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

Directions: Choose the option for the underlined phrase in the sentence so as to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.

The stars mainly consist of hydrogen and helium which produces nuclear reactions and energy.

  1. which produces nuclear reactions and energy.

  2. which may produce nuclear reactions and energy.

  3. which have produced nuclear reactions and energy.

  4. which produce nuclear reactions and energy.

  5. which produced nuclear reactions and energy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; as the production is a recurring phenomenon, the use of simple present is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the word/phrase that must be deleted/corrected, in order to make the sentence grammatically correct.

The bitter cold is potentially life threatening to stranded motorists unless well-insulated with protective clothing.

  1. potentially

  2. to stranded

  3. unless well-insulated

  4. protective
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Type of error: Incorrect usage of modifier in the clause 'unless well insulated'. Nothing is clear that 'who or what' is/are 'well insulated'. A pronoun is needed for reference to the noun (motorists). The correct usage will be '….unless they are well-insulated………'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that corrects and improves the underlined part of the sentence.

Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to a steady inflation rate of four to five percent, businesses find that they could raise prices without strong reaction from the public.

  1. could raise prices without strong reaction

  2. might raise prices without strong reaction

  3. will raise prices without strong reaction

  4. can raise prices without strong reaction

  5. should raise prices without strong reaction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct Answer: can raise prices without strong reaction

Multiple choice

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option.

“______ Supreme Court declined to entertain ______ public interest writ petition that sought ______ direction to quash ______ order of suspension of and ______ charge sheet filed against ______ officer.”

  1. the, a, a, the, a, the

  2. the, a, a, the, the, the

  3. the, a, a, the, the, a

  4. the, a, a, an, the, the

  5. the, a, an, the, the, the
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The answer is - “The Supreme Court declined to entertain a public interest writ petition that sought a direction to quash the order of suspension of and the charge sheet filed against the officer.”

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the part in which there is an error:

  1. The bank customers

  2. are advised

  3. to not share their account details

  4. with unknown sources
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The error is in part C. When 'not' is used with an infinitive, the standard word order is 'not to' (split infinitive), not 'to not'. The correct form is 'advised not to share' or 'advised to refrain from sharing'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (6). Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness that causes fever and _____ (5) and can prove _________ (6). It's one of a handful of diseases carried by ticks that are increasingly infecting people in the US. "Deer are very important in the life cycle of the ticks that _________ (7) the diseases because they provide a place for the ticks over winter to survive, to _________ (8) and to feed. And deer have markedly increased over the past 50 years in the northeast of the United States due to _________ (9).

  1. prolific

  2. malefic

  3. deific
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of Option 2 is harmful.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (8). Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness that causes fever and _____ (5) and can prove _________ (6). It's one of a handful of diseases carried by ticks that are increasingly infecting people in the US. "Deer are very important in the life cycle of the ticks that _________ (7) the diseases because they provide a place for the ticks over winter to survive, to _________ (8) and to feed. And deer have markedly increased over the past 50 years in the northeast of the United States due to _________ (9).

  1. preserve

  2. proliferate

  3. diffuse
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of Option 1 is to reproduce.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (6).

The army attempted to _______ (5) the enemy with a new plan of attack. Before the enemy ________ (6) what was happening, their forces became confused and frustrated. The army ________ (7) the battle and stopped the enemy's advance.

  1. apprehended

  2. disdained

  3. scorned
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of Option 1 is understood or got the idea.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (7).

The army attempted to _______ (5) the enemy with a new plan of attack. Before the enemy ________ (6) what was happening, their forces became confused and frustrated. The army ________ (7) the battle and stopped the enemy's advance.

  1. fought

  2. conquered

  3. relinquished
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of Option 2 is won.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (3).

The tornado ________ (3) the whole town to the point that nothing was left standing. A black funnel cloud _________ (4) by _________ (5) winds _________ (6) into south Brooklyn and Queens at around 11 a.m., with reports of the _______ (7) storm hitting the ground on the Rockaway Peninsula and Canaries. The unusual storm _______ (8) siding from homes and threw patio furniture high into the sky in the quiet beach neighbourhood.

  1. annihilated

  2. revalidated

  3. prospered

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

The meaning of Option 1 is destroyed completely.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (5).

The tornado ________ (3) the whole town to the point that nothing was left standing. A black funnel cloud _________ (4) by _________ (5) winds _________ (6) into south Brooklyn and Queens at around 11 a.m., with reports of the _______ (7) storm hitting the ground on the Rockaway Peninsula and Canaries. The unusual storm _______ (8) siding from homes and threw patio furniture high into the sky in the quiet beach neighbourhood.

  1. howling

  2. stilling

  3. pacifying
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of Option 1 is noisy.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the given paragraph by selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options and fill blank (4).

The tornado ________ (3) the whole town to the point that nothing was left standing. A black funnel cloud _________ (4) by _________ (5) winds _________ (6) into south Brooklyn and Queens at around 11 a.m., with reports of the _______ (7) storm hitting the ground on the Rockaway Peninsula and Canaries. The unusual storm _______ (8) siding from homes and threw patio furniture high into the sky in the quiet beach neighbourhood.

  1. abandoned

  2. deserted

  3. accompanied

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

The meaning of Option 3 is to go with.