English Language

English Grammar and Usage

2,711 Questions

English grammar and usage questions test fundamental sentence structure, correct verb forms, and accurate syntax. Topics include identifying grammatical errors, filling blanks with appropriate verbs, and changing narration. These are essential for the English language sections of competitive exams.

Verb FormsSentence CorrectionTense IdentificationNarration ChangeRelative PronounsSyntactic Productivity

English Grammar and Usage Questions

Multiple choice parenthesis punctuation english

He prayed, the only thing he had ever prayed for, for a child to succeed him.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. He prayed, the only thing he had ever prayed for - for a child to succeed him.

  3. He prayed (the only thing he had ever prayed for) for a child to succeed him.

  4. He prayed - the only thing he had ever prayed for; for a child to succeed him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parenthesis is used to enclose information that clarifies or is used as an aside. Its use indicates that writer considered the information less important. In the given sentence, commas can be replaced with parenthesis. Thus. option C is correct. 

Multiple choice parenthesis punctuation english

The lampshades shone pleasantly in Jim's room (he preferred low lighting) and a breeze wafted in through the window.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The lampshades shone pleasantly in Jim's room - he preferred low lighting, and a breeze wafted in through the window.

  3. The lampshades shone pleasantly in Jim's room, he preferred low lighting; and a breeze wafted in through the window.

  4. The lampshades shone pleasantly in Jim's room; he preferred low lighting (and a breeze wafted in through the window).
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Parenthesis is used to enclose information that clarifies or is used as an aside. Its use indicates that writer considered the information less important. In the given sentence, commas can be used in place of parenthesis. But, there is no option available with commas. Parenthesis is correctly used in sentence. Thus. option A is correct. 

Multiple choice semicolon punctuation english

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined part of the sentence.

The bridge was sturdy, flexible and strong; it withstood the storm well.

  1. sturdy, flexible, strong: it

  2. sturdy, fleixble and strong - it

  3. sturdy, flexible, strong; it

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Compound sentences are those which contain more than one subject or predicate. Semicolon is used to show bigger separation when there is already comma within a sentence for smaller separations. 'Sturdy', 'flexible' and 'strong' are more than one predicate in the sentence thus semi colon is used after them to show bigger separation. The statement given is correct. thus, option D is correct option. 

Multiple choice semicolon punctuation english

His step was sure, his gait was stylish.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word.

  1. sure. His

  2. sure; his

  3. sure: his

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The semi colon represents a longer pause than comma. It is used to separate clauses which are loosely connected in thought. As, the given sentence consists of clauses that are not strongly connected., a semi colon must be used to link them.
A colon is used between sentences grammatically correct but closely related.
The period is used to mark an end to a statement and not link them.
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
Multiple choice semicolon punctuation english

The morning dawned bright and clear: Peter and his family were ready for their long journey.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word.

  1. clear;

  2. clear ...

  3. clear,

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The semi colon represents a longer pause than comma. It is used to separate clauses which are loosely connected in thought. As, the given sentence consists of clauses that are not strongly connected., a semi colon must be used to link them. Thus, the correct answer is Option A.
Option B - An ellipsis is used to represent a trailing of thought.
Option C - A comma is used before a conjunction that joins two independent clauses.
Option D - A colon is used between sentences grammatically correct but closely related.

Multiple choice semicolon punctuation english

The land was beautiful: the land was green.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word.

  1. beautiful;

  2. beautiful -

  3. beautiful ...

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
A semi colon represents a longer pause than a comma. It is used to separate clauses which are loosely connected in thought. The given sentence consists of clauses that are not strongly connected, a semi colon must be used to link them.
A colon is used between sentences grammatically correct but closely related.
The usage of an em dash will also be incorrect, it is used to set apart parenthetical phrases and clauses in a sentence.
An ellipsis can be used to represent a trailing of thought.
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He walked as far as the next town almost before he turned back.

  1. He walked almost as far as the next town before he turned back.

  2. He almost walked as far as the next town before he turned back.

  3. He walked as far as the next town before he almost turned back.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the given sentence, almost is the adverb of degree. It is modifying adjective 'as far as' given in the sentence. It should be placed before adjective. Thus, option A is the correct answer.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He stopped only for lunch on his way to his parents' place.

  1. He stopped for only lunch on his way to his parents' place.

  2. He stopped for lunch only on his way to his parents' place.

  3. He only stopped for lunch on his way to his parents' place.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is Option C because the adverb "only" is always placed before the verb that it modifies. Here, the adverb "only" modifies the verb "stopped" and hence, it is placed just before the verb in the sentence.

Options A and B are wrong because they do not have the correct placement of "only." 
Option D is wrong because the original sentence is incorrect and needs to be changed.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point:


Such clothes are seldom or ever worn by the people of the town.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. seldom never

  3. seldom or never

  4. seldom ever
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Option C.
The sentence means to say that 'particular clothes are either worn sometimes (seldom) or never worn. There are two options and options are separated by the conjunction 'or'.
Therefore, Option C is the correct option.
Seldom never and seldom ever (option B and C) are grammatically incorrect as two options are not separated by or.
Hence Option C is the correct answer.
Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


He lived in only one house while he was growing up.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. He lived in one house only while he was growing up.

  3. He lived in one only house while he was growing up.

  4. He only lived in one house while he was growing up.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,D Correct answer
Explanation

As a rule, the word 'only' is always placed as close as possible to the word it is intended to modify. Hence, the correct answer is A and D.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Identify the word which the adverb modifies:

The movie is quite interesting.

  1. quite

  2. movie

  3. interesting

  4. is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and sometimes other adverbs in a sentence.
In this sentence, The adverb, 'quite' is modifying the adjective 'interesting'. It states the extent to which the movie was interesting. Hence, Option C is correct.
Option A is incorrect as 'quite' is the adverb itself.
Option B is incorrect as 'movie' is a noun. Adverbs don't modify nouns.
Option D is incorrect as 'is' is the auxiliary verb which is not being modified by the adverb in this sentence.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Identify the word which the adverb modifies:

She is running very fast.

  1. is running

  2. very

  3. fast

  4. she
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and sometimes other adverbs in a sentence.
In this sentence, the adverb 'very' modifies the adverb 'fast'. 'Very' tries to measure the speed at which she is running. Hence, Option C is correct.
Option A is incorrect because the verb 'is running' is not being modified by the adverb 'very' in this sentence.
Option B is incorrect as the adverb 'very' acts as the modifier in this sentence.
Option D is incorrect as adverbs don't modify pronouns.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Identify the word which the adverb modifies:

She has almost finished her work.

  1. finished

  2. work

  3. she

  4. her
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and sometimes other adverbs in a sentence.
In this sentence, the adverb 'almost' modifies the verb 'finished'. It hints at time states that she is about to finish her work. So, Option A is correct.
Option B is incorrect as 'work' is a noun. Adverbs don't modify nouns.
Option C is incorrect as 'she' is a pronoun. Adverbs don't modify pronouns.
Option D is incorrect as 'her' is a possessive adjective which is not being modified by the adverb in this sentence.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Identify the word which the adverb modifies:

The water was extremely cold.

  1. water

  2. cold

  3. extremely

  4. was
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and sometimes other adverbs in a sentence.
In this sentence, The adverb, 'extremely' is modifying the adjective 'cold'. It states to what extent the water was cold. Hence, Option B is correct.
Option A is incorrect as 'water' is a noun. Adverbs don't modify nouns.
Option C is incorrect as 'extremely' is the adverb itself.
Option D is incorrect as 'was' is an auxiliary verb which is not being modified by the adverb in this sentence.

Multiple choice position of adverbs adverb english

Identify the word which the adverb modifies:

This story is well written.

  1. well

  2. written

  3. story

  4. NO word
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and sometimes other adverbs in a sentence.
In this sentence, the verb 'written' is modified by the adverb 'well'. It shows the manner in which something is written. Hence, Option B is correct.
Option A is incorrect as 'well' is the modifying adverb in this sentence.
Option C is incorrect as adverbs don't modify nouns.
Option D is obviously incorrect.