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

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. Lucy said, “I have had three cars.”

  1. Lucy asked that she has had three cars.

  2. Lucy explained that she has three cars.

  3. Lucy said that she had had three cars.

  4. Lucy told that she have had three cars.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C 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, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Subject 'I' become 'She'. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. Heena said,” I went skiing.”

  1. Heena told that she has gone skiing.

  2. Heena said that she went skiing.

  3. Heena said that she had gone skiing.

  4. Heena asked that she went skiing.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C 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 past, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past perfect. Subject 'I' become 'She'. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. She asked me,” What is your age?”

  1. She asked me that what my age is.

  2. She asked me what my age was.

  3. She asked me what my age is.

  4. She asked me what your age was.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This type of question is reported by using 'ask' (or another verb like 'ask') + question word + clause. The clause contains the question, in normal word order and with the necessary tense change.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. Mary said,” My parents are clever teachers.”

  1. Mary said that my parents are clever teachers.

  2. Mary asked that her parents were clever teachers.

  3. Mary said that her parents are clever teachers.

  4. Mary said that her parents were clever teachers.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D 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, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. She said, "I taught online yesterday."

  1. She said that she had taught online the day before.

  2. She asked she had taught online the day before.

  3. She told that she had taught online yesterday.

  4. She said that I had taught online yesterday.

  5. Dummy
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 past, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past perfect. Subject 'I' become 'She'. Hence, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. Rani said,” My mother does the washing.”

  1. Rani said that my mother does the washing.

  2. Rani asked that her mother does the washing.

  3. Rani told that my mother did the washing.

  4. Rani said that her mother did the washing.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D 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, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. Frank said,” He has caught a cold.”

  1. Frank said that I had caught a cold.

  2. Frank told that he had caught a cold.

  3. Frank said that he had caught a cold.

  4. Frank said that he has caught a cold.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C 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 perfect, the reported speech (during change of narration) converts into the past perfect. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct change of narration. My classmate said,” I have your number.”

  1. My classmate said that I had your number.

  2. My classmate told that he had my number.

  3. My classmate said that he has my number.

  4. My classmate said that he had my number.

  5. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D 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, the reported speech (while change of narration) converts into the past. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Choose the option in which the word LATE is used incorrectly or inappropriately.

(1) She was half an hour late for her lunch appointment. (2) Rajani and Kanika promised to reach the theater on time, but the later didn't turn up at all. (3) The hockey team won the game with a late goal. (4) The late William Shakespear is still living in the hearts of his readers. (5) The students appearing for civil services have to be in touch with the latest news.

  1. 4

  2. 1

  3. 2

  4. 5

  5. 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the word 'later' is used inappropriately. The correct word should be 'latter'  which  means ' the second person'.

Multiple choice

Choose the option in which the word STAY is used incorrectly or inappropriately.

(1) The Supreme court stayed the execution of the bill allowing criminals to contest the elections. (2) After the whole day's running around, I grabbed something to stay the pangs of hunger. (3) Jenny decided to stay at home with their young child. (4) I have been staying in this house for the last twenty years. (5) I invited my friends to stay with me during summer break.

  1. 4

  2. 2

  3. 5

  4. 1

  5. 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the word  is used inappropriately here. The word 'stay' is used for short term stay, whereas for longer stay we use the word 'live'.

Multiple choice

Select the option that corrects the following incorrect sentence. Both Matt as well as Terry are proposing to see a film.

  1. Matt as well as Terry are proposing to see a film.

  2. Both Matt and Terry is proposing to see a film.

  3. Both Matt and Terry are proposing to see a film.

  4. Both Matt and Terry was proposing to see a film.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is incorrect because if two subjects are joined by “as well as”, then the verb has to agree with the first subject, which is singular and hence, the use of 'are' is wrong. (2) is incorrect because if two subject are joined by “and”, then the verb should be plural whereas in (2), the verb used is singular. (4) is incorrect because the usage of 'was' is incorrect. Answer: (3)

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the answer that shows the best punctuation for the underlined part of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is, choose 5.

Many people believe in UFO's however I've never seen one.

  1. UFO's however: I've

  2. UFO's, however, I've

  3. UFO's however, I've

  4. UFO's; however, I've

  5. Correct as it is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The semicolon can be used to separate two main clauses, so that each could alone stand as a complete sentence.