Help the stressed wedding planner finalize the seating chart by choosing the correct word.
The bride has five _____, and they all want to sit right next to the open bar.
The correct answer is brothers-in-law.
When pluralizing a hyphenated compound noun, you must add the plural -s to the "head" noun (the most important word). Since they are brothers (not laws), "brothers" becomes plural.
Noun
A noun (from Latin nōmen, literally meaning "name") is a word that functions as the name of some specific thing or set of things, such as living creatures, objects, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas. Linguistically, a noun is a member of a large, open part of speech whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
Lexical categories (parts of speech) are defined in terms of the ways in which their members combine with other kinds of expressions. In English, nouns are those words which can occur with articles and attributive adjectives and can function as the head of a noun phrase.
English Grammar Basics
"English Grammar Basics" tag marks quiz and explainers that intend to provide a solid foundation in English language grammar. This includes all the major concepts and topics in English grammar, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, tenses, voice, mood, and sentence structure. The explanations we provide in quiz intro sections are clear and concise, making it easy for learners of all levels to understand. These quizzes are designed to be fun and engaging, helping you to retain the information more effectively. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, look for content marked with the "English Grammar Basics" tag for everything you need to master English language grammar.
B1 | Intermediate
B1 is the intermediate level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It marks the point where you move beyond survival English and start expressing yourself with real independence — describing experiences, explaining opinions, and handling everyday situations without a script.
What a B1 user can do
At this level, you're expected to:
- Understand the main points of clear, standard speech and writing on familiar topics — work, school, travel, hobbies.
- Handle most travel situations in English-speaking environments.
- Produce simple connected text on topics you know or care about.
- Describe experiences, events, hopes, and plans, and give brief reasons and explanations for your opinions.
- Communicate in routine tasks that require a straightforward exchange of information.
What B1 grammar looks like
B1 is where grammar starts to get more layered. You're not just forming basic sentences anymore — you're combining ideas, using different tenses with more precision, and starting to handle structures like the passive voice, modal verbs for necessity and possibility, and gerunds vs. infinitives. You're also expected to build complex sentences with linking words and dependent clauses.
Typical B1 grammar areas include:
- Future tenses — distinguishing will, going to, and the present continuous for future plans
- Passive voice — The report was written yesterday.
- Modal verbs — You should apply early. / She might be late.
- Used to — I used to live in Berlin.
- Verb patterns — knowing whether a verb takes a gerund, an infinitive, or both (I enjoy reading vs. I decided to leave)
What B1 doesn't mean
B1 speakers still hesitate, make grammatical errors, and sometimes struggle with less familiar topics. That's normal. The key difference from A2 is that you can keep a conversation going and get your point across even when things aren't perfect. The step up to B2 involves handling more abstract topics, understanding nuance, and producing more complex, accurate language.
Self-check: Can you tell a friend about a recent trip — what happened, what you liked, and what you'd do differently — without switching to your native language? If yes, you're likely operating at B1 or above.
Ready to find out where you stand? Try Are you B1/Intermediate? Test your English CEFR Level to figure out!, then build your skills with challenges like Basics. Passive Voice, Basics. Modal verbs, and Used to.
Difficulty: Medium
Medium difficulty. Difficulty levels represent author's opinion about how hard a question or challenge is.