English Language

English Grammar and Usage

1,563 Questions

English grammar and usage form a critical component of language sections in competitive exams. This hub provides practice with fill in the blanks, prepositions, and appropriate word selection. Strong grammar skills are necessary to score well in verbal ability tests.

Fill in the blanksPrepositions usageConjunctions selectionSentence correction

English Grammar and Usage Questions

Multiple choice

Star gazers have often looked up and seen clusters of stars in the sky whose shape resembles an animal or a mythological figure.

  1. Star gazers have often looked up and seen clusters of stars in the sky whose shape resembles

  2. Star gazers have often looked up into the sky and saw clusters of stars whose shape resembles

  3. Star gazers have often looked up in the sky and seen clusters of stars the shape of whom resembles

  4. Clusters of stars have often been seen by star gazers up in the sky whose shape resembles

  5. Star gazers have often looked up into the sky and seen clusters of stars, the shapes of which resemble those of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; uses the right verb tense - 'resemble' to refer to a plural subject - 'clusters of stars'. Also, corrects the Error of Misplaced Modifier by referring to 'clusters of stars' as the subject the shape of which resemble 'those of' various animals or mythological figures.

Multiple choice

While buying a house, one should take into account his income, size of monthly installment, and the location of the property.

  1. take into account his income, size of monthly installment, and the location of the property

  2. take into account his income, size of monthly installment, as well as the location of the property

  3. take into account one's monthly income, size of installment, as well as the location of the property

  4. take into account one's income and amount of monthly installment, as well as the location of the property
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; removes pronoun error by using one's after using one; lists all the elements in a grammatically correct manner.

Multiple choice

The great deficiency in these wines, independent of the flavor, which chiefly originates, not from the juice, but from the seeds and husks of the fruits, are the excess of acid.

  1. and husks of the fruits, are the excess of acid

  2. and the husks of the fruits, is the excess of the acid

  3. and the husks of the fruit, are the excess of acid

  4. and husk of the fruit, is the excess of acid

  5. and husks of the fruits, is the excess of acid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This option corrects the error of subject-verb mismatch. It uses singular verb for singular subject (the great deficiency; 'is' the excess of acid).

Multiple choice

A new documentary by Discovery Channel researchers distinguish between cross-dressing, which may be idle curiosity without its being linked to sexuality, from actual alternate sexuality. (Subject-verb agreement, idiomatic use)

  1. distinguish between cross-dressing, which may be idle curiosity without its being linked to sexuality, from actual alternate sexuality

  2. distinguishes between cross-dressing, which may be idle curiosity without being linked to sexuality, and actual alternate sexuality

  3. distinguishes between cross-dressing, which would be idle curiosity without being linked to sexuality, and alternate sexuality

  4. distinguishes cross-dressing, which may be idle curiosity without its being linked to sexuality, from actual alternate sexuality

  5. distinguish between cross-dressing, perhaps curious without being linked to sexuality, and actual alternate sexuality
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; eliminates Subject- Verb Error by using distinguishes to refer to the documentary which is the subject of the sentence; correct idiomatic expression is created with the elimination of 'its' and replacement of 'from' by 'and'.

Multiple choice

The councilor has not and will not file his nomination for re-election.

  1. The councilor has not and will not file his nomination for re-election.

  2. The councilor has not filed, nor will he file his nomination for re-election.

  3. The councilor has not filed, neither will he file his nomination for re-election.

  4. The councilor has not filed and will not file his nomination for re-election.

  5. The councilor has not and shall not file his nomination for re-election.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The option rectifies the error of sentence structure. It places third form of the verb 'filed' after has not which makes it complete.

Multiple choice

While many participating countries have been able to circumvent its provisions, the original intent of the new amendment was that it was applied equally to all member nations, no matter their economic and political clout.

  1. that it was applied equally to all member nations, no matter their economic and political clout

  2. equal application in all the member nations, irrespective of their economic and political clout

  3. that, political and economic clout notwithstanding, it would apply to all member nations equally

  4. that, political and economic clout notwithstanding, it be applied equally to all member nations

  5. that it should be equally applied to all member nations, no matter their economic and political clout
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes the error of subjunctive usage by using 'be applied' to suggest intent rather than certainty.

Multiple choice

A careful perusal of the history of the evolution of whales reveals that they were not always complete sea dwellers but evolved slowly from amphibian ancestors.

  1. reveals that they were not always complete sea dwellers but evolved slowly

  2. reveals that the whales were not always complete sea dwellers but evolved slowly

  3. reveals that the whales had not always been complete sea dwellers but evolved slowly

  4. reveals that the whales had not always been complete sea dwellers but had evolved slowly

  5. revealed that they had not always been complete sea dwellers but evolved slowly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes the error of missing antecedent by using 'whales' instead of 'they'. Also, the option removes the error of Tense Usage by using Past Perfect to report an event (whales being amphibians/ were not complete sea dwellers) that took place before the evolution of whales into sea mammals.

Multiple choice

White Water rafting is thought by many to be extremely dangerous that requires both bravery and foolhardiness in equal measure.

  1. to be extremely dangerous and that requires both bravery and foolhardiness

  2. as being extremely dangerous, requiring both bravery and foolhardiness

  3. to be extremely dangerous, requiring both bravery and foolhardiness

  4. as being extremely dangerous as both bravery and foolhardiness are required
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The sentence becomes very clear: White water rafting…thought to be…extremely dangerous…requiring both...

Multiple choice

The most interesting and the important 15 years in the records of English dramatic literature are undoubtedly those among 1588 and 1603, within which limit all of Shakespeare's poems and the majority of his plays were written.

  1. The most interesting and the important 15 years in the records of English dramatic literature are undoubtedly those among

  2. An interesting and the important 15 years in the records of English dramatic literature are undoubtedly those among

  3. The interesting and the important 15 years in the records of English dramatic literature is undoubtedly those between

  4. The most interesting and important 15 years in the records of English dramatic literature are undoubtedly those between
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence bears the errors of article and preposition. Repetition of article implies two different things but in the sentence 'important' and 'interesting' both are used for single subject '15 years'. So use of article 'the' before important 15 years is incorrect. Also preposition 'among' is incorrect because the period is 'between' two limits: 1588 and 1603. This option corrects all the errors.

Multiple choice

Although this theory was known in the East to the ancient Vedanta philosophers, Buddhists and Greeks, still it has received a new impetus and grown with new strength since the introduction of the Darwinian theory of the evolution of species.

  1. the ancient Vedanta philosophers, Buddhists and Greeks, still it has received

  2. the ancient Vedanta philosophers, the Buddhists and the Greeks, it has received

  3. the ancient Vedanta philosophers, Buddhists and the Greeks, still it has received

  4. ancient Vedanta philosophers, the Buddhists and Greeks, it has received

  5. ancient Vedanta philosophers, Buddhists and Greeks, still it has received
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence has error of coordinating conjunction and parallel construction. Although is followed by 'yet' (or no coordinate) and not by 'still'. Buddhists and Greeks should also take the definitive article 'the'. This option corrects the error of parallelism and coordinating conjunction. Thus, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Given below is the body of a story with blanks i, ii, iii and iv. Fill in the blanks with the options provided to make it meaningful.

Gurinder was a popular sculptor of his town. His sculptures ____i___ nobody could ever find whether the statue was real or not. One night, Gurinder had a dream that he would die within fifteen days and the Demon of Death would come to take him. To save himself from death, he prepared nine statues of himself. On the fifteenth day, he heard the footsteps of the Demon of Death. He also ____ii_________ so that the Demon could not discover who the real Gurinder was. Exhausted, the Demon of Death went back and narrated the matter to the God of Death, who immediately set out to bring Gurinder himself. In order to find out the real Gurinder, the God of Death played a trick. He glanced ______iii_______ admiringly. Gurinder stood alert and motionless. All of a sudden, the God of Death said, "Gurinder, no doubt, you are an excellent sculptor but I can still notice one fault in your art". This remark made Gurinder restless and he asked, “Where is the fault?” Instantly, the God of Death __iv_______ and said, “Your pride, that cannot tolerate a little criticism”. Gurinder was caught due to his pride.

P. looked so real that Q. at all the statues R. stood like a statue S. caught hold of him

  1. PRQS

  2. QPRS

  3. RSPQ

  4. SRQP

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is suitable and logical.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the direct sentence into an indirect sentence.

Fatima said to her brother, “I am proud of you”.

  1. Fatima told her brother if she was proud of him.

  2. Fatima told her brother that she is proud of him.

  3. Fatima told her brother that she was proud of him.

  4. Fatima asked her brother whether she was proud of him.

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

Reporting verb is in past tense. So, the reported verb will also be in past tense. 'That' will replace inverted commas.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the direct sentence into an indirect sentence.

The doctor said to the patient, "Take medicine on time”.

  1. The doctor ordered the patient to take medicine on time.

  2. The doctor advised the patient to take medicine on time.

  3. The doctor advised the patient if he can take medicine on time.

  4. The doctor said the the patient to take medicine on time.

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

Case of imperative sentence: Reported verb would change into 'advised' as an advice is given here.