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: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence in indirect narration.

A woman said, “Alas! my husband has not returned from the sea so far.” A woman :

  1. said, alas that her husband has not returned from the sea so far

  2. told with sorrow that her husband had not returned from the sea so far

  3. exclaimed with sorrow that her husband had not returned from the sea till then

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

Exclamatory sentences with 'Alas' are reported using 'exclaimed with sorrow'. Additionally, the present perfect 'has not returned' changes to the past perfect 'had not returned', and the time expression 'so far' changes to 'till then'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence in indirect narration.

The class teacher said, “Why did you not deposit your fee yesterday?” The class teacher :

  1. said that why he did not deposit his fee yesterday

  2. asked that why he did not deposit his fee yesterday

  3. asked why he had not deposited his fee the previous day

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

Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense, the simple past tense in the reported speech (did) changes to past perfect tense 'had'. Interrogative statements in direct narration change to assertive statements by using question words like 'ask'.

Multiple choice

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

She said to me, “Are you going to market?” She enquired from me

  1. I am going to market

  2. I was going to market

  3. if I was going to market

  4. if I had been going to the market
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Third option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' tense because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense. As the reporting speech is in interrogative, the word 'said' changes to 'enquired'.

Multiple choice

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

I said to her, “It was very hot last night”. I told her

  1. that it had been very hot the previous night.

  2. that it was very hot the previous night.

  3. that it has been very hot the last night.

  4. that it had been very hot this night.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Third option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes from past to 'past perfect' because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense.

Multiple choice

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

Nick said to me, “When did you buy this pen?” Nick asked me _________.

  1. when I was to buy that pen

  2. when I would buy that pen

  3. when I had bought that pen

  4. when I was buying that pen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense. The word 'said' changes to 'asked' because the reporting speech is in interrogative form. Hence, option (3) is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the alternative that completes the sentence after change of narration.

Sally said to me, “Are you meeting me today?” Sally enquired from me

  1. whether I am meeting her that day.

  2. whether I was meeting her today.

  3. whether I was meeting her that day.

  4. I was meeting her that day.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Third option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' tense because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense. As the reporting speech is in interrogative, the word 'said' changes to 'enquired'. 'today' changes to 'that day'. Word 'whether' is introduced in the sentence. 

Multiple choice

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

He said, “I am reading my book”. He

  1. told that he is reading his book.

  2. told that he was reading his book.

  3. said that he was reading his book.

  4. asked that he was reading his book.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Third option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' tense because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense. 

Multiple choice

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

The father said, “He is a good boy”. The father

  1. said that he is a good boy.

  2. told that he is a good boy.

  3. said that he was a good boy.

  4. told that he was a good boy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Third option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' tense because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense.