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 voice of the given sentence.

After driving Mr. Gupta to the museum she dropped him at his hotel.

  1. After driving Mr. Gupta to the museum she was dropping him at his hotel.

  2. After she had driven Mr. Gupta to the museum she had dropped him at his hotel.

  3. Mr. Gupta was being driven to the museum first, then he was being dropped at his hotel.

  4. After being driven to the museum Mr. Gupta was dropped at his hotel.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we use the past participle form of the verb. Considering this, option (4) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Choose the grammatically CORRECT sentence.

  1. Two and two add four.

  2. Two and two become four.

  3. Two and two are four.

  4. Two and two make four.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

When expressing mathematical facts like addition, English uses 'make' as the verb (2+2=4 becomes 'Two and two make four'). 'Add' is incorrect as 'Two and two add four' has grammatical errors, 'become' suggests change, and 'are' is used for equations not facts.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice of the given sentence.

Somebody told me that an explosion had taken place in the Town Hall.

  1. I was told about an explosion took place in the Town Hall.

  2. I was told about the explosion in the Town Hall.

  3. I was informed that there was an explosion in the Town Hall.

  4. I was told by somebody that there had been an explosion in the Town Hall.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we interchange the respective postions of the subject and the object. Moreover, we use the past participle form of the verb. The object in passive voice is generally preceded by 'by'. Considering this, option (4) is the correct answer. 

Multiple choice

Choose the sentence in which the articles have been used correctly.

  1. There was a news report about a old woman on whose forehead a horn is growing.

  2. There was a news report about an old woman on whose forehead a horn is growing.

  3. There was a news report about an old woman on whose forehead an horn is growing.

  4. There was a news report about an old woman on whose forehead horn is growing.

  5. There was a news report about old woman on whose forehead a horn is growing.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. Since the sentence is not referring to a specific news report, ‘a news report’ is the correct usage. ‘Old woman’ refers to a singular common noun beginning with a vowel sound (o sound) and thus, ‘an old woman’ is the correct usage. ‘Horn’ refers to a singular common noun beginning with a consonant sound and so, ‘a horn’ is the correct usage. Thus, the correct answer is – ‘There was a news report about an old woman on whose forehead a horn is growing’.

Multiple choice

Choose the sentence in which the articles have been used correctly.

  1. The experience set her off on an self-discovery that changed her perspective towards life completely.

  2. An experience set her off on a self-discovery that changed her perspective towards life completely.

  3. The experience set her off on a self-discovery that changed her perspective towards a life completely.

  4. The experience set her off on a self-discovery that changed her perspective towards the life completely.

  5. The experience set her off on a self-discovery that changed her perspective towards life completely.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. . Since the sentence is referring to a specific ‘experience’, the definite article (the) is used. Since ‘self-discovery’ begins with a consonant sound, the article used is ‘a’ (a self-discovery). There is no requirement of an article before the word ‘life’ since it is an abstract noun being used in a general sense. Thus, the correct answer is – ‘The experience set her off on a self-discovery that changed her perspective towards life completely’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said, ''What a beautiful sight!''

  1. He exclaimed with wonder that the sight was very beautiful.

  2. He told with wonder that the sight was very beautiful.

  3. He said with wonder that the sight was very beautiful.

  4. He told with wonder that the sight had been very beautiful.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In reporting exclamations and wishes, indirect speech is introduced by the verb expressing an exclamation or a wish.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

Preeti said, ''Sapru is at home now.''

  1. Preeti said that Sapru was at home then.

  2. Preeti said that Sapru is at home now.

  3. Preeti told that Sapru is at home now.

  4. Preeti asked that Sapru is at home now.
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 past tense and the reported verb is in present, reported speech (while change of narration) converts into past. 'Now' becomes 'then'. So, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence after the change of narration.

Ram: "Where are you going, Sham?" Sham: "I am going to college." Ram wants to know from Sham ________

  1. where is he going?

  2. where was he going?

  3. where he is going.

  4. where he am going.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect speech never takes a question mark. Rule 2: Indirect speech takes auxiliary after the subject. Now, here 'wants' is the present tense, so 'is' is the correct auxiliary.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence after the change of narration.

Tom: "How are you, Dick?" Dick: "I am fine, thank you." Tom wanted to ask Dick ________

  1. how is he?

  2. how was he.

  3. how he was.

  4. how he is.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect speech never takes a question mark. Rule 2: Indirect speech takes auxiliary after the subject (he was). Now, here 'wanted' is in the past tense, so 'was' is the correct auxiliary.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to me, ''Your friend came over yesterday."

  1. He told me that my friend had come over the previous day.

  2. He told me that my friend had come over yesterday.

  3. He told me that your friend had come the previous day.

  4. He said to me that my friend had come over yesterday.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Said to' in reported speech becomes 'told'. Indirect form of past indefinite is past perfect. Hence, option (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

I said to him, ''Why are you late?''

  1. I said to him why are you late?

  2. I asked him why he was late.

  3. I asked him why are you late?

  4. I told him why he is late.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect sppech never takes question mark. Rule 2: If reported verb is in the past, reported speech (in indirect form) becomes past. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The boy said, ''I am not feeling well."

  1. The boy says that he is not feeling well.

  2. The boy said that he was not feeling well.

  3. The boy said that he is not feeling well.

  4. The boy told that he was not feeling well.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B 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) changes into the past form. Hence, option (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to her, ''Are you coming to the party?''

  1. He asked her whether she was coming to the party.

  2. He told her if she was coming to the party.

  3. He asked her if she was coming to the party.

  4. He asked her if she will be coming to the party.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rule 1: Indirect speech never takes a question mark. Rule 2: If the reported verb is in the past, then the reported speech (in indirect form) is changed into past. Past of 'are' is 'was/were' (depending on situation). Hence, option 3 is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

''It's alright, my son; it will soon be over'', said the mother.

  1. The mother said to her son that it was alright and it will soon be over.

  2. The mother told her son that it was alright and it will soon be over.

  3. The mother told her son that it is alright and it would soon be over.

  4. The mother assured her son saying that it was alright and it would soon be over.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is a sort of assurance and none of the other options, except option (4), best explains the meaning.