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

Which of the following is an example of a pragmatic rule?

  1. Using the past tense to talk about past events

  2. Using the word 'I' to refer to oneself

  3. Taking turns when speaking in a conversation

  4. Using the appropriate register for a given situation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Pragmatic rules are social conventions that govern how language is used in different contexts. Taking turns when speaking is one example of a pragmatic rule.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a deictic expression?

  1. The word 'here'

  2. The word 'now'

  3. The word 'I'

  4. The word 'you'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deictic expressions are words or phrases that refer to something in the context of the utterance. The word 'here' is an example of a deictic expression because it refers to the location of the speaker.

Multiple choice

In a flashback, the author typically uses what tense to narrate the events?

  1. Present tense

  2. Past tense

  3. Future tense

  4. Any of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In a flashback, the author typically uses the past tense to narrate the events that occurred in the past.

Multiple choice

What did the clock say to the wall?

  1. It's time for a makeover.

  2. I'm hanging around, waiting for you.

  3. Tick tock, let's do this!

  4. Time flies when we're together.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The clock said 'It's time for a makeover' to the wall, referring to the need for the wall to be repainted or redecorated.

Multiple choice

Which sentence uses personification?

  1. The wind danced through the leaves.

  2. The sun kissed my skin.

  3. The clouds floated across the sky.

  4. The river flowed gently downstream.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities to an animal, object, or idea. In this example, the wind is personified as a dancer, suggesting its graceful and playful movement through the leaves.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is an example of a short sentence?

  1. The wind howled and the rain beat against the window.

  2. The cat sat on the mat, the mat sat on the floor.

  3. The dog ran and ran and ran.

  4. The book was old and dusty.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence "The book was old and dusty." is an example of a short sentence.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is an example of a long sentence?

  1. The wind howled and the rain beat against the window.

  2. The cat sat on the mat, the mat sat on the floor.

  3. The dog ran and ran and ran.

  4. The book was old and dusty.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence "The wind howled and the rain beat against the window." is an example of a long sentence.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a strong verb?

  1. Walked

  2. Ran

  3. Strolled

  4. Sauntered
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Strong verbs are action verbs that convey a sense of urgency or intensity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a performative utterance?

  1. I promise to be home by midnight.

  2. The sky is blue.

  3. What time is it?

  4. Ouch!
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A performative utterance is a statement that performs an action. For example, the sentence "I promise to be home by midnight" is a performative utterance because it performs the action of making a promise.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of an alethic modality?

  1. It is necessary that I go to the store.

  2. It is possible that I will go to the store.

  3. I ought to go to the store.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is necessary that I go to the store is an example of an alethic modality.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of 'Showing' in writing?

  1. The woman was happy.

  2. The woman smiled and laughed as she played with her children.

  3. The woman's eyes sparkled with joy.

  4. The woman felt like she was on top of the world.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This sentence provides specific details about the woman's behavior and appearance, allowing the reader to visualize her state of happiness. It is an example of 'Showing' rather than 'Telling'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. He go to the store.

  2. He goes to the store.

  3. He goed to the store.

  4. He go to store.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct sentence is "He goes to the store." because the subject "he" is singular and requires the verb "goes" to agree with it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. I seen the movie last night.

  2. I saw the movie last night.

  3. I seed the movie last night.

  4. I see the movie last night.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct sentence is "I saw the movie last night." because the verb "see" is in the past tense, and the object "the movie" is definite.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. They was at the party last night.

  2. They were at the party last night.

  3. They was at party last night.

  4. They were at the party last night.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct sentence is "They were at the party last night." because the subject "they" is plural and requires the verb "were" to agree with it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. He don't know the answer.

  2. He doesn't know the answer.

  3. He don't know answer.

  4. He doesn't know answer.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct sentence is "He doesn't know the answer." because the subject "he" is singular and requires the verb "doesn't" to agree with it.