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: Join the following pair of sentences by using an infinitive.

(i) He was very tired (ii) He could not go further.

  1. He was very tired for going further.

  2. He was too tired to go further.

  3. He was too tired at going further.

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

(1) and (3) are incorrect because it is the case of split infinitive. Adverb 'too' is always followed by an infinitive preceded by 'to'. (4) is not applicable because (2) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Join the following pair of sentences by using an infinitive.

(i) He wanted to educate his son. (ii) He sent him to America.

  1. He sent his son to America to educate him.

  2. He sent his son to America for getting education.

  3. He sent his son to America for education.

  4. He sent his son to America for being educated.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(2), (3) and (4) are incorrect because none of them has been constructed by using an infinitive.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct option after combining the following sentences using an infinitive.

I have some mangoes. I must eat them.

  1. I have some mangoes for eating.

  2. I have some mangoes for being eaten.

  3. I have some mangoes to eat.

  4. I have some mangoes for having been eaten.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(1), (2) and (4) are incorrect because the given question requires that an infinitive is to be used to join the given two sentences where it does not make use of any infinitive.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct meaning of the following sentence with regard to the infinitive used in it.

My uncle might have advised him.

  1. It expresses that the action did not happen.

  2. It expresses that the action will happen.

  3. It expresses that the action actually happened.

  4. It expresses that the action is happening.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(2), (3) and (4) are incorrect because when the perfect infinitive is used after the words such as could, should, might, ought, would etc, it expresses that the action pointed out by it did not actually happen whereas none of the (2), (3) and (4) satisfies this condition.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct kind of infinitive in the following sentence.

She expected to meet her husband.

  1. Present infinitive

  2. Perfect Infinitive

  3. Both (1) and (2)

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

(2) is incorrect because the perfect infinitive is used when the verb expresses that the fact pointed out had happened before that represented “finite” in the verb whereas the given sentence has present infinitive, which can be used with any finite verb. (3) is incorrect because (1) is correct and (2) is incorrect. (4) is not applicable because (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct answer for the following question.

Which of the following is the Present Infinitive?

  1. To waterx

  2. To have watered

  3. For watering

  4. In watering
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(2) is incorrect because it is a perfect infinitive whereas the given question requires the answer to the present infinitive, which is formed by using to + I form of a verb. (3) and (4) are incorrect because both of them are not infinitives in any form rather both of them represent the use of certain prepositions whereas an infinitive is formed only by the use of 'to' or sometimes without 'to'.

Multiple choice

What does the infinitive mean in the following sentence? To complain is easy.

  1. It means an object.

  2. It means a subject.

  3. It means a complement.

  4. It means a preposition.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is incorrect because an object follows the verb whereas in the given sentence, the words 'to complain' precede the verb. (3) is incorrect because a complement follows the verb whereas in the given sentence, the words 'to complain' precede the verb. (4) is incorrect because a preposition usually comes after the verb or it precedes a noun or an object whereas in the given sentence, the words “to complain” precede the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Combine the following sentence by using an infinitive.

The child is too young. He cannot understand it.

  1. The child is too young to understand it.

  2. The child is so young that cannot be understand.

  3. The child is too young not to understand it.

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

(2) is incorrect because it does not make use of an infinitive whereas the given question requires the use of an infinitive.    (3) is incorrect because it has changed the meaning of the sentence, which now means that the child is so young that he can understand whereas the given question says that the child is so young that he    cannot understand. (4) is not applicable because (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Combine the following sentence by using an infinitive.

(1) He has some bills. (2) He must pay them.

  1. He has some bills which must be paid by him.

  2. He has some bills to pay.

  3. He has some bills which ought to be paid by him.

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

(1) and (3) are incorrect because the given two sentences are to be combined by making use of an infinitive whereas none of them has been combined by making use of 'to'. (4) is incorrect because (2) is correct.    Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

How is the infinitive used in the following sentence?

To forgive is divine.

  1. Like an object

  2. Like a subject

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. Neither (1) nor (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is incorrect because an object comes after the verb whereas in the given sentence, the infinitive appears before the verb. (3) is not applicable because (2) is correct and (1) is incorrect. (4) is not applicable because (2) is correct and (1) is incorrect. Answer: (2)

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the kind of infinitive used in the following sentence.

They expected to have played the match well.

  1. Perfect Infinitive

  2. Present Infinitive

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

We form the perfect infinitive with 'to + have + the -ed form of a verb'. We use the perfect infinitive after verbs such as claim, expect, hate, hope, like, love, prefer, pretend. (3) is not applicable because (1) is correct and (2) is incorrect. (4) is not applicable because (1) is correct and (2) is incorrect and (3) is also incorrect. Answer: (1) 

Multiple choice

Directions: Join the following pair of sentences using an infinitive.

(A) He has six children. (B) He must provide for them.

  1. He has six children which must be provided for.

  2. He has six children whom he must provide for.

  3. He has six children to provide for.

  4. He has six children who must be provide for.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(1), (2) and (4) are incorrect because the given question requires an infinitive to be used to combine the given pair of sentences whereas none of the (1), (2) and (4) is making use of 'to' to make the sentence look like having been used as an infinitive.

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the correct idiom or phrase to complete the sentence.

My mother __________ for coming home late.

  1. stripped me off

  2. took a strip off me

  3. struck me off

  4. took a strike off me
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'To take a strip off someone' is an idiom meaning to scold, reprimand, or criticize them severely - often in a verbal beratement. When a mother 'takes a strip off' her child, she's giving them a strong verbal scolding for misbehavior (like coming home late). Option B 'took a strip off me' is the correct idiom form.