Basics of determiners. 45 questions on possessive determiners and the core quantifiers some and any.
What this test covers
- Possessive Determiners
- Some and Any
- This / That / These / Those
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1She left ___ umbrella on the bus this morning.
Answer: A. her
We use her because the umbrella belongs to a woman (she). We put her before a noun to show ownership. Don't use she here because she is a subject, not for showing who owns something.
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Q2The cat is washing ___ paws by the window.
Answer: D. its
Use its (without an apostrophe) to show that something belongs to an animal or an object. The word it's is a short way of saying 'it is' or 'it has,' which does not fit here.
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Q3We need to finish ___ project by next week.
Answer: B. our
We use our when something belongs to us. We put our before the noun 'project.' Words like ours or us are not used directly before a noun like this.
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Q4They parked ___ car in the wrong street.
Answer: C. their
Use their to show that something belongs to 'them.' Be careful with spelling: there refers to a place (like 'over there'), and they is a subject (like 'they are').
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Q5He forgot ___ keys again — this is becoming a habit.
Answer: D. his
We use his to show that something belongs to a man or a boy (he). For example: 'He has his keys.' Don't use him here because we need a word that describes the keys.
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Q6I can't find ___ phone — have you seen it?
Answer: A. my
Use my before a noun to show that it belongs to you. We use mine when there is no noun after it (for example: 'The phone is mine').
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Q7Can you give me ___ number so I can call you later?
Answer: C. your
Use your to show that something belongs to the person you are talking to (you). We use yours only when there is no noun after it.
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Q8The students handed in ___ own essays before the deadline.
Answer: A. their
Use their when something belongs to a group of people (the students). Theirs is used alone, but here we have the words 'own essays' after it, so we need their.
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Q9The company released ___ annual report last week.
Answer: B. its
Use its (without an apostrophe) to show that something belongs to a single thing like a company. Do not use it's because that means 'it is.' 'They' is a subject pronoun and cannot be used as a possessive determiner before a noun.
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Q10She showed me ___ new apartment — it's beautiful.
Answer: A. her
Use her because the apartment belongs to a woman (she). We use her before a noun. Hers is used only if there is no noun after it.
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Q11Could I have ___ milk in my coffee, please?
Answer: A. some
Usually, we use any in questions. However, we use some when we are asking for something politely (a request) or offering something. For example: 'Can I have some water?'
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Q12Is there ___ sugar left in the jar?
Answer: B. any
Use any in questions when you want to know if something exists. For example: 'Do you have any pens?' We don't use a or an with sugar because you cannot count sugar.
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Q13There isn't ___ bread left — we need to buy more.
Answer: D. any
In negative sentences (sentences with 'not' or 'n't'), we use any for things we cannot count, like bread. For example: 'I don't have any money.'
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Q14She bought ___ flowers to brighten up the office.
Answer: A. some
Use some in positive sentences with plural things (more than one flower). For example: 'I have some friends.' We use any for negatives and questions.
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Q15I don't have ___ idea what you are talking about.
Answer: D. any
Use any in negative sentences (sentences with 'don't' or 'not'). This shows that there is zero of something.
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Q16Would you like ___ help with those bags?
Answer: D. some
We use some when we offer something to another person. It sounds more friendly and polite than any.
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Q17Have you got ___ plans for the weekend?
Answer: C. any
Use any in questions when you are asking if someone has something. For example: 'Do you have any questions?'
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Q18She picked up ___ useful tips at the workshop.
Answer: D. some
Use some in positive sentences with plural nouns like 'tips.' We use any mostly for questions and negative sentences.
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Q19I can't find ___ information about this on the website.
Answer: C. any
In negative sentences (like 'can't find'), we use 'any' rather than 'some,' which is normally used in affirmative sentences, offers, and questions. 'Information' is an uncountable noun (we don't say 'informations'), so the singular determiner 'a' and the plural quantifier 'many' cannot be used with it.
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Q20Can I get you ___ water? You look thirsty.
Answer: D. some
Use some when you are offering something to someone. For example: 'Would you like some tea?'
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Q21___ book here on my desk is the one I was telling you about.
Answer: D. This
Use This for one thing that is near you. The word 'here' shows that the book is close to the person speaking.
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Q22Look at ___ mountains in the distance; they look stunning.
Answer: D. Those
Use Those for plural things (mountains) that are far away ('in the distance'). That is only for one thing. Each is for one thing at a time.
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Q23___ shoes you're wearing look really comfortable.
Answer: A. Those
Use Those for plural things (shoes) that are not right next to you but are near the person you are talking to. These is used for things you are holding or wearing yourself.
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Q24Look at ___ bird over there — do you know what it is?
Answer: D. that
Use that for one thing (bird) that is not near you. The phrase 'over there' tells us it is far away.
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Q25___ days, everyone seems to have a smartphone.
Answer: D. These
Use These with plural words like 'days.' The phrase 'these days' is a common way to say 'now' or 'currently.'
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Q26He handed her ___ letter in his hand, and she read it.
Answer: C. this
Use this for one thing (letter) that is in your hand or very close to you.
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Q27I remember ___ old days when life was simpler.
Answer: C. those
Use those for plural things (days) that happened a long time ago in the past.
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Q28___ is the best idea I've heard all week!
Answer: A. This
Use This to talk about one idea that was just mentioned or is happening right now.
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Q29___ were the happiest years of my life.
Answer: B. Those
Use Those for plural things (years) that happened in the past.
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Q30___ was exactly what we needed — thank you so much.
Answer: B. That
Use That to talk about one thing or event that just happened.
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Q31The team celebrated ___ victory with a parade.
Answer: B. its
Use its (without an apostrophe) when something belongs to a group or thing, like a 'team.' Do not use his because a team is not a person. It's means 'it is,' which does not fit here.
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Q32Do you have ___ siblings, or are you an only child?
Answer: D. any
Use any in questions to ask if someone has something. We use any with plural nouns like 'siblings' in this type of question.
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Q33She opened ___ present in her hand and was delighted.
Answer: C. this
Use this for one thing (present) that is physically near or being held.
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Q34We need ___ more time to finish the report properly.
Answer: D. some
Use some in positive sentences for things we cannot count, like 'time.'
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Q35Sarah lost ___ umbrella and had to walk home in the rain.
Answer: A. her
Use her because the umbrella belongs to Sarah (a woman).
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Q36I haven't eaten ___ meat for over five years.
Answer: C. any
In negative sentences (sentences with 'not' or 'n't'), we use any. For example: 'I don't have any water.'
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Q37___ children in the front row are very excited.
Answer: A. These
Use These for plural things or people (children) that are near you. This and That are only used for one person.
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Q38Would you like ___ biscuits with your tea?
Answer: C. some
Use some when you offer food or drinks to someone. It is a polite way to make an offer.
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Q39They finally sold ___ house after six months on the market.
Answer: D. their
Use their to show that something belongs to a group of people (they). There means a location, and theirs is used only when there is no noun after it.
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Q40Is there ___ chance we could meet tomorrow instead?
Answer: B. any
Use any in questions. For example: 'Is there any milk?' We use any with things we cannot count, like 'chance.'
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Q41She pointed to the window and said, '___ view is incredible.'
Answer: D. This
Use This for one thing (the view) that you are looking at right now or that is near you.
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Q42They didn't give us ___ warning before they changed the deadline.
Answer: D. any
Use any in negative sentences (sentences with 'didn't'). This shows that zero warning was given.
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Q43He removed ___ glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
Answer: C. his
Use his because the glasses belong to a man (he).
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Q44___ emails you sent yesterday were very helpful — thank you.
Answer: C. Those
Use Those for plural things (emails) that are associated with the past ('yesterday'). 'Them' is an object pronoun and cannot be used as a determiner before a noun. 'This' and 'That' are only for singular items.
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Q45I need a pen. Could I borrow ___ of yours?
Answer: D. one
Use one to talk about a single item from a group. We say 'one of yours' to mean 'one of your pens.' Words like these or those do not fit correctly in this phrase.
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