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

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

This question tests proper pronoun usage and clarity. The sentence says 'rabies almost always kills its victims unless inoculated in the earliest stages.' The question is: who or what needs to be inoculated? The victims, not the disease. Option B correctly clarifies 'its victims unless they are inoculated' - the pronoun 'they' clearly refers to 'victims'. Option A 'unless inoculated' is a dangling modifier - unclear who is inoculated. Option C 'unless inoculation is done' is awkward and passive. Option D 'unless there is an inoculation' is vague and doesn't specify who receives it.

Multiple choice softskills communication

If I __________ you, I would wait a while to begin investing.

  1. was

  2. am

  3. were

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

To solve this question, the user needs to know the grammar rule for conditional sentences. In this case, the sentence is in the second conditional form, which means it is discussing hypothetical or unlikely situations.

Each option represents a different verb tense. Let's go through each option and explain why it is right or wrong:

A. was: This option is grammatically incorrect. The second conditional form requires the use of the past simple tense of the verb "to be", which is "were".

B. am: This option is grammatically incorrect. The second conditional form requires the use of the past simple tense of the verb "to be", which is "were".

C. were: This option is correct. The second conditional form requires the use of the past simple tense of the verb "to be", which is "were". Additionally, the verb "would" is used to express the hypothetical action of waiting to invest.

D. would be: This option is grammatically incorrect. The second conditional form requires the use of the past simple tense of the verb "to be", which is "were".

Therefore, the correct answer is:

The Answer is: C. were

Multiple choice softskills leadership

Our firm _____ a lot of business with overseas customers

  1. did

  2. do

  3. does

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

To solve this question, the user needs to know the correct subject-verb agreement in a sentence. The user should identify the subject of the sentence and make sure that the verb is in the correct form to match the subject.

In this sentence, the subject is "our firm," which is singular. Therefore, we need a singular verb form to match it.

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

A. did: This option is incorrect because "did" is the past tense of "do" and doesn't match the singular subject "our firm."

B. do: This option is incorrect because "do" is the present tense of "do" and doesn't match the singular subject "our firm."

C. does: This option is correct. "Does" is the third-person singular present tense of "do," and it correctly matches the singular subject "our firm."

D. done: This option is incorrect because "done" is the past participle of "do" and is not a verb form that can be used in this sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

The Answer is: C. does

Multiple choice softskills communication

The media _____ protected by the first amendment.

  1. are

  2. is

  3. shall

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

"Media" is a plural noun (the plural of "medium"), so it requires a plural verb "are" in formal English. While colloquial usage sometimes treats "media" as singular with "is," the formally correct usage is plural, especially in the context of constitutional protections.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Our thanks _____ to the workers who supported the union.

  1. go

  2. goes

  3. are

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

To solve this question, the user needs to know the subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar. In this sentence, "our thanks" is the subject and it is a plural noun. Therefore, the verb should be in the plural form as well.

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

A. "go": This option is the correct answer. "Go" is the plural form of the verb, and it agrees with the subject "our thanks."

B. "goes": This option is incorrect. "Goes" is the singular form of the verb, and it does not agree with the plural subject "our thanks."

C. "are": This option is incorrect. "Are" is a plural form of the verb "be," but it is not appropriate to use it in this sentence because "our thanks" is not a condition or state.

D. "is": This option is incorrect. "Is" is the singular form of the verb "be," and it does not agree with the plural subject "our thanks."

Therefore, the correct answer is:

The Answer is: A. go

Multiple choice softskills communication

Two-fifths of the troops _____ lost in the battle.

  1. was

  2. were

  3. have

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

To solve this question, the user needs to know the correct subject-verb agreement. The sentence has a subject "Two-fifths of the troops" that requires a verb that agrees with it in number.

Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they use the singular verb form "was" or "has", which does not agree in number with the plural subject "Two-fifths of the troops."

Option B is correct because it uses the plural verb form "were," which agrees in number with the plural subject "Two-fifths of the troops."

Therefore, the answer is: B) were.

Multiple choice softskills communication

The critic thought the film was completely unrealistic; he termed the plot ---- and the acting ---- .

  1. contrived . . unbelievable

  2. imaginative . . genuine

  3. ambitious . . courageous

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

The sentence requires two adjectives that mean 'unrealistic' to complete the description. 'Contrived' means artificially created or forced, while 'unbelievable' means not credible. Both fit the context of a film critic calling a plot unrealistic. Options B and C suggest positive traits (imaginative, courageous) which contradict the negative context.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Though the story is set in a small village in a remote area of South America, the novel's themes are so ---- that its events could have occurred anywhere and involved any of us at any time.

  1. mythical

  2. universal

  3. anguished

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

The phrase 'could have occurred anywhere and involved any of us at any time' describes something that applies broadly to all people and places - this is the definition of 'universal'. 'Mythical' means fictional, 'anguished' means suffering, and 'complex' means complicated - none capture the broad applicability described.

Multiple choice softskills communication

I just adore ____ in a hot bath.

  1. lying

  2. to lie

  3. both

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Adore' is a verb of attitude that is followed by the -ing form (gerund) when referring to enjoying an activity. 'Adore lying in a hot bath' is correct - 'to lie' would be ungrammatical.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Bestco to open new superstore in shopping centre News was released today thatleading supermarket chain Bestco is to open a new store in the Westway shopping mall, taking over an empty site that was occupied by G & M fashions until that shop closed last May. A spokesman for Bestko said that the company was looking forward to opening the new store early next summer. Around 200 jobs will be created for lcoal people. Can you spot a mistake in the newspaper report above?

  1. The last sentence needs a question mark.

  2. Summer should have a capital S.

  3. 'Site' should be spelled 'sight'

  4. The supermarket name is spelled two different ways - Bestco and Bestko.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is D because the supermarket name appears inconsistently as 'Bestco' and 'Bestko' in the same report. This spelling inconsistency is a clear error that needs correction. Option A is wrong because the last sentence is a statement, option B is incorrect because 'summer' doesn't need capitalization here, and option C is wrong because 'site' is the correct spelling for a location.