Irregular Spellings

Which sentence uses the correct spelling for a word that means 'to set apart'?

• We need to seperate the recyclable materials from the trash.

• We need to separate the recyclable materials from the trash.

• We need to separete the recyclable materials from the trash.

• We need to sepairate the recyclable materials from the trash.

Answer explanation

The correct spelling is 'separate'. A common mistake is to use an 'e' where the first 'a' should be. Remembering it has 'a rat' in the middle can help.

Match each singular noun to its correct irregular plural form.

• women

• goose

• geese

• mouse

• mice

• woman

• fungi

• fungus

Answer explanation

These nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the standard rule of adding '-s' or '-es'. 'Goose' becomes 'geese', 'mouse' becomes 'mice', 'fungus' becomes 'fungi', and 'woman' becomes 'women'.

In which word is the letter 'b' silent?

• subtle

• absent

• blame

• robot

Answer explanation

In the word 'subtle', the 'b' is silent; it is not pronounced. In the other words, the 'b' sound is clearly heard.

Sort these words based on the 'i before e' spelling rule. Categories: Follows the Rule, Exception to the Rule

Groups:

(a) Follows the Rule

,

(b) Exception to the Rule

• weird

• seize

• achieve

• believe

Answer explanation

'Believe' and 'achieve' follow the 'i before e, except after c' rule. 'Weird' and 'seize' are common exceptions to this rule.

Which word correctly completes the sentence: My _____ wouldn't let me lie to my best friend.

• conscience

• concious

• consience

• conshince

Answer explanation

The correct spelling is 'conscience', which refers to an inner sense of right and wrong. The other options are common misspellings.

Match each word to its silent letter.

• Silent 'k'

• knight

• Silent 'p' (medial)

• psychology

• Silent 'p'

• receipt

• Silent 's'

• aisle

Answer explanation

Each word contains a silent letter that is not pronounced: the 'p' in 'psychology', the 'k' in 'knight', the 'p' in 'receipt', and the 's' in 'aisle'.

Which sentence uses the correct word for the head of a school?

• The school principle announced a new fundraising event.

• The school principal announced a new fundraising event.

• My main principle in life is to be kind.

• The school principal is a person of strong principle.

Answer explanation

'Principal' refers to a person, like the head of a school. 'Principle' refers to a rule or belief. The correct choice for the person is 'principal'.

The news reported on several global _____ that required international cooperation.

• crisises

• crisis

• crises

• crisi

Answer explanation

The plural of 'crisis' is 'crises'. This is an irregular plural form derived from Greek, where '-is' endings change to '-es' in the plural.

Match the misspelled word to its correct spelling.

• definitely

• goverment

• government

• mischievious

• tomorrow

• definately

• mischievous

• tommorow

Answer explanation

These are commonly misspelled words. 'Definitely' has a clear 'finite' in it. 'Government' has an 'n'. 'Mischievous' does not have an 'i' after the 'v'. 'Tomorrow' has one 'm' and two 'r's.

The hotel was able to _____ our request for two connected rooms.

• acommodate

• accommodate

• acomodate

• accomodate

Answer explanation

The word 'accommodate' is tricky because it has two sets of double letters: double 'c' and double 'm'.