Affect vs. Effect Worksheet #1: Test your understanding of the difference between "affect" and "effect" with this 10-question grammar exercise.

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We’re choosing between “affect” and “effect.” Here’s a simple trick to remember:

- Effect is usually a *noun* — it means the *result* or *outcome* of something.
- Affect is usually a *verb* — it means to *influence* or *change* something.

Now let’s apply that to each question.

---

1. The _______ of the tap water on his plants was unexpected.
→ We’re talking about the *result* (what happened to the plants). So we need the noun → Effect

2. She didn’t realize that the contaminated tap water had such a grave _______ on people.
→ Again, this is the *result* or *impact* on people → Effect

3. The negative comments had an _______ on her confidence.
→ This is the *result* of the comments → Effect

4. Since the drugs had no _______, he turned to alternative medicines.
→ No *result* from the drugs → Effect

5. The patient wondered when the drugs would have an _______ on his condition.
→ When will there be a *result*? → Effect

6. Losing the final rounds of the race didn’t _______ Jim as much as he imagined.
→ Did it *influence* or *change* him? That’s a verb → Affect

7. The union can’t _______ a new contract without the consent of its members.
→ Can they *bring about* or *create* a new contract? That’s a verb meaning “to cause to happen” → Effect
*(Note: “Effect” can also be a verb meaning “to bring about,” like “effect change.” In this case, it fits.)*

Wait — let’s double-check #7.
“The union can’t _______ a new contract...”
If we say “effect a contract,” it means “bring it into existence.” That’s correct usage.
But sometimes students get confused here. Let’s think:
Can the union *affect* a contract? That would mean “influence” it — but you don’t “influence” a contract into existence. You *create* or *bring about* a contract → so Effect is right.

8. The morose song had a great _______ on the audience.
→ The *result* or *impact* on the audience → Effect

9. The changes enacted had a couple of _______s on the company...
→ Plural of “effect” → Effects (so answer is still “Effect” — just pluralized)

10. What was the _______ of her laziness at work?
→ Asking for the *result* → Effect

Wait — let’s recheck #6 and #7 carefully.

#6: “didn’t _______ Jim” → verb → should be Affect ✔
#7: “can’t _______ a new contract” → if we use “effect” as a verb, yes, it works. But is that common? Actually, in everyday usage, many people might expect “affect” here — but grammatically, “effect” is correct because it means “to bring about.”

However, let’s look again:
In standard school worksheets, #7 is often intended to test the verb “affect” vs. noun “effect.” But here, “effect” as a verb is correct. However, some curricula avoid teaching “effect” as a verb early on.

Actually, let me check reliable sources:
“Effect” as a verb = to make something happen (e.g., “The president effected major reforms”).
“Affect” as a verb = to influence (e.g., “The weather affected our plans”).

So in #7: “The union can’t effect a new contract” = can’t bring it into existence → correct.

But wait — maybe the worksheet expects “affect”? Let’s see context.

Looking at all other questions:
Questions 1–5, 8–10 are clearly nouns → Effect
Question 6 is clearly verb → Affect
Question 7: If we say “affect a contract,” it doesn’t make sense — you don’t “influence” a contract; you create it. So “effect” is correct.

But I recall that in many basic worksheets, they simplify and only teach:
- Effect = noun
- Affect = verb

And they avoid the verb “effect.” So perhaps in this worksheet, #7 is meant to be “affect”? Let’s read the sentence again:

“The union can’t _______ a new contract without the consent of its members.”

If we put “affect”: “can’t affect a new contract” — that would mean “can’t influence a new contract” — which doesn’t fit, because the contract doesn’t exist yet. You can’t influence something that isn’t there.

Whereas “effect a contract” means “bring it into being” — which makes perfect sense.

So I think #7 is Effect.

But let’s confirm with logic:
All sentences except #6 are using “effect” as a noun. #6 is the only one where “affect” is the verb meaning “influence.”

#7 is tricky, but based on meaning, it should be “effect.”

However, upon second thought — in many educational contexts, especially at the middle school level, they may not introduce “effect” as a verb. So perhaps the intended answer for #7 is “affect”? But that would be incorrect usage.

Let me search my knowledge:
Standard rule taught in schools:
- Use “effect” when you can replace it with “result.”
- Use “affect” when you can replace it with “influence.”

For #7: “The union can’t [result] a new contract” — no, that doesn’t work.
“The union can’t [influence] a new contract” — also doesn’t work well.

Actually, the best fit is “effect” as in “bring about.”

But to align with typical worksheet expectations, let’s see pattern:

Looking at the answers:

1. Effect
2. Effect
3. Effect
4. Effect
5. Effect
6. Affect
7. ?
8. Effect
9. Effect
10. Effect

Only #6 is different. Maybe #7 is also “affect”? But that doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps I made a mistake. Let’s look up example sentences.

Example: “The new law will effect change.” → correct.
“The storm affected the crops.” → correct.

In #7: “The union can’t effect a new contract” — yes, that’s correct English.

But since this is a worksheet for students learning the basics, and given that 9 out of 10 are straightforward, perhaps #7 is intended to be “affect” — but that would be wrong.

I think I should go with correct grammar.

Final decision:

1. Effect
2. Effect
3. Effect
4. Effect
5. Effect
6. Affect
7. Effect (because "effect" as verb = bring about)
8. Effect
9. Effect
10. Effect

But let's count how many times "affect" appears — only once, in #6. That seems odd for a worksheet designed to contrast both words.

Perhaps #7 is meant to be "affect"? Let's try substituting:

"The union can't affect a new contract" — if we interpret "affect" as "have an impact on," but the contract doesn't exist yet, so it doesn't make sense.

Another possibility: maybe it's a typo, and it's supposed to be "negotiate" or something else.

Given the context of the worksheet, and to match common teaching practices, I recall that some worksheets include one or two uses of "affect" as verb.

Let me list them again with reasoning:

1. Result → Effect
2. Impact/result → Effect
3. Result → Effect
4. Result → Effect
5. Result → Effect
6. Influence → Affect
7. Bring about → Effect (verb)
8. Impact → Effect
9. Results → Effects
10. Result → Effect

So only #6 is "affect", others are "effect".

That seems consistent.

Perhaps the worksheet has only one "affect" to emphasize the difference.

I think it's correct.

So final answers:

1. a. Effect
2. a. Effect
3. a. Effect
4. a. Effect
5. a. Effect
6. b. Affect
7. a. Effect
8. a. Effect
9. a. Effect
10. a. Effect

But let's write them as per the options.

Each question has:
a. Effect
b. Affect

So for each, choose a or b.

1. a
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a

Yes.

Final Answer:
1. a
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a