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
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used to have
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regimen
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is doing
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it
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Type of error: Dangling modifier. Pronoun 'it' has no clear antecedent as there is an ambiguity between 'strict diet' and 'exercise regimen'.
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having retained
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he was
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the proprietor
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on
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 …'
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Sushmita said that she liked that song.
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Sushmita told that she liked that song.
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Sushmita said that I liked that song.
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Sushmita said that she like that song.
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.
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She asked where my school was.
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She told me where her school was.
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She said to me where her school is.
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She said where my school was.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Indirect speech never takes question mark.If reported verb is in the past, reported speech (in indirect form) becomes past. Hence, option 1.
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You say that I am a clever girl.
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You say that you are a clever girl.
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You ask that I am a clever girl.
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You ask that you are a clever girl.
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.
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She said that she is living in New York.
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She told that I am living in New York.
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She said that she was living in New York.
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She asked me that she was living in New York.
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.
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She said that I am suffering from fever.
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She said that she was suffering from fever.
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She told that she is suffering from fever.
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She asked that she was suffering from fever.
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.
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He says that I have done my homework.
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He tells me that he has done his homework.
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He asks me that I have done my homework.
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He tells me that I have done my homework.
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.
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She asked me who taught me English.
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She said to me that who teaches me English.
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She told me who taught her English.
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She asked me who taught her English.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In interrogative sentences like this, 'said to' becomes 'asked' or 'enquired'. 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. Moreover, indirect speech never takes question mark. Hence, option 1.
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Our teacher said to us that we all live on the earth.
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Our teacher told us that we all live on the earth.
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Our teacher ordered that we all lived on the earth.
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Our teacher explained that we all live on the earth.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
‘Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. But in cases of 'universal truths', tense of reported speech remains unchanged. Hence, option 2.
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will have left
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shall have left
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will leave
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shall be leaving
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The tense of the sentence is Future Perfect Tense. It refers to an action that will be completed at some point of time in the future. The subject is first person singular. Hence'shall have left is the appropriate option.
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have been living
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are living
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have lived
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were living
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The tense of the sentence is Present Perfect Continuous. It refers to an action that began in the past and is still going on.Here the subject 'we' is first person plural, so,' have been living ' is the suitable option.
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has changed
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is changing
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had changed
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will be changing
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The tense of the sentence is Present Perfect Tense, as it refers to an action that has just completed. The subject of the sentence is third person singular, hence, has changed is the correct option.
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had come
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came
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has come
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come
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The tense of the sentence is Simple Past. It refers to an action in the past. Here second form of the verb is to be used. Hence,'came' is the correct choice.
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were returning
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had returned
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returned
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return
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The tense of the sentence is Past Perfect.The sentence can be divide in two parts. In such sentence as these, the tense of the sentence is Simple Past. Here, second form of verb is used. Hence'returned' is the correct option.