Slavic Speakers' Top Errors: Articles, Prepositions, and Pronouns: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Articles, Prepositions, and Pronouns: Common Errors
English grammar can be tricky, especially when your native language handles things differently. For example, in English, we say "depend on" (not "depend from") and use the pronoun "it" for inanimate objects like a toaster or a car, rather than "he" or "she." We also require articles for singular countable nouns and professions, meaning we say "I am a doctor" instead of "I am doctor."
This challenge tackles some of the most common stumbling blocks for English learners. You will practice choosing the correct prepositions for phrases like "waiting for" and "good at," selecting the right pronouns for weather and inanimate objects, and mastering articles for generalisations ("nature" vs. "the nature") and specific objects.
You'll work through 14 questions featuring quirky scenarios—from a dramatic smart fridge to a time-traveling tourist—in single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
it — In English, inanimate objects like cars do not have grammatical gender. We always use "it," regardless of whether the word is masculine or feminine in your native language. (Note: While sailors traditionally call ships "she," standard modern English uses "it" for everyday vehicles).
it — English sentences require a subject. When talking about weather, time, or distance, we must use the "dummy subject" it. You cannot just say "Was raining."
it — Just like the car, an engine is an inanimate object and requires the pronoun "it."
Question 2
The correct answers are The main computer crashed, and it refuses to reboot., I lost my favorite wrench, but I think it is under the console., and The spaceship is old, but it still flies perfectly.
Slavic languages assign grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) to inanimate objects, leading speakers to accidentally call a computer "he" or a wrench "she." In English, almost all inanimate objects and concepts take the neutral pronoun it.
Question 3
on — The verb depend always takes the preposition on (or upon). A common mistake is using "from" because of direct translation from other languages.
at — When expressing skill or ability, the correct phrase is good at or bad at something (not "in").
on — We use on for days of the week and specific dates, even when they are followed by parts of the day (like "Monday morning" or "Friday night").
Question 4
Help the art detective complete her incident report about the missing masterpiece.
Take a close look at the woman in this famous portrait. She is clearly waiting for her mysterious lover, who is hiding in the background.
Take a close look at the woman in this famous portrait.
When talking about 2D artwork or photos, English speakers say someone or something is in the picture, not "on" it.
She is clearly waiting for her mysterious lover...
The correct verb phrase is "wait for someone." Using "wait on" actually means to serve someone food (like a waiter), and "wait after" is incorrect.
...who is hiding in the background.
"In the background" is a fixed phrase in English. Slavic speakers sometimes omit the article or use "a", but specific areas of a picture (the foreground, the background) require the definite article.
Question 5
The correct answers are I want to be a doctor in the future., I usually listen to music on my way to work., and I am very interested in learning new languages.
This question tackles several classic translation traps!
- Articles: English requires the indefinite article "a/an" before professions (a doctor). We also say "in the future." Furthermore, "work" (as a general destination) doesn't take an article (go to work, not go to the work).
- Prepositions: You must listen to music (the verb listen requires to when there is an object). Also, you are interested in something, not with or by it.
Question 6
Choose the correct word to complete the frustrated roommate's text message.
I tried to fix the new toaster, but ___ suddenly started shooting sparks across the kitchen!
The correct answer is it.
In English, inanimate objects like a toaster are gender-neutral and take the pronoun "it". In many Slavic languages, everyday objects are assigned masculine or feminine genders, which often leads speakers to mistakenly refer to a toaster, table, or car as "he" or "she".
Question 7
The correct answers are I am waiting for you at the town square. and Look at the funny horse in the picture!
Prepositions rarely translate directly between languages!
- We wait for someone, not on them (a common direct translation error from phrases like czekać na or ждать).
- Things appear in a picture, not on a picture.
- "Home" is a special adverb of direction in English, so we say "go home," without the preposition to.
Question 8
Fill in the blanks to complete the tour guide's cheerful speech about the town's historical clock.
This is our famous astronomical clock! Last year, the city hired an expert from abroad to restore it. Even though the clock is over five hundred years old, it still chimes perfectly every hour. Locals are very proud of this magnificent landmark!
Last year, the city hired an expert from abroad to restore it.
Singular professions and types of people require an article in English. Because "expert" starts with a vowel sound, we use "an".
Even though the clock is over five hundred years old, it still chimes perfectly every hour.
In many Slavic languages, the word for clock or watch has a masculine or feminine gender. In English, all machines and objects are gender-neutral and take the pronoun "it".
Locals are very proud of this magnificent landmark!
The correct adjective-preposition combination is "proud of." Direct translations from Slavic languages often mistakenly result in "proud from" or "proud for."
Question 9
Help the dramatic meteorologist finish the weather forecast.
Whether we survive this weekend's catastrophic drizzle will depend entirely ___ how many umbrellas you own.
The correct answer is on.
In English, the verb "depend" is always followed by the preposition "on" (or "upon"). A common error for Slavic language speakers is to use "from" because of direct translation (e.g., Russian зависеть от, Polish zależeć od), but "depend from" is incorrect in English.
Question 10
Select the correct phrase to complete the dramatic poet's social media post.
After sitting in the park for five hours, I have concluded that ___ is full of unpredictable squirrels.
The correct answer is nature.
When speaking about abstract concepts or general phenomena (like nature, life, or love) in a broad sense, English uses the "zero article" (no article). Slavic speakers, aware that English requires articles, sometimes overcompensate and add "the" where it isn't needed.
Question 11
a — In English, we must use the indefinite article "a" or "an" when stating someone's profession or role (e.g., "I am a doctor," "She is a student").
nature — When talking about the natural world in a general sense, we use the zero article (no article). "The nature" is a common direct translation error from many Slavic languages.
bed — We use the zero article with certain institutional nouns when referring to their primary purpose. You go "to bed" to sleep, "to hospital" for treatment, and "to prison" for punishment.
Question 12
Complete the homeowner's review of their overly dramatic smart fridge.
I recently purchased a brand-new smart fridge for my kitchen. Unfortunately, it refuses to open the doors after 8 PM! I tried complaining to the manufacturer, but they said it's a "dietary feature," not a bug.
I recently purchased a brand-new smart fridge for my kitchen.
Slavic languages often don't use articles. In English, we must use the indefinite article "a" when introducing a singular, countable noun for the first time. ("An" is incorrect here because "brand-new" starts with a consonant sound).
Unfortunately, it refuses to open the doors after 8 PM!
Even though a fridge might feel like it has a stubborn personality (and would have a grammatical gender like "he" or "she" in many Slavic languages), inanimate objects in English must be referred to as "it".
I tried complaining to the manufacturer...
In English, you complain to a person or company. Directly translating prepositions from other languages often leads to errors like complaining "at" or "with".