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

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money-market account, financial experts recommend a certificate of deposit for its high yield.

  1. Although not quite as liquid an investment as

  2. Although it is not quite as liquid an investment as

  3. While not being quite as liquid an investment as

  4. While it is not quite as liquid as an investment

  5. Although not quite liquid an investment as
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence has a misplaced modifier as what is not quite as liquid is not answered.

Justification for (2): The sentence has a misplaced modifier as what is not quite as liquid is not answered. Option (2), clarifies by the use of 'it' for the certificate of deposit.

Explanation for (3): The option fails to correct the error of misplaced modifier.
Explanation for (4): The option fails to correct the error of misplaced modifier. Explanation for (5): The option fails to correct the error of misplaced modifier.

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Being aggressive in behavior and harsh in language are a manifestation of savagery.

  1. are a manifestation of savagery

  2. is a manifestation of savagery

  3. are a manifestation to savagery

  4. is a manifestation to savagery

  5. are a manifestation for savagery
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence has an error of subject-verb agreement. Manifestation is singular noun and needs singular verb.

Justification for (2): The sentence has an error of subject-verb agreement. Manifestation is singular noun and needs singular verb. This option rectifies the error.  (Manifestation of savagery ‘is’)

Explanation for (3): This option does not rectify the error of subject-verb agreement.
Explanation for (4): This option rectifies the error of subject-verb agreement, but introduces another error of preposition (‘to savagery’ in place of ‘of savagery’). Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of subject-verb agreement and introduces another error of preposition (‘for savagery’ in place of ‘of savagery’).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that fills up all the blanks. A. The manager was ________ off the task of placating the warring factions of the trade union. B. Soon after the debacle, he was ________ off all his powers and was forced to go on a prolonged leave. C. The government has ________ several PSUs of the unnecessary flab. D. ________ of his authority, he was useless.

  1. shorn

  2. stripped

  3. put

  4. signed

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

A person cannot be 'shorn' or 'put off' his tasks or powers/authority. Also, 'sign off' is done by a person, not to a person. But a person can be stripped off his task/power and authority and the government can also strip flab (sagging fat or excess) off an enterprise.

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

PRECIPITATE

  1. If the price of LPG goes up in the domestic market, it will precipitate inflation.

  2. The precipitate decision made by the CEO has jeopardized the future of the organization.

  3. The mountain ranges of the Himalayas have a precipitate slope.

  4. A war at this time will precipitate the crisis.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (3): This option reflects incorrect usage of the word. Correct usage: “have a precipitous slope”.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the option that fills in the blanks most suitably (in the same order).

Letters to the editor should be ________ in style and quite ________.

  1. low, high

  2. florid, torrid

  3. lucid, objective

  4. absolute, perfect

  5. formal, concise

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

This option contains words 'lucid' and 'objective', which are appropriate to be used in context of letter to the editor. This is a perfect match for describing characteristics of letter to editor. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the option that fills in the blanks most suitably (in the same order).

The role of Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) in ________ us about the ________ events is sometimes not clearly ________.

  1. telling, know, seen

  2. clarifying, occurrence, seen

  3. warning, future, understood

  4. warning, past, appreciated

  5. alerting, coming, defined
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

‘Warning’ us about the ‘future’ events, makes coherent sense, as does (the role of ESP) not clearly ‘understood’. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) of sentence(s) that is/are correct in terms of grammar and usage (including spelling, punctuation and logical consistency). Then, choose the most appropriate option.

A. A seismograph records oscillation of the ground caused by seismic waves, B. vibrations that travel from its point of origin, through the Earth or along its surface. C. Stories about air travel mishaps are carefully edited out of news programs prepared for in-flight viewing, D. since they have no desire to increase the anxiety E. some passengers already feel about flying.

  1. B and E

  2. B and C

  3. A and D

  4. A, C and D

  5. A, C and E
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

(5) B has an error of pronoun agreement; the plural pronoun 'vibrations' should take the plural possessive pronoun 'their', in place of 'its'. The pronoun 'they' in D has no antecedent and should be replaced by the noun 'the airlines'.