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

I could only ........ violence in exceptional circumstances.

  1. confine

  2. condemn

  3. condone

  4. comprise

  5. confide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Condone' means to accept or allow behavior that is considered wrong. The sentence suggests that violence could only be acceptable in exceptional circumstances. Confine means to limit, condemn means to criticize, comprise means to include, and confide means to trust.

Multiple choice

They could barely .......... their glee.

  1. conceive

  2. conceal

  3. compromise

  4. conclude

  5. concede
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Conceal' means to hide or keep secret. They struggled to hide their excitement (glee). Conceive means to imagine, compromise means to weaken, conclude means to decide, and concede means to yield.

Multiple choice

_______ the work was hard, the wages were three times as much as could be earned on field work.

  1. though

  2. yet

  3. but

  4. in spite of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Though' is a subordinating conjunction that can start a sentence to show contrast. 'Yet' and 'but' are coordinating conjunctions that typically connect two independent clauses (they'd come after the first clause, not at the start). 'In spite of' is a prepositional phrase that needs a noun phrase following it, not a clause.

Multiple choice

The committee picked ______ the best player for the team.

  1. of

  2. in

  3. out

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

The phrasal verb 'pick out' means to select or choose someone/something from a group. 'Pick of', 'pick in', and 'pick from' don't form this common phrasal verb structure. The committee selected (picked out) the best player.

Multiple choice

The work was hard ______ wages were high.

  1. though

  2. yet

  3. but

  4. in spite of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is 'but' because it shows contrast between the two clauses - hard work (negative) and high wages (positive). 'Though' and 'yet' would require different sentence structures, while 'in spite of' is a preposition that cannot join independent clauses.

Multiple choice

She ......... her parents and got married.

  1. deducted

  2. defied

  3. decried

  4. deferred

  5. deflected
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is 'defied', which means to openly resist, disobey, or refuse to obey someone. She openly disobeyed her parents' wishes and got married. 'Deducted' means to subtract, 'decried' means to publicly criticize, 'deferred' means to postpone, and 'deflected' means to turn aside.

Multiple choice

Tax and insurance are ......... from your wages.

  1. deducted

  2. defied

  3. decried

  4. deferred

  5. deflected
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is 'deducted', which means to subtract or take away from a total. Taxes and insurance are subtracted from your wages before you receive payment. This is standard payroll terminology.

Multiple choice

What rose high from their horse's hooves?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“What is the fourth thing?” asked the Mandarin.
The Wise men shrugged. “We can pray to the Great Cloud Dragon to help us.”
“That seems most practical,” said the Mandarin
So the gongs were beaten, and the smoke of sweet incense rose up while everyone in the city prayed.
The next morning, as Han was sweeping the road under the gate, a small, fat man came walking up the hill. He had a long white beard and a shiny baldhead, and he leaned on a long staff
“Goodmorning,”he said
Han bowed.” I hope your honourable stomach is happy sir,” he replied, politely
“Will you take me to the ruler of the city?” said the little fat man.
“I’ll take you to him,” said Han, “but he is very busy this morning. We are expecting the enemy, and the Mandarin is praying to the Great Cloud Dragon for help.”
“I know,” said the little man. “I am the dragon.”
Han opened his eyes very wide. “You don’t look like one,” he said
“How do you know?” asked the little man. “Have you ever seen one?”
“No,” said Han.
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t,”
“Well, then?”
“Well then,” said Han, “please come this way, Honourable Dragon.”
He led the little fat man to the palace. There sat the Mandarin with his councilors. They had just finished a huge bowl of rice and six dozen duck eggs for breakfast and they were drinking their tea.
The Mandarin looked at the little fat man with a frown.
“Who is this person and why have you brought him here?” he asked Han.
“Sir,” said Han, “he is a dragon.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said the Mandarin. “He’s a fat man who is tracking dirt on my fine carpets. What do you want here, old man?”

“I have come to help you,” said the little fat man. “But if you want a dragon to help you, you must treat him with courtesy. I have come a long, weary way. Give me something to eat and something to drink and speak to me politely, and I will save the city.”

  1. dust

  2. filth

  3. soot

  4. dirt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

The film was so ________ that I can't tell you what the story was about.

  1. dismal

  2. disjointed

  3. discreet

  4. disconsolate

  5. disgruntled
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 Dismal means sad and based on the clues from the sentence, this would not fit. Discreet means privately or in secret. Disconsolate means unable to console and would not fit. Disgruntled means upset and would not work also. Disjointed means out of order or chaotic and this would match with the sentence, hence the correct answer.