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 narration.

He said, “I must go next week.”

  1. He said that he must go next week.

  2. He said that he must go the following week.

  3. He said that he would have to go the following week.

  4. He said that he was to go the following week.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In assertive snetence like this, 'said' remains unchanged and is followed by 'that'. 'Next week' becomes 'the following week' in reported speech. Hence, (2). 

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

I said to my servant, “Bring me a cup of tea.”

  1. I ordered my servant to bring me a cup of tea.

  2. I told by servant to bring me a cup of tea.

  3. I ordered my servant bring me a cup of tea.

  4. I ordered to my servant to bring me a cup of tea.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When changing imperative sentences (commands/requests) from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb changes to ordered/requested/asked and the verb becomes infinitive (to + base form). Option A correctly uses ordered with infinitive to bring. Option B is grammatically incorrect (told by should be told to). Option C is missing the required to before bring. Option D incorrectly uses ordered to my servant instead of ordered my servant.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

''What losses'', cried he, ''have I suffered!''

  1. He cried that I have suffered much losses.

  2. He cried that I have suffered heavy losses.

  3. He exclaimed with sorrow that he had suffered heavy losses.

  4. He exclaimed sorrowfully that I have suffered heavy losses.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The statement implies that the speaker is expressing grief or sorrow over heavy losses. Option (3) conveys the sense best.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

He said to her, “Where do you live?”

  1. He asked her where she lived.

  2. He asked her where did she live.

  3. He asked her where does she live.

  4. He asked her where had she lived.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When changing interrogative sentences from direct to indirect speech, the question word (where) remains, but the subject and verb positions change from interrogative to declarative order. The tense also backshifts from present (do you live) to past (she lived). Option A correctly changes Where do you live to where she lived with proper word order and tense backshift. Options B and C incorrectly retain the interrogative word order (did she live, does she live). Option D incorrectly uses past perfect (had she lived) where simple past is required.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the narration.

The stranger said to me, “Where do you live?”

  1. The stranger enquired that where I lived.

  2. The stranger enquired of me where I live.

  3. The stranger enquired of me where do I live.

  4. The stranger enquired of me where I lived.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the case of an interrogative sentence. Here, 'said to' is changed to 'enquired of me'. Hence, option 4 is correct. Option 3 is grammatically incorrect.

Multiple choice

I saw him two months ___________

  1. ago

  2. before

  3. for

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

'Ago' is used to indicate time elapsed before the present moment ('I saw him two months ago'). 'Before' typically requires a reference point or event ('two years before that'), 'since' implies from a past time until now, and 'for' indicates duration. With simple past tense and a time reference from now, 'ago' is correct.

Multiple choice

I will call you when the guests _________

  1. arrive

  2. will arrived

  3. will be arriving

  4. will have arrived
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In time clauses introduced by 'when', we use the present simple tense to refer to future time, not the future tense. This is a standard grammar rule in English. 'Will arrived' is grammatically incorrect (double future markers), while 'will be arriving' and 'will have arrived' are future forms that don't belong in time clauses.

Multiple choice

Directions: Two sentences marked A and B are given below. Mark your answer as:

(A) if only A is correct (B) if only B is correct (C) if both A and B are correct (D) if both A and B are wrong

(A) If it stops rain, we can go to the terrace. (B) If it stops raining, we can go to the terrace.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence (A) is incorrect because after 'stop', we need the gerund form ('raining') not the infinitive ('rain'). The verb 'stop' is followed by -ing when meaning to cease an action. Sentence (B) is correct: 'If it stops raining, we can go to the terrace'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Two sentences marked A and B are given below. Mark your answer as:

(A) if only A is correct (B) if only B is correct (C) if both A and B are correct (D) if both A and B are wrong

(A) If I were an umbrella, I would lend it to you. (B) If I had an umbrella, I would lend it to you.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence A is incorrect because 'If I were an umbrella, I would lend it to you' has a pronoun error - 'I' and 'it' don't match. It should be 'I would lend you mine' or 'I would lend it to you' if the subject matched. Sentence B is correct because 'If I had an umbrella, I would lend it to you' properly uses second conditional with consistent pronouns and correct tense structure.

Multiple choice

Directions: Two sentences marked A and B are given below. Mark your answer as:

(A) if only A is correct (B) if only B is correct (C) if both A and B are correct (D) if both A and B are wrong

(A) If you are looking for Raju, you may find him in the park. (B) If you will look for Raju, you may find him in the park.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence A is correct because it uses proper first conditional structure with present simple 'If you are looking' and modal 'you may find'. Sentence B is incorrect because it uses 'will' in the if-clause 'If you will look' - 'will' should never appear in the if-clause of a conditional sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Two sentences marked A and B are given below. Mark your answer as:

(A) if only A is correct (B) if only B is correct (C) if both A and B are correct (D) if both A and B are wrong

(A) If you are finished dinner, I will ask the waiter for ice cream. (B) If you have finished dinner, I will ask the waiter for ice cream.

  1. (A)

  2. (B)

  3. (C)

  4. (D)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option B is correct because 'have finished' is the present perfect tense form, which properly indicates a completed action. Option A incorrectly uses the present continuous 'are finished' which doesn't convey the meaning of completing an action.