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 full stop punctuation english

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

The little girl danced to the music,

  1. music.

  2. music;

  3. music:

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option A, in place of the comma. 
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. A colon is used to indicate emphasis or introduce a list.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point:
He first painted the walls of the house, then, he painted the roof.

  1. house; then

  2. house - then

  3. house. Then

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

The word 'then' is not a conjunction. It is commonly used as an adverb, adjective or noun to denote time.
Even though 'then' is used in many cases as a conjunction, it is not used in formal English, because it does not meet the full criteria for a conjunction: like and, but, or, so.
Option D: In this sentence, 'then' appears to link the clauses, but it cannot connect clauses (in formal English).
Hence, the underlined part is incorrect and must be changed. So, option D is incorrect.
Option A: A semi-colon connects clauses that are independent on their own. But, since 'then' does not function as a conjunction, the semi-colon ';' cannot be used here.
Option B: The em dash '-' is used to separate parts of a sentence. But, as 'then' does not connect these parts, '-' is not correct.
Option C: The full stop '.' is the only thing that corrects the given sentence. It separates them as two different sentences. Hence Option C is correct.

Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

After he woke up in the morning, he made himself some breakfast and then drank a glass of juice,

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. juice.

  3. juice;

  4. juice:
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option B, in place of the comma. 
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. A colon is used to indicate emphasis or introduce a list.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

She called her accountant on Tuesday morning:

  1. morning;

  2. morning,

  3. morning.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option C, in place of the colon. 
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. A colon is used to indicate emphasis or introduce a list.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

She picked up the book from the table. She then opened it to the first chapter.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. table, she

  3. table: she

  4. table- she
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
A full stop should be placed at the end of a declarative or imperative sentence. A declarative sentence states a simple fact or argument whereas, an imperative sentence is one that gives a command.
The given sentences can be defined as declarative sentences and a period should be used between the two. Thus, the correct answer is Option A, no change.
The other remaining options are incorrect. Dashes, like commas and colons are used to indicate emphasis, or interruption, or change of thought.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

This is a red dress.

  1. dress,

  2. dress!

  3. dress;

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option D, no change.
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. An exclamation mark is used to indicate strong feelings or high volume in a sentence.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

The football players wondered if they would be flying to Germany for a match that summer?

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined word.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. that summer.

  3. that summer!

  4. that summer -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Here, the given statement is a declaratory sentence. In this sentence, the use of question mark in the end is incorrect. 
The correct answer will be Option B, as a full stop is used to mark an end to a declaratory sentence.
The usage of an exclamation mark or a dash is not suitable. Hence, the options C and D are incorrect.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

They walk the dog in the evening;

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. evening:

  3. evening,

  4. evening.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option D, in place of the semi colon.
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. A colon is used to indicate emphasis or introduce a list.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

He flew to Chicago, after that, he took a car to his parents' house.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Chicago. After

  3. Chicago: after

  4. Chicago - after
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
A full stop should be placed at the end of a declarative or imperative sentence. A declarative sentence states a simple fact or argument whereas, an imperative sentence is one that gives a command.
The given sentences can be defined as declarative sentences and a period should be used between the two. Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
The other remaining options are incorrect. Dashes, like commas and colons are used to indicate emphasis, or interruption, or change of thought.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

She wore a red dress with long sleeves.

  1. sleeves,

  2. sleeves;

  3. sleeves:

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence. Thus, the correct answer will be Option A, no change.
The remaining options are incorrect, as a comma is used to indicate a pause whereas, a semi colon is used to separate major sentence elements. A colon is used to indicate emphasis or introduce a list.
Multiple choice full stop punctuation english

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

She walked to a cafe: there, she ordered a Cappucino.

  1. cafe,

  2. cafe -

  3. cafe.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
A full stop should be placed at the end of a declarative or imperative sentence. A declarative sentence states a simple fact or argument whereas, an imperative sentence is one that gives a command.
The given sentences can be defined as declarative sentences and a period should be used between the two. Thus, the correct answer is Option C.
The other remaining options are incorrect. Dashes, like commas and colons are used to indicate emphasis, or interruption, or change of thought.
Multiple choice introduction to punctuation punctuation english

Select the sentence with correct punctuation marks among the options given.
mona said to reena you should discuss your plans.

  1. Mona said to Reena, "You should discuss your plans."

  2. Mona said to Reena, "You should discuss Your Plans."

  3. Mona said to reena, "you should discuss your plans."

  4. Mona said to reena, "you should discuss your plans?"
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

There are certain rules when it comes to capitalizing words; capitalize the first word in quotations, provided the quoted material is a complete sentence, use capitals for proper nouns (names of people, specific places, and things). It is also important to note that full stops are used to mark the end of a sentence that is a complete statement.

In accordance with the above-mentioned rules of punctuation, option A is the correct answer.
Option B is incorrect because the words 'Your Plans' are unnecessarily capitalized as they are not proper nouns.
Option C is incorrect because the proper noun 'Reena' and the first word in the quotation are not capitalized.
Option D is incorrect because the proper noun 'Reena' and the first word in the quotation are not capitalized, and the statement is ending with a question mark even though it is a statement and not a question.

Multiple choice introduction to punctuation punctuation english

Select the option that correctly punctuates the given line:
I am going to watch a movie today

  1. I am going to watch a movie today

  2. I am going to watch a movie today.

  3. I am going to watch a movie today?

  4. I am going to watch a movie today;
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option A - A simple sentence can never end without a punctuation mark. Thus option A is incorrect.

Option C - A simple sentence can never end with a question mark. Thus option C is incorrect.
Option D - A semicolon is used to join two main clauses in a sentence. As the given sentence is one whole sentence, we can't end it with a semicolon. Thus option D is incorrect.
Option B - A simple sentence should always end with a full stop. Thus option B is the correct answer.
'I am going to watch a movie today.'

Multiple choice introduction to punctuation punctuation english

Select the option that correctly punctuates the given line:
Are you coming with us 

  1. Are you coming with us

  2. Are you coming with us,

  3. Are you coming with us!

  4. Are you coming with us?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Option D is the correct answer because a question mark is correctly used at the end of the sentence thus making it grammatically correct.
Option A is incorrect because the sentence given is a question and requires a question mark at the end.
Option B is incorrect because the comma at the end of the sentence would indicate that the sentence is not complete and is thus grammatically incorrect.
An exclamation mark is used at the end of an exclamatory sentence that express surprise, astonishment, or any other such strong emotion. Option C is incorrect because the sentence in question is not exclamatory in nature.

Multiple choice introduction to punctuation punctuation english

Select the correctly punctuated version of the following sentence:
when will you go to the andaman islands

  1. When will you go to the Andaman islands.

  2. When will you go to the Andaman Islands?

  3. when will you go to the Andaman Islands.

  4. when will you go to the andaman islands?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Firstly, the first letter of a sentence should always be capitalized. Secondly, the given sentence is an interrogative sentence; hence we need to add a question mark at the end of it. A full stop is used in a declarative sentence and not an interrogative sentence. Thus option B is correct, while options A and C are incorrect. Further, a proper noun is always capitalized. In the given sentence, ‘Andaman’ is a proper noun, therefore, it needs to be capitalized. Similarly, the word ‘island’ when accompanied by a proper noun such as ‘Andaman’ would also be capitalized as they function as a unit together. Thus ‘Andaman Islands’ is the correct form of using the words. Therefore option D is incorrect.