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

Any questions suggesting the answer which the person putting it wishes or expects to receive is called

  1. indecent question

  2. scandalous question

  3. question intended to annoy

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

Option (1) is incorrect: Those which are offensive to standards of decency are indecent questions. Option (2) is incorrect: Scandalous question are disgraceful or improper towards the proceedings. Option (3) is incorrect: Those questions which annoy the court while proceedings are questions to annoy. Option (4) is correct: Leading questions are questions which are framed in a way that evokes a specific response from the individual being questioned.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been given in direct/indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in direct/indirect speech.

He asked me if I had anything to say.

  1. He said to me, “Have you anything to say?”

  2. He asked me, “Had you anything to say?”

  3. He said to me, “Have I anything to say?”

  4. He said me, “Have you anything to say?”
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

As “reported speech” is in interrogative form, “said to “will be changed into “asked” and conjunction “if” will be used and present perfect will be changed into past perfect in indirect speech.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question, a sentence has been given in direct/indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in direct/indirect speech.

The teacher told the students that to err is human.

  1. The teacher says, “To err is human.”

  2. The teacher said to the students, “To err was human.”

  3. The teacher will say, “To err is human.”

  4. The teacher said to the students, “To err is human.”
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Direct/Indirect form.

The teacher said, “You all must sit at your seats now.”

  1. The teacher requested the class to sit at their seats.

  2. The teacher advised the class to sit at their seats.

  3. The teacher ordered the class to sit at their seats.

  4. The teacher pledged the class to sit at their seats.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The teacher used the word ‘must’. So, it’s an order.

Multiple choice

The court gave the defence lawyer _________ November 12th to deposit the original deed.

  1. upto

  2. until

  3. by

  4. between

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

 Here, until is the correct option as it is used to do something before a certain time or up to that time. Upto is used to indicate extension as far as a specified place or to indicate a limit or boundary. ‘By’ is used to indicate the means of achieving something and between is used to imply at, into or across the space separating the two objects, region or points in time.

Multiple choice

The children go to bed _________ nine o’clock, only then can I watch television.

  1. on

  2. in

  3. during

  4. at

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

 Here, at is the correct option as it is used in expressing location or arrival in a particular place, position or expressing the time when an event takes place. ‘On’ as a preposition of time is used for days and dates. ‘In’ as a preposition of time is used for months, years, centuries and long periods. During is used to imply the course or duration of a period of time.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

You must take this medicine.

  1. This medicine was taken by you.

  2. This medicine must be taken by you.

  3. Medicine should be taken.

  4. This medicine must been taken by you.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “must be + past participle” will be used in the passive voice. Hence, this is incorrect. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 3: This is incorrect as “must be and past participle” is required in the passive voice as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 4: “been” will be replaced by “be” in the passive voice.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

I can write a book on grammar.

  1. A book on grammar can be written by me.

  2. A book on grammar could be written by me.

  3. A book on grammar is written by me.

  4. A book on grammar can written by me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 2: “could be” should be replaced by “can be” here. Explanation for option 3: This is incorrect as “can” in the “active voice” changes into “can be + past participle” in the passive voice. Explanation for option 4:  “Can” in the “active voice” changes into “can be + past participle” in the passive voice.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Direct/Indirect form.

The teacher said, “I am busy now.”

  1. The teacher said that I am busy now.

  2. The teacher said that he is busy now.

  3. The teacher said that he is busy then.

  4. The teacher said that he was busy then.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past” and pronoun “I” will be changed according to the subject of “reporting verb” and “now” will change into “then”. Explanation for option 2: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past” and “now” will change into “then”. Explanation for option 3: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past”.      Explanation for option 4: The tense of “reported speech” is changed into “simple past” and pronoun “I” is changed into the subject of “reporting verb” and “now” will change into “then”.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Direct/Indirect form.

He said to Raman, “I can easily beat you in the 200 m race."

  1. He said to Raman that he could easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  2. He told Raman that he could easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  3. He told Raman that he can easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  4. He told Raman that I could easily beat him in the 200 m race.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Said to” of reporting verb will be changed into “told” in indirect speech. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: “can” will be changed into “could” in indirect speech. Explanation for option 4: The pronoun “I” will be changed according to the subject of “reporting verb”.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the appropriate question for the given answer.

Tick the correct present tense.

  1. It isn't raining often in California

  2. It hasn't rained often in California

  3. It doesn't often rain in California

  4. It don't often rain in California
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence describes a general fact or a habitual state regarding the weather in California. The simple present tense 'doesn't often rain' is the correct form for expressing such regular occurrences. Options using 'isn't raining' or 'hasn't rained' imply specific ongoing or past actions rather than a general rule.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the appropriate question for the given answer.

Tick the correct present tense.

  1. Do you brush your teeth daily?

  2. Have you brushed your teeth daily?

  3. Are you brushing your teeth daily?

  4. Does you brush your teeth daily?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This question asks about a daily habit, which requires the simple present tense. 'Do you brush' is the correct construction for a question in the simple present with the subject 'you'. Options using 'have you brushed' or 'are you brushing' change the aspect to perfect or continuous, which is less appropriate for a general daily routine.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the appropriate question for the given answer.

Tick the correct present tense.

  1. I've got pain in my feets.

  2. I've got pain in my feet.

  3. I've pain in my foots.

  4. I has pain in my foot.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The noun 'foot' has an irregular plural form, which is 'feet'. Options A and C are incorrect because 'feets' and 'foots' are not real words. Option D is incorrect because the singular subject 'I' must be paired with 'have' rather than 'has'.