WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-usage of off and on, once and again, out and away, out and out

 

 usage of off and on, once and again, out and away, out and out

1. What does "off and on" mean? A) Completely and permanently B) Far away from a place C) Once in a lifetime only D) Intermittently; not regularly; sometimes stopping and starting

✅ Answer: D) Intermittently; not regularly; sometimes stopping and starting "Off and on" (also written "on and off") means at irregular intervals — sometimes happening, sometimes not. It describes an activity or situation that does not continue steadily but stops and starts. Example: "It rained off and on all afternoon."

2. Which sentence correctly uses "once and again"? A) She once and again never repeats her mistakes. B) He has once and again proved that he is trustworthy. C) Once and again, they always arrive on time. D) She once and again completely forgot everything.

✅ Answer: B) He has once and again proved that he is trustworthy. "Once and again" means more than once; repeatedly; on more than one occasion. It emphasises that something has happened not just once but multiple times, reinforcing a pattern or quality. It contradicts "never" and "always."

3. Choose the sentence that uses "out and away" correctly. A) She walked out and away to the nearby shop. B) He ran out and away from the small garden. C) She is out and away the most dedicated worker in the office. D) They went out and away for a short evening stroll.

✅ Answer: C) She is out and away the most dedicated worker in the office. "Out and away" means by far; clearly superior; without any comparison. Like "far and away," it is used to emphasise that something or someone is outstanding beyond all others. It is never used to describe physical movement or direction.

4. "He is an _______ liar — he has never once told the truth." A) off and on B) once and again C) out and away D) out and out

✅ Answer: D) out and out "Out and out" is used as an intensifier meaning absolute, complete, thorough, or total. It is placed before a noun to describe something in the strongest possible terms. "An out and out liar" = a complete and total liar, with no doubt whatsoever.

5. "She has _______ reminded her son to do his homework, but he keeps forgetting." A) out and out B) off and on C) out and away D) once and again

✅ Answer: D) once and again "Once and again" means repeatedly; more than once. The sentence shows that the mother has reminded her son multiple times — not just on one occasion. The phrase reinforces a pattern of repeated reminders that have not produced results.

6. "The electricity has been going _______ all evening because of the storm." A) once and again B) out and out C) out and away D) off and on

✅ Answer: D) off and on "Off and on" perfectly describes electricity that keeps stopping and starting irregularly due to a storm. The power comes on, goes off, comes back on — an intermittent, irregular pattern. This is the classic use of "off and on."

7. Which sentence uses "out and out" correctly? A) They walked out and out of the building slowly. B) She ran out and out to catch the bus. C) It was an out and out disaster from start to finish. D) He looked out and out of the window for hours.

✅ Answer: C) It was an out and out disaster from start to finish. "Out and out" is used before a noun as a strong intensifier meaning complete or total. "An out and out disaster" = a total, absolute disaster. It is never used to describe physical movement or direction — those uses in options A, B, and D are incorrect.

8. "_______, he is the greatest chess player this country has ever produced." A) Off and on B) Once and again C) Out and out D) Out and away

✅ Answer: D) Out and away "Out and away" means by far; clearly and without question the best. The sentence uses a superlative ("the greatest") which is the natural companion of "out and away." It signals unmistakable, unmatched superiority — the same function as "far and away."

9. Which sentence uses "off and on" INCORRECTLY? A) They have been dating off and on for three years. B) She practised the piano off and on throughout the holidays. C) The Wi-Fi signal has been cutting off and on since morning. D) He is an off and on genius who never makes mistakes.

✅ Answer: D) He is an off and on genius who never makes mistakes. This is incorrect for two reasons. First, "off and on" describes irregular, intermittent patterns — not a permanent quality like being a genius. Second, "never makes mistakes" contradicts the idea of irregularity. "Out and out" would be the correct phrase here: "He is an out and out genius."

10. "What he did was _______ cheating — there is absolutely no other way to describe it." A) off and on B) out and away C) once and again D) out and out

✅ Answer: D) out and out "Out and out" is the correct choice because the sentence demands a phrase that means absolute and complete with no room for doubt. "What he did was out and out cheating" = it was totally and unquestionably cheating. The phrase "absolutely no other way to describe it" confirms the need for this emphatic intensifier.

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