One word or two quiz
When to close up a phrase and when to keep the space. 20 questions with answers.
1. Ben lived in Chicago for before moving west.
Answer: a while. The word comes after the preposition for, so you need the two-word noun phrase a while. See the full explanation.
2. Let's sit on the porch and watch the rain.
Answer: awhile. With no preposition before it, the adverb awhile fits, meaning for a short time. A while would also be accepted here. See the full explanation.
3. She turned the lost wallet the police.
Answer: in to. Turn in is the verb here, and to goes with the police, so write two words. See the full explanation.
4. Pour the batter the pan and bake for thirty minutes.
Answer: into. The batter moves to the inside of the pan, so the single word into fits. See the full explanation.
5. Being of a volunteer group is a great way to meet people.
Answer: a part. The meaning is a member or piece of the group, so it is two words. See the full explanation.
6. Plant the tomato seedlings about two feet .
Answer: apart. The meaning is separated by distance, so it is the one word apart. See the full explanation.
7. The coach said we could text her with questions.
Answer: anytime. The meaning is whenever, with no preposition before it, so the one word anytime fits. See the full explanation.
8. I won't have to cook until the weekend.
Answer: any time. The meaning is an amount of time, so it must be the two words any time. See the full explanation.
9. Sorry, there aren't tickets left for tonight's show.
Answer: any more. The meaning is additional tickets, an amount, so it is the two words any more. See the full explanation.
10. My old phone won't turn on .
Answer: anymore. The meaning is any longer, about time, so it is the one word anymore. See the full explanation.
11. Can you help me the chairs for the meeting?
Answer: set up. This is an action, arranging the chairs, so use the two-word verb set up. See the full explanation.
12. The band's stage includes three keyboards and a drum kit.
Answer: setup. The word names a thing, the arrangement, so it is the noun setup. See the full explanation.
13. Drink plenty of water to stay healthy.
Answer: every day. You could say each day here, so it is two words: every day. See the full explanation.
14. Learning to budget is an important skill.
Answer: everyday. The word describes the noun skill as ordinary and daily, so the one-word adjective fits. See the full explanation.
15. In her job application, Ana wrote that weekend shifts were with her.
Answer: all right. This is formal writing, so the standard two-word spelling all right is the safe choice. See the full explanation.
16. The one-word spelling is fine in a text to a friend but risky in an essay.
Answer: alright. The blank needs the one-word spelling, alright, which suits casual writing better than formal work. See the full explanation.
17. Sorry, we take reservations for Friday night.
Answer: cannot. The meaning is simply not able, so the standard one-word form cannot is right. See the full explanation.
18. This tool only cut wood but also drill holes.
Answer: can not. Here not goes with only, in the pattern not only and but also, so the words stay separate. See the full explanation.
19. The team arrived on one bus.
Answer: all together. The meaning is everyone as a group at the same time, so it is two words. See the full explanation.
20. The repairs cost four hundred dollars .
Answer: altogether. The meaning is in total, so it is the one-word adverb altogether. See the full explanation.
Pick an answer to start.