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

Directions: Change the following sentence into Past Perfect Tense.

The postman will have been waiting at the door for five minutes.

  1. The postman will have waited at the door for five ministers.

  2. The postman had waited at the door for five minutes.

  3. The postman has waited at the door for five minutes.

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

As per the given question, the need is “had + 3rd form of verb” whereas neither (1) nor (3) has “had + 3rd form of verb”. Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the option which best replaces the following incorrect sentence.

The train had left the station before we reach the station.

  1. The train had left the station before we have reached the station.

  2. The train had left the station before we reached the station.

  3. The train had left the station before we shall have reached the station.

  4. The train had left the station before we had reached the station.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

As per the system of sequence of tenses, if the main clause is in the Past Perfect Tense, then the subordinate clause has to be in the Past Indefinite Tense. Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

Select the option to tick the correct meaning of the following sentence with regard to the infinitive used in it.

The boy ought to have left the place.

  1. It expresses that the action did happen.

  2. It expresses that the action did not actually happen.

  3. It expresses that the action will actually happen.

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The given sentence means that the boy ought to have left the place (but he did not). Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

Directions: The given question carries four options. You are to mark the correct option after checking the punctuation of each option.

Good morning Mamma have you slept well cried the child gaily embracing her mother.

  1. “Good morning! Mamma! Have you slept well?” cried the child gaily embracing her mother.

  2. “Good morning, Mamma! Have you slept well?” cried the child gaily embracing her mother.

  3. “Good morning, Mamma! Have you slept well?” cried the child, gaily embracing her mother.

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 There is a greeting and a question. Both are under quotation marks. There is a short pause before 'Mamma' as well as 'gaily embracing'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given question carries four options. You are to mark the correct option after checking the punctuation of each option.

O that my husband were alive said the widow.

  1. “O that my husband were alive!” said the widow.

  2. “O! that my husband were alive”, said the widow.

  3. “O that my husband were alive” said the widow.

  4. O that my husband were alive! said the widow.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The reported speech needs to be kept in quotation marks. The exclamation O will not use exclamation mark in isolation. The mark has to come at the end of the wish.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct option to identify the type of the following sentence.

The birds are flying in the sky.

  1. Compound sentence

  2. Simple sentence

  3. Exclamatory sentence

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence 'The birds are flying in the sky' has one subject ('birds') and one verb phrase ('are flying'), making it a single independent clause. A simple sentence contains only one independent clause. Option A is incorrect because a compound sentence requires at least two independent clauses. Option C is incorrect because an exclamatory sentence is classified by its function (expressing strong emotion), not its structure. Option D is incorrect because option B correctly identifies the sentence type.