gives As to __________ does exactly what he says. 2. After taking a bad step, Glenda cursed __________ allowed a dog to defecate on her pristine

lawn. 3. Belinda will welcome __________ Terry picks to join the study group, even if he chooses

another beautiful woman.

4. __________ ate my last slice of leftover pizza will pay as soon as I catch the first whiff of pepperoni breath.

5. You can sit beside __________ you wish. Just remember that Grandpa will put you to sleep

with tales of what he could buy for 25 cents when he was a boy. 6. Sherry will share her juicy bit of gossip with __________ she finds in the cafeteria. 7. Professor Dunn can pick __________ she wants as our next author to study. Anyone will be

a big improvement over our month with Melville and that dreadful book, Moby-Dick. 8. Jennifer will share her big bag of mixed nuts and dried cranberries with __________ sits

beside her in the cafeteria. 9. While researching on the internet, Teresa readily believes __________ she reads, no matter

how outrageous, misguided, or just plain stupid the person’s ideas are. 10. At the end of the semester, Dr. Licata will leave piles of old books outside his office. He gives

these outdated editions to __________ wanders down the hallway and wants a free text. 11. Chadwick will allow __________ needs a pencil or pen to borrow one, but he charges one

dollar per hour, hoping to earn enough money to buy a hotdog and soda at lunch. 12. You can tell __________ seasoned this sauce that salt doesn’t contribute to global warming

or destroy the rainforest. 13. Grandpa shakes his fist and honks his horn at __________ he catches cutting into the

cushion of space that he likes to maintain between his vehicle and the one in front. 14. __________ walks past the cookie jar and neglects to give Santana a biscuit will soon spy

her big, sad beagle eyes pleading for a treat. 15. Samuel is desperate to pass his calculus class and thus win the admiration of the beautiful

Julie, so he will trust __________ his professor recommends as a good tutor.


16. Mom says that she is withholding allowance from ___________ left all of those wet towels on the bathroom floor.

17. __________ used the microwave oven left splattered spaghetti sauce and crusted cheese all

over the interior. 18. __________ is brave enough must kill the giant spider in the shower. 19. You can recommend _________ you want for the cashier position. But don’t waste my time

interviewing someone who cannot do the simple math necessary to make correct change. 20. Despite Roger’s disgust, Emily let the Great Dane puppy lick her entire face. Emily will kiss

__________ she pleases.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 9: Whose and Who’s


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—whose or who’s. 1. If you want to identify that ugly bug in your hair, ask Claudia, __________ collection of

beetles covers every inch of her bedroom walls. 2. The biggest entertainment at the picnic was Louis, __________ ability to eat an entire hotdog

in one mouthful amazed everyone who watched him demonstrate this feat fifteen times. 3. In the computer lab sits Veronica, __________ furiously typing as she attempts to meet Dr.

William’s nonnegotiable deadline for the research paper. 4. __________ going to bait Jerry’s hook and gut his fish if you invite your squeamish brother to

come fishing with us? 5. Before you buy a pit bull or rottweiler puppy, talk to Thomas, __________ attack hamster will

bite the fingers of any hand that enters its cage. 6. As Mom stood in front of the frozen vegetables, she thought of Lorraine, __________ loathing

of lima beans would mean a dinner’s worth of complaints if Mom chose them for dinner. 7. Pirouetting by the cash register is Celina, __________ as comfortable dancing in line at the

cafeteria as she is the in ballet studio. 8. We all turned to stare at Brenda, __________ wacky hairstyle included feathers, ribbons, and

macaroni braided into her hair. 9. Clive sat behind Julie, __________ long, curly, red hair dripped down her white shoulders like

strawberry syrup over vanilla ice cream. 10. Tanya, __________ praying no one requests the last slice of cheese pizza, waited in the long

cafeteria line. 11. Professor Byrnes sighed with impatience after he called on Kevin, __________ lack of

preparation always holds up the rest of the enthusiastic class. 12. Jackie bought a half dozen tennis balls for her golden retriever Oliver, __________ bad habit

of chewing off the fuzzy skins is expensive. 13. Francisco steeled himself for a 50-minute class with his theatrical math teacher,

___________ jerky hand movements cause students in the front row to cringe like beaten dogs.

14. Jerrod, __________ ashamed that he ate the last doughnut, is discreetly wiping strawberry

jelly from the corner of his mouth. 15. Latoya chuckled as she watched her little brother Reggie, __________ little finger waved in

the air as he attempted sophistication while drinking hot tea.


16. Our dog Cooper, __________ waiting politely under the table, expects a meatball from

everyone before dinner is over. 17. __________ fungus-covered chicken salad sandwich is polluting the refrigerator in the

lounge? 18. Mrs. Currall returned the A+ essay to Andre, __________ smile flashed despite his usual

surly attitude in class. 19. Even though the lecture had begun, we knew we could soon expect Sasha, __________

always hitting the snooze button on the alarm instead of getting out of bed to be on time. 20. __________ going to drive Raymond to the park? He spilled a chocolate milkshake on my

leather upholstery last week, so he cannot ride with me.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 10: Whose and Who’s


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—whose or who’s. 1. Give that glass of cold water to Stephen, __________ determined to finish the entire bowl of

squid eyeball stew. 2. Stephen, __________ mouth burned after a big spoonful of the piping hot stew, grabbed the

glass of cold water and took a long drink. 3. Up and down the long hallway paces Julio, __________ hoping that Mrs. Abbot will give him

one more extension for the research essay when she returns to her office. 4. Professor Duncan returned the failing exam to Lornice, __________ poor performance on the

midterm confirmed her reputation as a slacker. 5. While waiting in line at the register, Bryan stared at the cashier, __________ long, painted

fingernails curled like macaroni. 6. Although we tried to concentrate on Mr. Nguyen’s lecture, we couldn’t help eavesdropping on

Jerry, __________ loud voice boomed in the hallway as he chatted on his cell phone. 7. Ernesto, __________ ignoring Gloria’s frequent telephone calls, hopes to see Jasmine’s

name and number pop up on his caller ID. 8. During biology lab, Eddie cannot keep his mind off the beautiful redhead __________ dating

the jealous football player sitting beside her. 9. Unable to remember a single cause of the French Revolution, Corey glanced at John,

__________ neat handwriting filled every available line in the exam book. 10. Before you eat the cold leftovers in that casserole dish, talk to Katie, __________ taking a

microbiology class this semester and knows what miniscule creatures are crawling in the food.

11. When Daniel gets to Spanish class, he might summon his courage and talk to Lisa,

__________ been smiling at him for half a semester. 12. Lisa, __________ smile lights up the classroom, has attracted the attention of Mario, who

enjoys flexing his biceps as the students recite long lists of conjugated verbs. 13. Mario feels nothing but disdain for Daniel, __________ shyness keeps his eyes fixed on the

textbook instead of gazing at the lovely Lisa. 14. Joey, __________ hoping to graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA, worries that his chances are

evaporating since Professor Orson is so difficult to please. 15. Hide that bottle of insect repellent from Maya, __________ down at the lake shore charming

the dragonflies.


16. To avoid eating the stringy spears of asparagus, Markus sneaks them to his dog Cooper,

__________ willing to “disappear” anything drenched with butter. 17. Sheila winked at Wilson, __________ cheeks blushed a bright pink. 18. To earn the highest possible grade on his essays, Darren brings drafts to Gertrude,

__________ happy to show off her superior grammar skills while she edits his work. 19. Isabelle glared at Derrick, __________ loud knuckle cracking interfered with her ability to

concentrate on the calculus quiz. 20. After admiring the gold necklace at the jewelry counter, Marlene looked up from her empty

wallet to Wilfredo, __________ front pocket bulged with money he had gotten for his birthday.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 11: To, Too, and Two


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choice—to, too, or two. 1. After the marathon, Yolanda soaked her __________ sore feet in a bucket of warm water. 2. Jessica agreed to jalapeno slices on her burrito. She regretted this decision __________

hours later as she chewed antacid tablets to relieve her heartburn. 3. If you really want the answers to Dr. Hirta’s calculus homework, bring a jelly donut

__________ Kristine, the smartest student in the class. 4. The party next door—with its laughter, shouting, and music—was __________ loud, so Lisa

banged on her neighbors’ door to complain. 5. As we were walking __________ the library, we met Benjamin and Maria, who tempted us

away from research with the promise of a hot cheese and pepperoni pizza. 6. The slice of pizza was still __________ hot to eat, but Benjamin couldn’t resist, blistering his

mouth with the first painful bite. 7. Tony should buy an aquarium full of goldfish. A puppy would be __________ rambunctious

for his small apartment. 8. Svetlana has __________ book bags—one that she wears on her shoulders and one that she

pulls on rollers—to accommodate all of the big, heavy textbooks for her science courses. 9. If you purchase __________ parakeets, they will sing to each other instead of interacting with

you. 10. Whenever our parakeet chirps __________ loudly, we throw a towel over his cage. 11. Instead of researching killer whales for Marine Biology, Jorge went __________ the beach. 12. Martin dreaded going __________ the movies with his young cousins because they started

popcorn fights whenever the action onscreen got too slow. 13. Diane was __________ short to reach the oatmeal, so the friendly stock clerk grabbed a box

for her. 14. Gordon didn’t want __________ miss Spanish class if his teacher Señora Álvarez was

rewarding right answers with lollipops. 15. We watched Sam lick the __________ fingers that he ran through the icing of Betty Lou’s

birthday cake. 16. When Randall heard that Betty Lou got a pet tarantula, he wanted one __________.


17. Randall picked up the tarantula, hoping __________ impress Betty Lou, who had a 10-foot albino python draped over her shoulders.

18. When Betty Lou accused Randall of being a coward, he __________ allowed the tarantula to

crawl on his head. 19. Boom! Boom! We heard __________ big oak trees crash onto the street during the violent

hurricane. 20. Tatiana took several deep breaths __________ savor the smoky barbecue aroma wafting

from her father’s gas grill.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 12: To, Too, and Two


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choices—to, too, or two. 1. Because Kyle had eaten __________ pizzas for lunch, he was __________ full at practice

__________ impress Coach Hayden, who was making football cuts that afternoon. 2. Christopher managed to soak his sister Julie with __________ water balloons because the

lazy sitter was __________ involved in her afternoon soap operas __________ notice their aggressive play.

3. Applying makeup in the rearview mirror and driving over the speed limit were the __________

reasons that Officer Rodriguez decided __________stop Clarissa. He then wrote a ticket that was __________ expensive for her tight budget.

4. At night, the __________ hamsters made __________ much noise running on their squeaky

exercise wheel. Sam plans to return them __________ the pet store and fill the aquarium with goldfish instead.

5. The __________ puppies pounced on Felix’s tail, but the cat ignored them as he was

__________ aloof __________ play. 6. Jake bought __________ dozen roses for his girlfriend Cynthia, hoping that she wasn’t

__________ angry that he had driven __________ New Smyrna Beach to surf with his buddies.

7. Tina has __________ much bad luck! She bought __________ new pens for her final exam

in International Politics. __________ her surprise, the test was multiple choice and required a pencil for the answer sheet.

8. __________ ponytails bobbed on the back of Brittney’s head. They were __________

distracting __________ Eric, who sat mesmerized like a cat watching the mini blind cord swaying in the breeze through an open window.

9. Sienna ordered __________ extra shots of espresso in her cappuccino. Joshua would have

enjoyed the extra caffeine __________, but didn’t want his hands __________ shake in chemistry lab that afternoon.

10. __________ cars ahead of Wanda was an idiot on a cell phone who was __________

distracted by the conversation __________ realize the light had changed.


11. Arriving __________ late to take the quiz, Amy calculated the zero into her average. She realized that she would need __________ 100s if she hoped __________ have the minimum C- to pass the course.

12. When Martha counted only __________ dollars in her wallet, she knew that she was

__________ broke for a sandwich and would have __________ settle for potato chips and a canned soda for lunch.

13. Mrs. Pickle, the librarian who is __________ mean __________ approach, scowled when we

removed the __________ large books on Renaissance art from the reference shelves. 14. Like everyone else in my organic chemistry class, I __________ want a good grade, but I

refuse to bribe the lab assistant with __________ jelly donuts for extra time __________ finish this week’s experiment.

15. __________ tired __________ clean up, Harry left the __________ half-eaten pizzas on the

kitchen counter even though he knew Felix the cat would hop up and eat the pepperoni slices.

16. The bottle cap was __________ tight __________ loosen by hand, so Shane used his teeth,

chipping __________ of them in the process. 17. __________ neglected plants were drooping on the kitchen window ledge. Kelly, who was

__________ busy __________ notice, gulped a glass of cool water. 18. Ronnie and Tyler were __________ busy doing math homework in the back row __________

take notes on Mrs. Smith’s Shakespeare lecture. She will happily reward their behavior with __________ Fs on the next exam.

19. Attempting __________ eat more fruit and vegetables each day, Logan ordered a salad for

lunch. __________ hours later, his stomach was growling __________ loudly for Logan to concentrate, so he bought a burger and fries to quiet the noise.

20. Her __________ roommates were planning __________ eat pizza at Antonio’s. Sylvia

wanted to go __________ but knew an A on her psychology exam would be more pleasurable than hot cheese and sauce on her tongue.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 13: Its and It’s


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choices—its or it’s. 1. As strawberry ice cream dribbled down the cone and over his hand, Jerry complained,

“__________ so hot out here that my tongue can’t keep up!” 2. The frozen cappuccino sat forgotten on the table. __________ sweating cup formed a ring on

the polished wood. 3. The cockroaches and ants are very happy since __________ been over a week since

Tommy has washed dishes or taken out the trash. 4. __________ obvious that Professor Grayson hates us. She wouldn’t keep assigning 150

pages of reading for every class if she liked us! 5. Just as Jackie was completing the last question on the essay test, her pen ran out of ink;

__________ ball point dug into the paper but left no words. 6. When the realtor unlocked the door of the old house, Beverly and Bill gasped in

disappointment, for __________ floor undulated with warped wood. 7. Francisco decided against a golden retriever puppy as __________ thick coat of long fur

would be a vacuuming nightmare. 8. “__________ all over,” announced the lone race official as Veronica crossed the finish line

five hours after the winning runner. 9. We assume that our neighbor’s orange tomcat is off on a feline adventure. __________ been

a week since we’ve found paw prints on the hoods of our cars. 10. Malinda spooned yogurt into her mouth, savoring __________ cool, creamy blueberry flavor. 11. “Be careful when you close that notebook,” warned Michael. “__________ rings will snap

right through your finger!” 12. “__________ time you found a summer job,” Mom declared as she pushed Sonny’s feet from

the coffee table and turned off the television. 13. __________ not too late for Ricardo to pass his chemistry class. He just needs to give his

attention to Dr. Wilson instead of flirting with Josephine, his pretty lab partner.


14. “__________ been seven years since I’ve seen you!” squealed Sophia when she spied Jerome thumping cantaloupes in the produce section.

15. Clive held the comic book under a magnifying glass, studying __________ spine and corners.

He looked for flaws that would help him negotiate a better price. 16. Kay hates to find grapes in her salad as __________ too difficult to stab them with a plastic

fork. 17. Opening the door with __________ nose, the puppy entered the bathroom to steal another

roll of toilet paper. 18. “__________ either buttered squid tentacles or braised frog legs for dinner,” Mom

announced. 19. The octopus tested the cooler lid with a tentacle, planning __________ escape off the pier. 20. The old car struggled up the steep hill, __________ engine sputtering and choking with the

effort.


Name Date

Word Choice – Exercise 14: Its and It’s


Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate choices—its or it’s. 1. The puppy was unsure if shredding a roll of toilet paper was worthy of praise or a squirt from

the water bottle, so it wagged __________ tail with hesitation. 2. “__________ been quite a challenge,” Eric admitted as he shook hands with Dr. O’Sullivan

on the last day of class. 3. The cup of hot tea sat on __________ saucer, tendrils of steam rising into the air. 4. When Yolanda opened the garden shed door, __________ rusty hinges screamed for oil. 5. __________ kind of you to compliment the landscaping, but Grandpa really needs to sell that

rusty old car sitting on cinderblocks. 6. Clarissa sprinkled hot pepper flakes on the arm rests. __________ important that the puppy

learns not to chew on the sofa. 7. Every time Sophie’s thumb hit the space bar, she winced. __________ a real disadvantage to

slice open a finger while chopping celery if a major research essay is due the next day! 8. The blow dryer whined beside Carla’s ear, __________ hot breath burning her scalp. 9. “Get out of the house!” Mom ordered. “__________ too beautiful outside to sit here playing

video games!” 10. __________ a shame that Theo won’t try the squid eyeball stew since Marilyn has made a

really excellent batch this time. 11. The abandoned textbook lay on the coffee shop table, __________ pages ruffled by the

breeze. 12. Tell Charlie that he has 15 minutes to finish. __________ imperative that he turn in his essay

on time since Professor Parker refuses to accept late work. 13. Tony marked his answer sheet with a sharp pencil, __________ point nearly piercing the

thick paper. 14. The cat crouched underneath the oak tree; __________ tail twitched as the feline watched

the squirrel in the branches above.


15. Sylvia sprayed furniture polish on the ancient table. __________ surface gleamed until the cleaner evaporated, leaving the same old, scarred wood.

16. Saundra sat in the saddle, yelling “Giddyup!” The horse, however, lowered __________ head

to graze, ignoring her command. 17. “__________ already two weeks overdue!” exclaimed Professor Zuromski as Byron begged

for another extension on his research essay. 18. "__________ been forever since you baked chocolate-broccoli muffins," squealed Sienna as

she took her first bite. 19. The stray dog wagged __________ tail, hoping that Nate would share his ham and cheese

sandwich. 20. Beethoven played on the old stereo with __________ one bad speaker popping and crackling

like bacon frying in a pan.


word choice — exercise 1: their, there,...

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