11-plus English | Standard English - accepted form of the written language

English Quiz - Standard English (Questions)

'Standard English' is the variety of English that is considered by many to be the accepted form of English: it shows no variations (e.g. regional variations) that are considered by some to be ungrammatical or non-standard.

Standard English should be spoken with Received Pronunciation (RP): without regional variations. It emerged from the 18th and 19th century aristocracy and it continues to be the standard for spoken English. Standard English and RP are extensively used in the media, by politicians, by public servants, in government departments and educational institutions.

Next time you watch a news broadcast or a politician speaking on television, listen to their voices and see if you can spot any non-standard English - you should find there is very little, if any.

This should be an easy 11-plus quiz for you.

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
I can do that quicklier than you. I don't have nothin' to tell you.

[ ]	can, don't
[ ]	quicklier, nothin'
[ ]	than, nothin'
[ ]	can, quicklier

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Then he jumped off of the wall.

[ ]	off
[ ]	Then
[ ]	of
[ ]	the

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
If he 'adn't've gone to the match he wouldn't of been late.

[ ]	wouldn't, of
[ ]	'adn't've, wouldn't
[ ]	gone, of
[ ]	'adn't've, of

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
I ain't never done nothin' like that.

[ ]	ain't, done
[ ]	ain't, like
[ ]	ain't, nothin'
[ ]	like, that

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
When yow walked in the dooer.

[ ]	When, yow
[ ]	yow, in
[ ]	in, dooer
[ ]	yow, dooer

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
That's the swing she swinged on.

[ ]	swinged
[ ]	That's
[ ]	swing
[ ]	on

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Wot dya want, then?

[ ]	Wot, want
[ ]	dya, then
[ ]	Wot, dya
[ ]	Wot, then

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
You'ze lot 've got a lot to learn.

[ ]	You'ze, lot
[ ]	You'ze, 've
[ ]	've, got
[ ]	You'ze, got

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
She doesn't know 'im.

[ ]	'im
[ ]	She
[ ]	doesn't
[ ]	know

10.

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Waz 'is name, then?

[ ]	Waz, 'is
[ ]	Waz, name
[ ]	'is, then
[ ]	name, then

English Quiz - Standard English (Answers)

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
I can do that quicklier than you. I don't have nothin' to tell you.

[ ]	can, don't
[x]	quicklier, nothin'
[ ]	than, nothin'
[ ]	can, quicklier

They should be 'quicker' and 'anything'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Then he jumped off of the wall.

[ ]	off
[ ]	Then
[x]	of
[ ]	the

'of' is not required

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
If he 'adn't've gone to the match he wouldn't of been late.

[ ]	wouldn't, of
[ ]	'adn't've, wouldn't
[ ]	gone, of
[x]	'adn't've, of

They should be 'hadn't' and 'have'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
I ain't never done nothin' like that.

[ ]	ain't, done
[ ]	ain't, like
[x]	ain't, nothin'
[ ]	like, that

They should be 'have' and 'anything'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
When yow walked in the dooer.

[ ]	When, yow
[ ]	yow, in
[ ]	in, dooer
[x]	yow, dooer

They should be 'you' and 'door'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
That's the swing she swinged on.

[x]	swinged
[ ]	That's
[ ]	swing
[ ]	on

It should be 'swung'. It's an irregular verb: 'swing-swung-swung' (principal parts)

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Wot dya want, then?

[ ]	Wot, want
[ ]	dya, then
[x]	Wot, dya
[ ]	Wot, then

They should be 'what' and 'do you'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
You'ze lot 've got a lot to learn.

[ ]	You'ze, lot
[x]	You'ze, 've
[ ]	've, got
[ ]	You'ze, got

They should be 'you' and 'have'

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
She doesn't know 'im.

[x]	'im
[ ]	She
[ ]	doesn't
[ ]	know

It should be 'him'

10.

Choose which word(s) are in non-standard English.
Waz 'is name, then?

[x]	Waz, 'is
[ ]	Waz, name
[ ]	'is, then
[ ]	name, then

They should be 'what's' and 'his'. TIP! It might sound cool to talk like this with your friends, but AVOID talking or writing in non-standard English in serious or formal situations