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

Choose the best sentence after changing the highlighted word/phrase (present participle) into bare infinitive.

Sentence - Prolonged contact breeds intimate association and often is a precursor to a lasting relationship.

  1. Prolonged contact breed intimate association and often is a precursor to a relationship that lasts.

  2. Prolonged contact breeds intimate association and often is a precursor to a relationship that lasts.

  3. Prolong contact breeds intimate association and often is a precursor to a relationship that lasts.

  4. Prolonged contact breeds intimate association and often is a precursor to a relationship that to lasts.

  5. Prolonged contact breeds intimacy association and often is a precursor to a relationship that lasts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (2) is grammatically the most correct option. Option (1) is incorrect as there is a violation of the subject verb agreement. Option (3) is incorrect because of wrong usage of participle 'Prolong'. Option (4) is incorrect because of wrong conversion to an infinitive (to lasts). Option (5) is incorrect because adjective 'intimate' is wrongly used as 'intimacy'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the best expression out of the following options.

  1. He told me that he loves strolling under the moonlight and old songs from the jazz period.

  2. He told me that he loves strolling over the moonlight and old songs from the jazz period.

  3. He told me that he loves moonlit strolls and old songs from the jazz period.

  4. He told me that he loves moonlit strolling and singing old from the old jazz period.

  5. He told me that he loves strolling under the moonlight and old from the jazz period.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (3) is grammatically the most correct option. Option (1) is incorrect as its construction is not parallel. Option (2) is incorrect because of incorrect use of preposition (over). Option (4) is incorrect as it does not clear ‘singing old…’ what? Option (5) is incorrect as it also does not clear ‘old what…?’ Parallelism demands “moonlit strolls and old songs…”.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the word/phrase that must be deleted/corrected, in order to make the sentence grammatically correct.

The students decided after the exams got over to hold a grand party at a nearby hotel.

  1. after the exams

  2. got over

  3. to hold a grand party

  4. at a nearby hotel
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Type of error: misplaced modifier (to hold a grand party). Correct usage shall be 'The students decided to hold a grand party at a nearby hotel after the exams got over.'

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the word/phrase that must be deleted/corrected, in order to make the sentence grammatically correct.

You hardly exercise with that ball for ten minutes and your mind goes into a much relaxed state.

  1. hardly

  2. for ten minutes

  3. goes into

  4. much relaxed state
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Type of error: misplaced modifier. 'hardly exercise' means that exercise has not been done. So, we can either remove the word 'hardly' or can use '…hardly for ten minutes…'

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the word/phrase that must be deleted/corrected, in order to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Having retained the essential staff, the shrewd man that he was, the proprietor served a three month notice on the rest.

  1. having retained

  2. he was

  3. the proprietor

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

Type of error: misplaced modifier. 'Who is a shrewd man' is not clear from the sentence. Correct usage shall be '…the proprietor, the shrewd man …'

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

Sushmita said, “I like this song."

  1. Sushmita said that she liked that song.

  2. Sushmita told that she liked that song.

  3. Sushmita said that I liked that song.

  4. Sushmita said that she like that song.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences like this, 'said' remains unchanged and is followed by 'that'. If the Reported verb is in the past tense and the Reported speech is in the present, Reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Subject 'I' become 'She'. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

You say,” I am a clever girl".

  1. You say that I am a clever girl.

  2. You say that you are a clever girl.

  3. You ask that I am a clever girl.

  4. You ask that you are a clever girl.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences like this, 'say' remains unchanged and is followed by 'that'. If the reported verb is in the present tense and the reported speech is in the present, reported speech (while change of narration) remains present. Subject 'I' become 'You'. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

She said, “I am living in New York".

  1. She said that she is living in New York.

  2. She told that I am living in New York.

  3. She said that she was living in New York.

  4. She asked me that she was living in New York.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences (like this one) 'said' remains unchanged. Pronoun for first person 'I' is 'She'. “She' takes auxiliary 'is/was', but here we need past auxiliary, so 'was'. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

She said, “I am suffering from fever".

  1. She said that I am suffering from fever.

  2. She said that she was suffering from fever.

  3. She told that she is suffering from fever.

  4. She asked that she was suffering from fever.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In an assertive sentence (like this one) 'said' remains unchanged. Pronoun for first person 'I' is 'She'. 'She' takes auxiliary 'is/was', but here we need past auxiliary, so 'was'. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration.

He says to me, “You have done your homework".

  1. He says that I have done my homework.

  2. He tells me that he has done his homework.

  3. He asks me that I have done my homework.

  4. He tells me that I have done my homework.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive sentences like this, ‘Says to' in reported speech becomes 'tells' and is followed by 'that'. Subject 'You' become 'I'. Hence, option 4.