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!