Common Grammar Mistakes Worksheet

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Made at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Circle the right wordThe knot cameand the balloon drifted off.loselooseThe hike took longerwe planned.thanthenThe left pocket holdscoins than the right.fewerlessThe chimney couldbeen built of brick.ofhaveThe puppy followed Tess andall the way home.meIAddsalt to the soup next time.fewerlessEvery glacier leavesmark on the valley.itsit'sThe cat loves toon the warm dryer.laylie
Made at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Circle the right wordAnswer keyThe knot cameand the balloon drifted off.loselooseThe hike took longerwe planned.thanthenThe left pocket holdscoins than the right.fewerlessThe chimney couldbeen built of brick.ofhaveThe puppy followed Tess andall the way home.meIAddsalt to the soup next time.fewerlessEvery glacier leavesmark on the valley.itsit'sThe cat loves toon the warm dryer.laylieloosethanfewerhavemelessitslie
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All 161 sentences

Word mix-ups 84

  • The ___ of us split a blueberry muffin. to, too, two
  • A ___ floorboard squeaks outside my room. loose, lose
  • A flat tire will ___ our plans for the ride. affect, effect
  • A late frost can ___ the peach harvest. affect, effect
  • All the lights were off ___ the one in the attic. accept, except
  • The author, ___ books I love, signed my copy. who's, whose
  • Back ___, the town had one stoplight. than, then
  • The backpack was ___ heavy to lift. to, too, two
  • The band says ___ ready for the halftime show. it's, its
  • ___ been three weeks since the tadpoles hatched. It's, Its
  • ___ bringing the lantern for the night hike? Who's, Whose
  • The club voted to ___ three new members. accept, except
  • The coach's pep talk had no ___ on the score. affect, effect
  • The comet showed ___ tail for one night. it's, its
  • The committee posted ___ decision on the door. it's, its
  • Did you ___ a glove on the ski lift? loose, lose
  • Do you know ___ driving us to the meet? who's, whose
  • Does the color of a room ___ how big it feels? affect, effect
  • Every glacier leaves ___ mark on the valley. it's, its
  • Every seat was taken ___ the one by the door. accept, except
Show all 161 sentences (141 more)

Word mix-ups, continued

  • The farmer ___ goat escaped is at the gate. who's, whose
  • The ferry goes from the dock ___ the island. to, too, two
  • The ferry runs daily ___ in January. accept, except
  • First whisk the eggs, ___ add the flour. than, then
  • The fog machine gave the stage a spooky ___. affect, effect
  • The goat got ___ and ate the laundry. loose, lose
  • ___ got the key to the boathouse? Who's, Whose
  • Guess ___ been elected class treasurer. who's, whose
  • ___ handle snapped off when I lifted the kettle. It's, Its
  • The hike took longer ___ we planned. than, then
  • How will the detour ___ our bus route? affect, effect
  • I always ___ track of time at the library. loose, lose
  • I hate to ___ at checkers to my little sister. loose, lose
  • I laughed ___ hard and got the hiccups. to, too, two
  • I like all vegetables ___ beets. accept, except
  • I met a girl ___ parrot can whistle. who's, whose
  • I think ___ going to hail before supper. it's, its
  • I wonder ___ at the door this early. who's, whose
  • I would rather sweep ___ fold laundry. than, then
  • If the creek floods, ___ the picnic moves indoors. than, then
  • It takes ___ people to carry the canoe. to, too, two
  • The judges will ___ entries until Friday. accept, except
  • Keep the leash ___ so the puppy can sniff. loose, lose
  • The kettle is about ___ whistle. to, too, two
  • The knot came ___ and the balloon drifted off. loose, lose
  • The lighthouse lost ___ beam in the fog. it's, its
  • The long drought had a strong ___ on the crops. affect, effect
  • ___ muddy boots are on the welcome mat? Who's, Whose
  • The museum does not ___ torn tickets. accept, except
  • My cousin wants a turn on the tire swing ___. to, too, two
  • My scooter is faster ___ your skateboard. than, then
  • My sunflower is taller ___ the garage door. than, then
  • The new schedule will ___ every class. affect, effect
  • ___ no surprise that the bakery sold out. It's, Its
  • Nobody ___ the janitor has a key to the roof. accept, except
  • One screw on the bike seat is ___. loose, lose
  • One side ___ of the storm was a week without school. affect, effect
  • Only ___ tickets were left at the booth. to, too, two
  • The orchard is famous for ___ sour cherries. it's, its
  • Our garden grew more squash ___ corn. than, then
  • Our team did not ___ a single match this fall. loose, lose
  • Remember ___ latch the gate behind the goats. to, too, two
  • The ripple ___ spread across the whole pond. affect, effect
  • The robot waved ___ metal arm at the judges. it's, its
  • The salsa was ___ spicy for my grandpa. to, too, two
  • The second movie was funnier ___ the first. than, then
  • She found ___ four-leaf clovers in one afternoon. to, too, two
  • She tied her laces, and ___ she sprinted off. than, then
  • She was proud to ___ the trophy for her team. accept, except
  • The sound ___ in the play was a real thunder sheet. affect, effect
  • ___ the tallest person in your family? Who's, Whose
  • Tell me when ___ my turn to stir the chili. it's, its
  • These pants are too ___ without a belt. loose, lose
  • Thunder does not ___ my sleepy bulldog. affect, effect
  • Tie the canoe well or we will ___ it downstream. loose, lose
  • ___ turn is it to feed the hamster? Who's, Whose
  • The vending machine will not ___ wrinkled bills. accept, except
  • We cheered for the team ___ bus broke down. who's, whose
  • We finished every puzzle ___ the hardest one. accept, except
  • We lived in a cabin ___, far from any road. than, then
  • We mailed the package ___ my aunt in Ohio. to, too, two
  • We rinsed the brushes and ___ hung them to dry. than, then
  • Will you ___ my apology for the broken mug? accept, except
  • You will ___ your place if you close the book. loose, lose

Usage slips 77

  • Add ___ salt to the soup next time. fewer, less
  • The barber and his wife ___ in a houseboat. live, lives
  • The basket of apples ___ too heavy to lift. are, is
  • Between you and ___, the surprise is a pony ride. I, me
  • The box of crayons ___ on the top shelf. are, is
  • The cake might ___ needed ten more minutes. have, of
  • Can you save seats for Priya and ___? I, me
  • The cat loves to ___ on the warm dryer. lay, lie
  • The children on the bus ___ a round. sing, sings
  • The chimney could ___ been built of brick. have, of
  • Dad and ___ rewired the old lamp. I, me
  • The director chose Leo and ___ for the duet. I, me
  • Do not ___ your backpack in the hallway. lay, lie
  • The dogs next door ___ at every delivery truck. bark, barks
  • Each of the actors ___ a costume to mend. has, have
  • Every one of the lanterns ___ lit. are, is
  • Everyone in the bleachers ___ a flag. wave, waves
  • Grandma sent postcards to Nora and ___. I, me
  • The guide showed Jo and ___ a fox den. I, me
  • He never tells ___ his fishing spot. anyone, no one
  • He would ___ helped if we had asked. have, of
  • I ___ hardly wait for the meteor shower. can, can't
  • I could ___ carried the ladder myself. have, of
  • I don't have ___ stamps for these letters. any, no
  • I have ___ idea where the tape went. any, no
  • I have ___ patience before breakfast. fewer, less
  • I need to ___ down after that long hike. lay, lie
  • I thought ___ a better title for the play. have, of
  • The left pocket holds ___ coins than the right. fewer, less
  • The lid ___ the jar rolled under the stove. have, of
  • The list of chores ___ taped to the fridge. are, is
  • Maya and ___ painted the birdhouse. I, me
  • Most ___ the campers had never seen a loon. have, of
  • My cousin and ___ share a bunk bed at camp. I, me
  • My friends and ___ built a raft from barrels. I, me
  • The neighbors invited my brother and ___ to the cookout. I, me
  • The new faucet wastes ___ water. fewer, less
  • The night shift needs ___ workers. fewer, less
  • Nobody in my family ___ mushrooms. like, likes
  • Nobody said ___ about the missing trophy. anything, nothing
  • The old dog will ___ by the door until you come home. lay, lie
  • The old lamp gives ___ light than the new one. fewer, less
  • Omar and ___ scrubbed the canoe with a sponge. I, me
  • One of the oars ___ cracked near the blade. are, is
  • Our hens ___ brown eggs. lay, lie
  • The pages of that old book ___ yellow. are, is
  • Please ___ the blueprint flat on the table. lay, lie
  • Pour ___ syrup on the second pancake. fewer, less
  • The puppy followed Tess and ___ all the way home. I, me
  • The ropes on the mast ___ in the wind. flap, flaps
  • Sam and ___ are in the same chess club. I, me
  • The seals like to ___ on the rocks. lay, lie
  • The seedlings would ___ wilted without shade. have, of
  • She can't find her skates ___. anywhere, nowhere
  • She made ___ mistakes on the second try. fewer, less
  • She should ___ worn a warmer coat to the game. have, of
  • The short trail has ___ hills. fewer, less
  • Snow ___ on the hills all last winter. laid, lay
  • The stapler isn't holding ___ staples. any, no
  • ___ still while the vet looks at your paw, Biscuit. Lay, Lie
  • The store doesn't have ___ rye bread today. any, no
  • The teacher asked Ana and ___ to hand out the maps. I, me
  • There ___ a wasp nest under the eaves. are, is
  • There ___ three muffins left on the tray. are, is
  • There are ___ chairs than guests. fewer, less
  • There was ___ in the mailbox but a flyer. anything, nothing
  • There was ___ traffic after the parade ended. fewer, less
  • They should ___ called before stopping by. have, of
  • They won't let ___ feed the swans. anyone, no one
  • This aisle has ___ shoppers than that one. fewer, less
  • We couldn't go ___ during the blizzard. anywhere, nowhere
  • We didn't see ___ in the tide pool. anything, nothing
  • We may ___ taken the wrong trail. have, of
  • We will ___ the new tiles tomorrow. lay, lie
  • Yesterday I ___ the keys on the shelf. laid, lied
  • You must ___ left your umbrella on the bus. have, of
  • ___ your wet gloves on the radiator. Lay, Lie

How this list was compiled: Written for this page: each sentence has one blank, the right word and the mistake writers make there. Word mix-ups: its and it's, then and than, to, too and two, lose and loose, accept and except, affect and effect, whose and who's. Usage slips: could have and not could of, fewer and less, I and me after and, a verb that agrees with its subject, one negative and not two, lie and lay. Each pair was checked in the entries and usage notes of Wiktionary, en.wiktionary.org, and the double negative in the Wikipedia article of that name, read 2 October 2026. No sentence comes from a test or a publisher, and no person, brand or character is named. Licence: own work

How it works

Each sheet draws 8 of our sentences. A blank stands where writers slip, with the right word and the mistake under it: its or it's, then or than, fewer or less, could have or could of, lie or lay.

Read the full guide

Word mix-ups

This set holds words that sound alike or nearly so: its and it's, then and than, to, too and two, lose and loose, accept and except, affect and effect, whose and who's. In our sentences affect is always the verb and effect the noun.

Usage slips

The second set under Set is grammar, not spelling: could have and never could of, fewer for things you count and less for what you measure, I or me after and, a verb that agrees with its subject, one negative and not two, lie or lay.

  • For Leo and me, drop Leo and: the director chose me, so the director chose Leo and me.
  • There, their, they're, your and you're are left out here; each has a page of its own.

Questions and answers

Can I get the common grammar mistakes worksheet as a PDF?

Yes, from the print window: press Print worksheet and choose Save as PDF as the printer. We host no PDF file: the sheet is drawn in your browser, and the Set and Questions menus change what it holds.

What are the most common grammar mistakes?

No list is official. These sheets cover its and it's, then and than, affect and effect, could of, fewer and less, me and I, and lie and lay, among others.

Is it could of or could have?

Could have. Could of is a spelling of how could've sounds, and it counts as a mistake in writing. The same goes for should have, would have, must have and might have.

When do I use fewer and when less?

Fewer goes with things counted one by one: fewer chairs, fewer mistakes. Less goes with what is measured as a whole: less water, less traffic. Our sentences avoid money, time and distance, where less is also used with numbers.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. It prints as the last page with the right word circled and written into each blank. Uncheck Add an answer key as the last page under More options to leave it off.

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