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: Fill in the blanks.

One of the many ________ ______ proved to be near a black hole.

  1. galaxies, was

  2. galaxey, were

  3. galaxies, were

  4. galaxy, was
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In 'one of the [plural noun]' constructions, the subject is 'one,' which is singular. The verb must agree with 'one,' not with the plural noun. Therefore, 'One of the many galaxies was proved' is correct with the singular verb 'was.' The relative clause 'that proved to be near a black hole' describes which galaxy.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank.

Economics _______ studied in most colleges.

  1. is

  2. are

  3. will

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

Academic discipline names ending in '-ics' (economics, physics, mathematics) take singular verbs when referring to the field of study itself. When referring to plural specific phenomena, they might take plural verbs, but here it's clearly the discipline, so 'is' is correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portions of sentences 2 and 3 (reproduced below)?

Some seem almost like monsters. They existed as proved by the fossil record.

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

  1. monsters; they existed as proved by the fossil record.

  2. monsters, and the fossil record proves their existence.

  3. monsters as proved by the existence of fossil record.

  4. monsters; yet the fossil record proves their existence.

  5. monsters; the fossil record has proved that they existed.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

“Monsters” sets up the contrast in the sentence.  Monsters' existence on the earth would harm the humans and therefore they are believed to be non-existent.  Option (D) maintains this contrast, thereby giving a cogent meaning to the sentence.  Hence, (D) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following should be done with sentence 13?

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

  1. Leave it as it

  2. Insert the word, 'According to you' at the beginning.

  3. Delete it

  4. Move lit to the end of paragraph 1 (after sentence 6)

  5. Move it to the end of the essay as a summary statement.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option (D) is the answer as the following paragraph supports it by citing two evidences. Moreover, it forms a cogent link with sentence 6.

Multiple choice

In context, which of the following is the best revision of sentence 6 (reproduced below)?

Lady Macbeth was an integral part of the play’s most memorable character in the thematic web.

Direction for questions 13 to 18: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 

Macbeth
(1) Composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello. (2) It is a relatively short play without a major subplot, and it is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare’s darkest work. (3) Lear is an utter tragedy in which the natural world is amorally indifferent toward mankind, but in Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a supernatural dimension that purposively conspires against Macbeth and his kingdom. (4) In the tragedy of Lear, the distraught king summons the goddess of Chaos, Hecht, in Macbeth, Hecate appears as an actual character.

(5) Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power, including the murder of the Scottish king, Duncan, and the guilt-ridden pathology of evil deeds generating still more evil deeds. (6) Lady Macbeth was an integral part of the play’s most memorable character in the thematic web. (7) Like her husband, Lady Macbeth's ambition for power leads her into an unnatural, phantasmagoric realm of witchcraft, insomnia and madness. (8) While Macbeth responds to the prophecies of the play's famous trio of witches, Lady Macbeth goes even further by figuratively transforming herself into an unnatural, desexualized evil spirit. (9) The current trend of critical opinion is toward an upward reevaluation of Lady Macbeth, who is said to be rehumanized by her insanity and her suicide. (10) Much of this reappraisal of Lady Macbeth has taken place in discussions of her ironically strong marriage to Macbeth. (11) A union that on unfolding of the tragedy undergoes disintegration rested on loving bonds.

  1. (As it is now)

  2. The play’s most memorable character in this thematic web is Lady Macbeth, who plays an integral part.

  3. The integral part of this thematic web is the play’s most memorable character, Lady Macbeth.

  4. This thematic web portrays Lady Macbeth in an internal part of the play’s most memorable character.

  5. Lady Macbeth, the play’s most memorable character has been represented as an integral part of this thematic web.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (C) is the answer as it retains correct tense and correct preposition; and cogently forms a link between sentences 5 and 7.  Options (A) and (D) are ruled out due to incorrect preposition (of) use.  The latter part of option (B) is ambiguous.  Option (E) is ruled out due to use of incorrect tense.

Multiple choice

In context, which of the following revisions is necessary in sentence 8?

Direction for questions 13 to 18: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 

Macbeth
(1) Composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello. (2) It is a relatively short play without a major subplot, and it is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare’s darkest work. (3) Lear is an utter tragedy in which the natural world is amorally indifferent toward mankind, but in Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a supernatural dimension that purposively conspires against Macbeth and his kingdom. (4) In the tragedy of Lear, the distraught king summons the goddess of Chaos, Hecht, in Macbeth, Hecate appears as an actual character.

(5) Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power, including the murder of the Scottish king, Duncan, and the guilt-ridden pathology of evil deeds generating still more evil deeds. (6) Lady Macbeth was an integral part of the play’s most memorable character in the thematic web. (7) Like her husband, Lady Macbeth's ambition for power leads her into an unnatural, phantasmagoric realm of witchcraft, insomnia and madness. (8) While Macbeth responds to the prophecies of the play's famous trio of witches, Lady Macbeth goes even further by figuratively transforming herself into an unnatural, desexualized evil spirit. (9) The current trend of critical opinion is toward an upward reevaluation of Lady Macbeth, who is said to be rehumanized by her insanity and her suicide. (10) Much of this reappraisal of Lady Macbeth has taken place in discussions of her ironically strong marriage to Macbeth. (11) A union that on unfolding of the tragedy undergoes disintegration rested on loving bonds.

  1. Insert ‘But’ at the beginning of the sentence.

  2. Replace ‘While’ with ‘Even though’.

  3. Replace ‘comma’ after witches with a semi-colon.

  4. Delete ‘even’ in the latter part of the sentence.

  5. Change ‘by figuratively transforming to ‘to figuratively transform’.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence 7 highlights Lady Macbeth’s similarity with her husband, Macbeth whereas sentence 8 highlights the different scenarios of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  This implies that sentence 8 is in contrast to sentence 7.  Therefore, option (A) is the answer. Replacing ‘while’ with ‘even though’ would not be appropriate as the contrasting situation is not within the sentence. Moreover, ‘while’ depicting throughout or during that time period is necessary for the flow of the sentence.  Hence, option (A) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct adverb from the alternatives given below.

There was a great king and he had a beautiful daughter who was of marriageable age. However, the king was very fond of her for her activeness, her sunny nature, her straight forwardness, etc. He felt he would never find a _____ good match for her. She was his daughter after all. But in time, all the advisors, counsellors and the queen reminded him that she was the only child and therefore, had to get married; if not to a prince, then maybe to anyone who could match her. The king thought of a plan to shut all up for good and asked his ministers to announce with loud sounds of trumpets that he would give his daughter to the person who could build a boat that goes over water and land. Thus, all were quiet henceforth.

  1. best

  2. truthfully

  3. actually

  4. really
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Other options do not result in a meaningful sentence. ‘Really good’ means good in reality. Thus, option (4) is the correct answer.