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 softskills leadership

bicameral

  1. V-shaped cut in a surface

  2. two-chambered as a legislative body

  3. territory enclosed within an alien land

  4. proverb
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Bicameral describes something with two chambers, specifically a legislative body with two houses (like the U.S. Congress with Senate and House). Option B is correct. Options A, C, and D are incorrect - a V-shaped cut, enclosed territory, and proverb respectively.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

cache

  1. read or glance through quickly

  2. embarrass

  3. hiding place

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

A cache is a hiding place for storing items. Options A, B, and D are unrelated: A means to scan, B means to make uncomfortable, D means insulting.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

choir

  1. created by statute or legislative action

  2. refer indirectly

  3. group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services)

  4. transmit (money) in payment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A choir is an organized group of singers who perform together, especially in religious services or ceremonies. The term refers to both the people and the area in a church where they sing. Options A, B, and D describe statutory creation, indirect reference, and money transfers.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

drama

  1. prose or verse composition to be performed by actors

  2. deliberately planned

  3. sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body

  4. switch (a railroad car) to a siding
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Drama is a prose or verse composition meant to be performed by actors on stage, film, or television. It's a form of literature designed for theatrical performance. The other options describe different concepts.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

elliptical

  1. elliptic

  2. severely critical

  3. capricious happening

  4. point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Elliptical means relating to or having the shape of an ellipse, or describes language with omitted words (ellipsis). The distractors (mordant, capricious, solstice) define unrelated adjectives.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

It is a special feature of cell aggregation in the developing nervous system that in most regions of the brain the cells not only adhere to one another and also adopt some preferential orientation.

  1. A. to one another and also adopt

  2. B. one to the other, and also they adopt

  3. C. one to the other, but also adopting

  4. D. to one another but also adopt

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

The "not only... but also" construction requires parallel verb forms. "Not only adhere... but also adopt" keeps both verbs in base form after the auxiliary.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

Even today, a century after Pasteur developed the first vaccine, rabies almost always kills its victims unless inoculated in the earliest stages of the disease.

  1. A. its victims unless inoculated

  2. B. its victims unless they are inoculated

  3. C. its victims unless inoculation is done

  4. D. the victims unless there is an inoculation

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

Victims are inoculated by medical professionals, so the passive voice "unless they are inoculated" is needed. "They" clearly refers to rabies victims.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

It is a special feature of cell aggregation in the developing nervous system that in most regions of the brain the cells not only adhere to one another and also adopt some preferential orientation.

  1. A. to one another and also adopt

  2. B. one to the other, and also they adopt

  3. C. one to the other, but also adopting

  4. D. to one another but also adopt

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

This question tests parallel structure and correct conjunction use. The sentence structure 'not only...but also' requires parallel verb forms. Option D correctly provides 'to one another but also adopt' - both infinitive verbs ('adhere' and 'adopt') are in base form, creating proper parallel structure. Option A uses 'to one another and also adopt' which is acceptable but less precise. Options B and C incorrectly use 'one to the other' and introduce inconsistent verb forms, disrupting the parallel structure required by 'not only...but also'.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

One of every two new businesses fail within two years.

  1. A. fail

  2. B. fails

  3. C. should fail

  4. D. may have failed

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

In this sentence, we are talking about the failure rate of new businesses. The subject "one of every two new businesses" is singular, so we need a singular verb to agree with it.

Now, let's go through each option and explain why it is right or wrong:

A. fail: This option is incorrect because "fail" is a plural verb and does not agree with the subject "one of every two new businesses."

B. fails: This option is correct. "Fails" is a singular verb that agrees with the subject "one of every two new businesses."

C. should fail: This option is incorrect because it suggests an obligation or recommendation for the businesses to fail, which is not the intended meaning of the sentence.

D. may have failed: This option is incorrect because it implies uncertainty about the failure of the businesses, whereas the sentence presents a general statement about the failure rate.

Therefore, the correct answer is: B. fails.