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[justflyingin]

My son took a 6th grade English test for a competition that took place here in Poland (on Wed.).

One of the questions was this.

Which sentence is correct?

1. There is a litter on the floor.
2. Have you got much butter in the fridge?
3. Are there some eggs on the table?
4. We have many homework to do tonight.

What do you think and why?

Thanks. The Americans among us (my FB friends) have not come to a conclusion. The truth is, we wouldn't say any of them "this way".

So, British native speakers...can someone chime in here?

[Richfilth]

1 and 4 are definitely incorrect. 2 is rather weird, but not grammatically wrong; it would just require an extremely explicit context, like two people preparing to make a cake, and contemplating what ingredients they already had.

3 sounds the closest to being correct; it simply sounds a bit Fawlty Towers, like Basil asking Manual if he's prepared breakfast for the guests properly. But this test has definitely not been created by a Native Speaker, or if it has, it's someone born before WWII.

[TwinCentre]

What a ridiculous exam question! Why model sentences which no-one would say? I would encourage the OP to have word with the teacher over this...it doesn't encourage natural English at all.

[Mike_2007]

1,2 and 3 are correct.

1) Cat: I really need a dump.
Owner: There is a litter on the floor. Use it.

or

The king must be around here some where. There's a litter on the floor.

2) is fine. I guess this is the one the question writer wanted the student to choose.

3) As someone above mentions; grammatically correct but requires context:

Man goes to get the eggs out of the fridge, can't see them in there, suspects he forgot to put them away after unpacking the shopping. Calls to his wife, who's in the other room: 'Are there some eggs on the table? I can't remember where I put them'

They are classic examples of questions written by a non-native teacher. I get some of the same from my intermediate students. Their school teachers have drilled into them that you can't use 'some' with a question unless it's an offer.

[Sgt Bilko]

I've had the same problem with similar questions. Basically, you have to look at the simplistic rules taught to low levels and work out which one(s) they are testing. Here, I think, it is 'We use much/many in negatives and questions' so 2 is correct

Litter is uncountable so 1 is wrong.
We use some in positives and any in questions/negatives so 3 is 'wrong' and 4 is the same rule as 2.

Forget how English is used in the real world and concentrate on half-true, simplistic rules!

[spiral78]

There is such a thing as 'a litter.'

" A covered and curtained couched fitted with shafts and used for carrying a single passenger."

" A device (as a stretcher) for carrying a sick or injured person."

So, depending upon context, #1 could be correct grammatically too.

It's a weird question altogether. I think almost all sixth graders know better than to use this language. Sgt. Bilko's right - you have to try to detect what error(s) they hope to identify and guess from there.

[Richfilth]

[JPM]

As sgtbilko said, 3 is wrong: cf 'some/any'.

According to classic rules of grammar, we only use 'some' in positive sentences ('There are some eggs in the fridge').

'Any' is used for negative situations ('There isn't any ...') and questions ('Is there any ...?')

[justflyingin]

This was a general "all over" Poland test. I don't teach these really low levels, so I don't always realize what kinds of things they are taught.



Becky

[spiral78]

Bad test. Perhaps the government needs to hire a team (I'm game - and qualified - to join in) to update their assessment instruments

[Vaporate]

Yes I agree. Even from a newbie viewpoint this 'example' of a test appears to be written by either a non-native or a drunk native