Word Order and Extra Words Errors for Turkish Speakers: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Avoiding Extra Words: Prepositions, Pronouns, and Subjects
In English, adding unnecessary words is a common grammar trap that can make your sentences sound unnatural. For example, we say discuss the plan instead of discuss about the plan, and the car I bought instead of the car I bought it.
This challenge focuses on eliminating these clunky extra words. You will practice using transitive verbs without unnecessary prepositions (like contact, call, and approach), dropping extra resumptive pronouns in relative clauses, and avoiding double subjects (e.g., The manager expects, not The manager, she expects). You'll also correct common mistakes involving extra to be verbs (such as saying I am agree) and directional adverbs like home and downtown that don't need prepositions.
You'll work through 14 questions in a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Help the sneaky party planner write a grammatically correct text message to the group by choosing the right phrase.
We need to have a secret meeting tonight to _____!
The correct answer is discuss the surprise party.
In English, the verb "discuss" is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object without needing a preposition. While Turkish speakers might naturally want to translate hakkında (about), adding "about" after "discuss" is an extra-word error in English!
Question 2
The sci-fi movie that we watched last night was absolutely ridiculous. Even though the special effects were incredibly expensive, the story made no logical sense at all!
First blank: English relative clauses don't use an extra "it" (a resumptive pronoun) when the object is already represented by "that" or "which".
Second blank: When a sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction like "Even though" or "Although", we do not use "but" in the second half of the sentence. One conjunction is enough to link the two clauses!
Question 3
Help the IT specialist fix the grammar in this tech support ticket by choosing the correct phrase for each gap.
The physical screen that I replaced yesterday is working fine, but the new antivirus software which we downloaded this morning is showing a strange error.
The physical screen that I replaced yesterday is working fine, but the new antivirus software which we downloaded this morning is showing a strange error.
replaced
In an English relative clause, the relative pronoun (that or which) already represents the object. Adding an extra pronoun like "it" at the end of the clause (a "resumptive pronoun") is a common error for Turkish speakers, but it is grammatically incorrect in English.
downloaded
Just like the first blank, the software is already represented by "which." We just need the verb "downloaded" without repeating the object as "it."
Question 4
In tomorrow's meeting, we will discuss the new marketing strategy. Please remember to contact our clients beforehand so they are fully prepared for the changes.
In English, verbs like discuss, contact, marry, and emphasize are transitive, meaning they take a direct object immediately without needing a preposition. Turkish speakers often accidentally add "about" or "with" because of how these verbs translate directly from Turkish!
Question 5
Complete the astronaut's mission log by choosing the correct verb for each blank. Watch out for sneaky extra words!
As our spaceship approached the red planet, the crew discussed the landing strategy for tomorrow's mission.
As our spaceship approached the red planet, the crew discussed the landing strategy for tomorrow's mission.
approached
In English, the verb approach is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object without a preposition. Turkish speakers often add "to" because the Turkish equivalent (yaklaşmak) takes the dative case, but "approached to the planet" is incorrect in English.
discussed
Similarly, discuss means "to talk about," so adding "about" after it creates a redundancy. You discuss something, not discuss about something!
Question 6
Complete the café gossip by choosing the correct verb for each gap. Make sure to avoid creating "double subjects"!
That new barista who started last week makes the absolute best cappuccinos, but the manager seems a little jealous of his latte art skills.
That new barista who started last week makes the absolute best cappuccinos, but the manager seems a little jealous of his latte art skills.
makes
English sentences only need one subject per clause. Even when a subject is a long noun phrase ("That new barista who started last week"), you should connect it directly to the verb. Adding "he" creates an incorrect double subject!
seems
The subject of this clause is "the manager." Turkish speakers sometimes use a topic-comment structure and insert an extra pronoun ("she"), but in English, we just need the verb "seems."
Question 7
The correct answers are The security guard was asleep at his desk. and The shiny diamond disappeared exactly at midnight.
Every English clause needs exactly one subject. If you already have a noun acting as the subject (like "The museum director" or "My partner"), adding a pronoun (like "she" or "he") right after it creates a "double subject" error.
Some languages drop pronouns entirely because the verb endings do all the heavy lifting. In English, we must use a subject, but we only need to state it once!
Question 8
Select the grammatically correct sentence to complete the dramatic office gossip.
The correct answer is The new manager expects us to work on weekends!
English requires only one subject per clause. Using a noun ("The new manager") and immediately following it with a pronoun ("she") creates a "double subject" error. While this topic-comment structure feels natural in many languages, in English, the extra pronoun must be dropped.
Question 9
Choose the grammatically correct sentence to help the frustrated driver complain about his terrible new vehicle.
The correct answer is The used car I bought yesterday is already making a weird noise.
When forming relative clauses in English, the relative pronoun (that/which/who) replaces the object. Adding an extra pronoun like "it" at the end of the clause (a "resumptive pronoun") is a common mistake for Turkish speakers, but it creates a grammatical error in English.
Question 10
The correct answers are The actor whom we hired is late again. and This is the script that I wrote last year.
When you use a relative pronoun ("that", "which", "whom") to connect clauses, it acts as the object of the relative clause. Therefore, you must drop the original object pronoun ("it", "him", "them").
Saying "the explosion that we filmed it" is like saying the object twice! English prefers you to keep it simple: just "the explosion that we filmed."
Question 11
After walking ten miles around the city in the freezing rain, I just wanted to go home and sleep for a week. Tomorrow, we are heading downtown to find the best tacos in the region!
Directional adverbs like home, downtown, abroad, here, and there already contain the idea of direction. You do not need to add the preposition "to" before them. You "go to a house", but you simply "go home"!
Question 12
The correct answers are We discussed the catering menu for hours. and I contacted the florist yesterday morning.
In English, transitive verbs like discuss, marry, contact, and call take direct objects without needing an extra preposition.
Adding words like "about", "with", or "to" after these verbs is a common trap for speakers of languages that use specific case markers or postpositions (like Turkish). Remember: you discuss a topic, you don't discuss about it!