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 speech/debate writing english

You have been asked to deliver a speech to children aged between 5 to 10 about the importance of being punctual. Which of the following would be a suitable salutation for your speech?

  1. Dear friends,

  2. Respected children,

  3. Good morning to everyone,

  4. Hi all,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The correct greetings is Option C. The audience are children aged 5 to 10 years, thus the greetings should be simple and polite.
Option A is incorrect as the audience is not the same age group and thus cannot be addressed as friends.
Option B is incorrect as the students are young and they do not need to be addressed with too much respect.
Option D is incorrect as the salutation is way to informal for the situation.
Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line/phrase which best suits a diary entry:
Meeting your favorite actor

  1. As she walked out of the shop, she came face to face with her favorite actor...

  2. My expression betrayed my complete admiration for...

  3. You won't believe what happened today...I met my favorite actor!

  4. I met my favourite actor today while leaving a shop.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
In a diary entry, the writer pours his feelings, emotions and thoughts like talking to a best friend. The language used is informal and personal depicting the correct emotion felt at the moment.
The correct answer is Option C. The writer was shocked and excited to meet her favorite actor.
Options A, B and D are incorrect as they do not adhere to the format of a diary entry according to the given context.
Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line/phrase which best suits a diary entry:
younger brother's birthday party

  1. Jimmy, my younger brother, celebrated his birthday today. Since I had organized the party....

  2. On this memorable day, I celebrate the birthday of my younger brother.

  3. It was Jimmy's birthday today and I had a great time organizing his party.

  4. Jimmy's birthday was celebrated today and I had felt happy then.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In a diary entry, the writer pours his feelings, emotions and thoughts like talking to a best friend. The language used is informal and personal depicting the correct emotion felt at the moment.
The correct answer is Option C. The writer is happy and contented and the statement of the diary entry makes it evident.
Options A, B and D are incorrect as the statements are way too formal for a diary entry and thus do not adhere to the format of a diary entry.

Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line/phrase which best suits a diary entry:
visit from an old friend

  1. Millie paid me a visit today. She and I had met after a long time.

  2. Millie, a friend of hers, went to her house. She hadn't seen her friend in many months.

  3. I was shocked when Millie came by the house today. I hadn't seen her in ages.

  4. It was a pleasant surprise to have been visited by Millie on this day.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
In a diary entry, the writer pours his feelings, emotions and thoughts like talking to a best friend. The language used is informal and personal depicting the correct emotion felt at the moment.
The correct answer is Option C. The writer is shocked and extremely happy which is evident form the statement.
Options A and D are incorrect as the statements are way too formal for a diary entry and thus do not adhere to the format of a diary entry.
Option B is incorrect as the writer is not writing it for herself.
Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line/phrase that best suits a diary entry:
receiving an award

  1. Today I am extremely happy: I got an award for best student!

  2. Today, I was the recipient of the best student award. I am very happy.

  3. Receiving the best student award was an incredible experience.

  4. I will now recall the events of receiving the best student award....
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In a diary entry, the writer pours his feelings, emotions and thoughts like talking to a best friend. The language used is informal and personal depicting the correct emotion felt at the moment.
The correct answer is Option A. The writer is extremely happy and the statement makes it evident.
Options B, C and D are incorrect as the statements are too formal to be used for a diary entry and thus do not adhere to the format of a diary entry for the given context.

Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line which best suits a diary entry:
Seeing a ghost-like shape

  1. And soon, he realized that he had been looking upon a ghost-like figure...

  2. I will see a ghost-like shape...

  3. I thought I was seeing a ghost!

  4. "Ghost! Ghost!" He shouted as he ran....
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is Option C. Diary entry generally uses language to express one's personal experiences. Options A and D are incorrect as it is seen that it has been written for someone else using 'he', a third person pronoun instead of 'I', a first person pronoun. Option B is incorrect as the sentence is in future tense and generally diary is a record for events that have already occurred.

Multiple choice diary entry writing english

Identify the change in the line/phrase which best suits a diary entry:
sad that a friend left town

  1. Today, my best friend Tania left town. It was a sad experience.

  2. Tania, who is a friend of mine, left town today.

  3. Today was one of the worst days of my life. Tania, my best friend, left town!

  4. When a close friend is no longer near, we are left feeling empty and incomplete.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
In a diary entry, the writer pours his feelings, emotions and thoughts like talking to a best friend. The language used is informal and personal depicting the correct emotion felt at the moment.
The correct answer is Option C. The writer is sad and disappointed and the statement makes it evident.
Options A and B are incorrect as the statements are way too formal for a diary entry and thus do not adhere to the format of a diary entry.
Option D is incorrect as the statement is justifying the feeling but whose feelings are those, is not clear.
Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Select the best version of the following to create sentence variation:
(Ensure the meaning of the sentence remains the same)

I had studied the chapter. I knew the answer. 

  1. Since I had studied the chapter, I knew the answer.

  2. I knew the answer and I had studied the chapter.

  3. The chapter had been studied by me and hence, I knew the answer.

  4. I had studied the chapter. I, therefore, knew the answer.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option A effectively uses a subordinating conjunction to combine the two short sentences into a single, fluid sentence while maintaining the original meaning.

Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Identify the intended effect of the following based on its sentence structure/variety:
She ran. She didn't know why. But she ran.

  1. Shock

  2. Pause

  3. Action

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

The use of short, fragmented sentences creates a sense of urgency and immediate physical movement, which is characteristic of describing action.

Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Select the option which best changes the following to provide sentence variety:
(Ensure that the meaning of the lines do not change)

Kendra waited for hours patiently for him to return.

  1. Patiently, Kendra waited for hours for him to return.

  2. Kendra patiently waited for hours for him to return.

  3. Kendra waited for hours for him to return patiently.

  4. Kendra waited for hours for him patiently to return.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,C Correct answer
Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Select the best version of the following to create sentence variation:
(Ensure the meaning of the sentences remains the same)

The house seemed suddenly to lift for a second, and then it fell back into an awkward silence.

  1. Suddenly, the house seemed to lift for a second before falling back into an awkward silence.

  2. Suddenly, the house lifted and then fell into silence.

  3. The house seemed suddenly to lift for a second before it fell back into an awkward silence.

  4. The house seemed suddenly to lift for a second. It then fell back into an awkward silence.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is Option A.
Here, 'Suddenly' used in the beginning of the sentence emphasizes the fact and in the remaining sentence the words are placed in the correct order and the verb agrees to the subject appropriately.
Options B, C and D are incorrect as the emphasis is not ensured and the meaning is also not retained in the given options due to inappropriate ordering of events.

Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Select the best version of the following to create sentence variation:
(Ensure the meaning of the sentence remains the same)

I walked to the shop. I bought a carton of milk and some eggs. I walked back home after that.

  1. I walked to the shop where I bought a carton of milk and some eggs. I walked back home after that.

  2. I walked to the shop, I bought a carton of milk and some eggs, and I walked back home after that.

  3. I walked to the shop and bought a carton of milk and some eggs. Then, I walked back home.

  4. I walked to the shop so as to buy a carton of milk, after which I walked home.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Option C.
The events in the given context are followed appropriately in Option C and the conjunctions are rightly placed not changing the meaning of the sentence.
Options A, B and D are incorrect as they do not retain the actual meaning of the sentence due to the inappropriate use of punctuation and conjunctions.
Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

The given sentence has been re-written. Choose the option that has not changed in meaning from the original:
The amateur dancer accepted the generous compliments in a happy mood.

  1. Happily, the amateur dancer accepted the generous compliments.

  2. The amateur dancer accepted the generous compliments since she was in a happy mood.

  3. Having been happy, the amateur dancer accepted the generous compliments.

  4. The amateur dancer accepted the generous compliments and was in a happy mood.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is Option A.
Here, 'Happily' used in the beginning of the sentence emphasizes the emotion mentioned and in the remaining sentence the words are placed in the correct order and the verb agrees to the subject appropriately.
Options B, C and D are incorrect as the emphasis is not ensured and the meaning is also not retained in the given options due to inappropriate ordering of events.

Multiple choice sentences and types writing english

Select the best version of the following to create sentence variation:
(Ensure the meaning of the sentence remains the same)

She was exhausted and decided to leave the party early.

  1. She was exhausted, so decided to leave the party early.

  2. She was exhausted deciding to leave the party early.

  3. Exhausted, she decided to leave the party early.

  4. She decided to leave the party early since she was exhausted.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is Option C.
Here, 'Exhausted' used in the beginning of the sentence emphasizes the reason and in the remaining sentence the words are placed in the correct order and the verb agrees to the subject appropriately.
Options A, B and D are incorrect as the emphasis is not ensured and the meaning is also not retained in the given options due to inappropriate ordering of events.