A bathtub is able to hold a lot of water

[Bhikkhu1991a]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #292 "Household Items (2)", question 5

A ......... is able to hold a lot water at once. People get into this in order to soak and wash their bodies.

(a) sink
(b) bathtub
(c) washer
(d) jug

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #292 "Household Items (2)", answer 5

A bathtub is able to hold a lot water at once. People get into this in order to soak and wash their bodies.

Correct answer: (b) bathtub
_________________________

Hello,

Could you tell me whether the phrase "a lot water" is suitable for this test sentence of Question 5?

According to Cambridge Dictionary Online, either "a lot (of) or "lots (of)" means a large amount or number of people or things
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lot_1#lot_1__3). This means that the of's in brackets are optional. Therefore, "a lot water" is grammatical as well, I think.

Thank you.

Best wishes,
Bhikkhu1991a.

[Beeesneees]

You are correct to be suspicious about this phrase, Bhikku.
It should be 'a lot of water'. There were a number of other typos in that test which have also now been corrected and are awaiting a database refresh.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Bhikkhu1991a]

Hello Beeesneees,

Thank you for clarifying my situation. I was surprised that even such a prestigious Cambridge Dictionary Online caused me a problem, a dilemma that confused me with the optional “of”. Fortunately, you lent a helping hand.

Once again, thank you.

Best wishes,
Bhikkhu1991a.

[Our Tort System]

Hello Bev,

By the way, with regard to the word "this" used in the sentence, shouldn't it be "it", since we're referring to a bathtub in general?
A bathtub is able to hold a lot water at once. People get into it in order to soak and wash their bodies.

Thanks!
_________________
"He who tries to establish his point by much yelling shows that his reasoning is weak"
-Jodi Ann Arias

[Beeesneees]

That's one of the 'other corrections' I've mentioned, Tort!
(Though I think I decided to change it to 'one': 'People get into one in order to...')
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Our Tort System]

[Beeesneees]

'appropriateness' ;)

You don't drop the 'e' in that one!

Actually, the use of 'this' wasn't that unacceptable - it just seemed too far away from the required noun to leave it as it was. 'It looked as if 'this' (or 'it') might refer to the water rather than the tub. I thought 'one' was less confusing as you could not get into one water.
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett