English Language

English Grammar and Usage

2,780 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 capitalization punctuation english

Choose the option that best corrects the given sentence:
louis xvi of france was guillotined in january 1793.

  1. Louis xvi of france was guillotined in january 1793.

  2. Louis XVI of France was guillotined in January 1793.

  3. Louis XVI of france was guillotined in January 1793.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized. Capitals are used for all proper nouns in a sentence, such as names of people, places and things.
As a rule, if roman numbers in a sentence refer to a person or place, it must be capitalized.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option B. The remaining options are incorrect.

Multiple choice capitalization punctuation english

o no, I am running late and may not make the plane to chicago.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. O no, I am running late and may not make the plane to chicago.

  3. o no, I am running late and may not make the plane to Chicago.

  4. O no, I am running late and may not make the plane to Chicago.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized. Capitals are used for all proper nouns in a sentence, such as names of people, places and things.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option D. The remaining options are incorrect.
Multiple choice capitalization punctuation english

Punctuate the following sentence:
bless us, o lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through christ our savior.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Bless us, O lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through christ our savior.

  3. Bless us, o Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Savior.

  4. Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Savior.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to capitalization rules, words for or relating to Jesus Christ are capitalized, it can occur with other nouns associated with or used as a metaphor for God.
Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer is Option D. The remaining options are incorrect.

Multiple choice capitalization punctuation english

o master, let me travel with you and help carry your bags to athens.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. O master, let me travel with you and help carry your bags to athens.

  3. o master, let me travel with you and help carry your bags to Athens.

  4. O master, let me travel with you and help carry your bags to Athens.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized. Capitals are used for all proper nouns in a sentence, such as names of places.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option D. The remaining options are incorrect.
Multiple choice capitalization punctuation english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
O dear, I am late for the train that will take me to London.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. O dear, I am late for the train that will take me to london.

  3. o dear, I am late for the train that will take me to London.

  4. o dear, I am late for the train that will take me to london.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized. Capitals are used for all proper nouns in a sentence, such as names, places or things.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option A, no change. The remaining options are incorrect.
Multiple choice comma punctuation english

The following sentence is correctly punctuated:
Maya said "I don't know who you're talking about." 

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is false because we need to use a comma before introducing a direct quotation. So, the correctly punctuated sentence would be: 
Maya said, "I don't know who you're talking about." 

Multiple choice comma punctuation english

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

  1. We decided to visit: Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains.

  2. We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italys mountains.

  3. We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Italy's mountains.

  4. We decided to visit Spain Greece Portugal and Italy's mountains.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Apostrophe is correctly used as Italy's in option C since it is used here to show possession. Comma indicates a smaller pause. It is used to separate words or word groups in a simple series. In the given sentence, four different subjects 'Spain', 'Greece', 'Portugal' and 'Italy' are correctly separated by comma in option C. Hence, the correct option is C.


Multiple choice comma punctuation english

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

  1. Tims gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple.

  2. Tim's gran a formidable woman always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets, and a nice fresh apple.

  3. Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate cakes sweets and a nice fresh apple.

  4. Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets, and a nice fresh apple.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Apostrophe is correctly used as Tim's in option D since it is used here to show possession. Comma is used to separate words or word groups in a simple series. In the given sentence, four different subjects 'chocolate', 'cakes', 'sweets' and 'fresh apple' are separated by comma correctly in option D. Comma is also used to set off name, nick name, term of endearment or title of a person directly addressed. 'A formidable woman' term is used as endearment or to describe Tim's gran thus option D is correct. Hence, correct option is D.   


Multiple choice comma punctuation english

He visited and brought me flowers.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

  1. visited; and

  2. visited, and

  3. visited - and

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

The given sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, 'and'. According to general rule, a comma must be used before the coordinate conjunction, that joins two independent clauses. Thus, the correct answer will be Option B. 
An em dash is always more emphatic than commas, which is not required in the sentence.
A semi colon is used between two independent clauses when the coordinate conjunction is omitted. 

Multiple choice comma punctuation english

Martin, having worked for thirty years - retired to his countryside villa.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words in the above-mentioned sentence.

  1. Martin having worked for thirty years, retired

  2. Martin, having worked for thirty years, retired

  3. Martin having worked for thirty years retired

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The phrase 'having worked for thirty years' is used to modify or illustrate the noun, Martin. So, it is known as the participle phrase. 
According to the rule, a comma must be used to separate the participle clause from the main clause. Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
The usage of a dash in the sentence do not bring out the intended meaning.
Multiple choice comma punctuation english

Then, when the dust settled, they began to calculate their profits and losses.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. Then when the dust settled, they

  2. Then, when the dust settled they

  3. Then, when the dust settled - they

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
When non restrictive or nonessential information comes in between the sentence, rather than at the end of, it should be set off using a pair of commas. In the given sentence, the nonessential or nonrestrictive information, 'when the dust settled' should be set off with a pair of commas.
The en dash is used to represent conflict and connection between sentences.
Thus, the correct answer is Option D, no change.
Multiple choice comma punctuation english

When I was in the early stages of my career - I worked in a town far from home.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

  1. career I

  2. career, I

  3. career; I

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The given sentence can be identified as a complex sentence. In such sentences, if the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, a comma is used to separate it. Thus, in the given sentence, a comma should be used in place of a dash.
A dash is used to create an emphasis or to produce an informal tone.
A semi colon is used between two independent clauses when the coordinate conjunction is omitted.
The correct answer is Option B.
Multiple choice comma punctuation english

Francis lived in California; Barry in Michigan.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

  1. Barry, in Michigan.

  2. Barry in, Michigan.

  3. Barry - in Michigan.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The given sentence consists of two parallel sentences with no conjunction between them. In such a case, a semi colon is used to join them. 
The second half of the sentence consists of two dependent elements but the conjunction is left out. So, a comma must be used between the elements to separate them.
Thus, the correct will be Option A.
An em dash is used when the sentence calls for a more emphatic tone, which is not the case in the given sentence.
Multiple choice dash and hyphen punctuation english

If only I had chosen a different city to live in ... but why regret the past?

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. If only I had chosen a different city to live in - but why regret the past?

  2. If only I had chosen a different city to live in: but why regret the past?

  3. If only I had chosen a different city to live in (but why regret the past)?

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The given sentence consists of two independent clauses that are related. However, the use of an ellipsis is incorrect, an ellipsis is used to indicate trailing off thought.
An em dash is used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Thus, the correct answer is Option A. 
A colon is used to separate two independent clauses when the second illustrates or explains the first whereas, a parentheses is used to add information in a sentence.

Multiple choice dash and hyphen punctuation english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
Yes, I'd like to have a painting done; as long as I can choose which artist does it.

  1. Yes, I'd like to have a painting done - as long as I can choose which artist does it.

  2. Yes, I'd like to have a painting done: as long as I can choose which artist does it.

  3. Yes, I'd like to have a painting done ... as long as I can choose which artist does it.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the em dash can be used in place of a colon or semi colon, when we want to emphasize at the conclusion of a sentence. In the given sentence, the speaker clearly wants to emphasize on the conclusion of the sentence, that explains his/her condition. 
Thus, the correct answer is Option A.
Option D is also incorrect, as an ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought.