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

Although the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, control of them is necessary only in the South.

  1. the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, control of them is

  2. widely distributed, measures to control the lesser cornstalk borer are

  3. widely distributed, lesser cornstalk borer control is

  4. the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, measures to control it are

  5. it is widely distributed, control of the lesser cornstalk borer is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence uses 'them' to refer to a singular noun (borer). Option D corrects this by using 'it' to refer back to the singular subject.

Multiple choice

Although the bite of brown recluse spiders are rarely fatal, they cause chronic flesh wounds, posing the greatest danger to the infant and elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to its poison.

  1. brown recluse spiders are rarely fatal, they cause chronic flesh wounds, posing the greatest danger to the infant and elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to its

  2. brown recluse spiders are rarely fatal, they cause chronic flesh wounds and pose the greatest danger to the infant and elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to their

  3. the brown recluse spider is rarely fatal, it causes chronic flesh wounds, posing the greatest danger to the infant and elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to their

  4. the brown recluse spider is rarely fatal, it causes chronic flesh wounds and poses the greatest danger to infants and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to its

  5. the brown recluse spider is rarely fatal, they cause chronic flesh wounds, posing the greatest danger to the infant and elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to its
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option D correctly uses the singular 'spider' to match the singular verb 'is' and the singular pronoun 'its'. It also fixes the parallel structure for the list of victims.

Multiple choice

Although the phenomenon of withdrawal has always been the crucial physiological Leng for distinguishing addictive from nonaddictive drugs, it has become increasingly evident that not all regular heroin users experience withdrawal symptoms.

  1. addictive from

  2. addictive and

  3. addictive or

  4. between addictive or

  5. among addictive or
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The idiom distinguishing X from Y is the standard way to express a difference between two categories. The original sentence correctly uses this construction, so no change is needed for that specific phrase. Note that Leng appears to be a typo for criterion or test.

Multiple choice

Although the manager agreed to a more flexible work schedule, he said that it must be posted on the bulletin board so that both management and labor will know what everyone is assigned to do.

  1. he said that it must be posted on the bulletin board so that both management and labor will know what everyone is

  2. he said it had to be posted on the bulletin board so that both management and labor knows what everyone is

  3. he said that they would have to post the assignments on the bulletin board so that management and labor knew what everyone was

  4. he said that the schedule would have to be posted on the bulletin board so that both management and labor would know what everyone was

  5. saying that the schedule had to be posted on the bulletin board so that both management and labor would know what everyone had been
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence is grammatically correct. It uses the future tense 'will know' to match the context of the manager's statement.

Multiple choice

According to a panel of health officials, there has been a great deal of confusion in the medical profession about whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition more related to appearance than to health.

  1. about whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition more related to appearance than to

  2. with respect to obesity being a biological disorder posing serious health risks or if it is related more to appearance than

  3. over whether or not obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or it is a condition more related to appearance than to

  4. about obesity and if it is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or a condition related to appearance more than to

  5. concerning whether obesity is a biological disorder posing serious health risks or it is a condition related to appearance more than
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The underlined part of the sentence is perfectly correct in the given form.

Multiple choice

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

  1. indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who

  2. indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had

  3. may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had

  4. indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

  5. indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant from a single female ancestor who
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Error of subject verb agreement and modal usage. Here, the subject is singular (the pattern), so the verb should also be singular (i.e. indicates). Case of present tense, so modal 'may' is the correct usage. might' is generally used for past tense.

Multiple choice

According to some economists, Japan is in danger of plunging into a depression that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain a society that regards lifetime employment as a virtual right of citizenship.

  1. that, with double-digit unemployment, could severely strain

  2. that, because of double-digit unemployment, could be a severe strain for

  3. with double-digit unemployment, and it could severely train

  4. with double-digit unemployment and could be a severe train

  5. with double-digit unemployment and could severely strain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The given sentence is perfectly fine.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a sentence followed by four alternatives. Select the alternative that conveys the same meaning as the original sentence. Had I known his true character, I would not have tolerated him for fifteen years.

  1. I did not understand his true character.

  2. He was alright for the fifteen years.

  3. He was so cunning that I did not see through him earlier.

  4. He has always been like that but I tolerated him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence expresses regret for tolerating someone because the speaker did not realize the person's true, negative character earlier.

Multiple choice

Directions: The question consists of a capitalized word followed by four sentences in which the word has been used in different ways. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate. MARRY

  1. He married twice in two years.

  2. She refused to marry him.

  3. The father wanted to marry off his only daughter.

  4. He married himself away for money.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option D is incorrect because 'married himself away' is not a standard English idiom for marriage.