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

Fill blank (i).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Biogas ______(i)_____ obtained from animal dung and other agricultural wastes.  Animal dung and other agricultural wastes are mixed with water and ________(ii)_______ into a digester. In the absence of air, the biomass ________(iii)_______ to give a combustible gas, _________(iv)_______ is a mixture of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide.

  1. has been

  2. had been

  3. was

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

The passage is in present tense. Hence the use of ‘is’.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Biogas ______(i)_____ obtained from animal dung and other agricultural wastes.  Animal dung and other agricultural wastes are mixed with water and ________(ii)_______ into a digester. In the absence of air, the biomass ________(iii)_______ to give a combustible gas, _________(iv)_______ is a mixture of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide.

  1. fed

  2. feeded

  3. fedded

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

Past participle form of the word ‘feed’ is ‘fed’.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (iv).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Biogas ______(i)_____ obtained from animal dung and other agricultural wastes.  Animal dung and other agricultural wastes are mixed with water and ________(ii)_______ into a digester. In the absence of air, the biomass ________(iii)_______ to give a combustible gas, _________(iv)_______ is a mixture of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide.

  1. that

  2. who

  3. what

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

The rule regarding the use of ‘that’ and ‘which’ is that non-restrictive relative clauses are introduced by ‘which’. Since ‘is a mixture of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide’ is a non-restrictive relative clause, so 'which' should be used.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (i).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Cinema not only entertains _______(i)_______ educates the masses. No other media seems _______(ii)_______ attractive to the youth than cinema. It has ______(iii)__ _____ the attention of every class of people.  The huge popularity of the cinema is clearly seen and many advantages are ______(iv)_______ to it.

  1. but also

  2. and also

  3. it even

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

‘Not only……. but also’ is a standard construction in English, used to present two related pieces of information.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Cinema not only entertains _______(i)_______ educates the masses. No other media seems _______(ii)_______ attractive to the youth than cinema. It has ______(iii)__ _____ the attention of every class of people.  The huge popularity of the cinema is clearly seen and many advantages are ______(iv)_______ to it.

  1. most

  2. very

  3. more

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

The sentence requires the comparative form ‘more’ to be used because two things are being considered and ‘than’ is used.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (iii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Biogas ______(i)_____ obtained from animal dung and other agricultural wastes.  Animal dung and other agricultural wastes are mixed with water and ________(ii)_______ into a digester. In the absence of air, the biomass ________(iii)_______ to give a combustible gas, _________(iv)_______ is a mixture of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide.

  1. decomposes

  2. will decompose

  3. might decompose

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

The sentence is in simple present tense. Hence, the use of simple present tense of the word decompose (decomposes) is used.

Multiple choice

We _____ (play) cricket at this time tomorrow.

  1. will play

  2. are playing

  3. play

  4. played

  5. will be playing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The words 'at this time & tomorrow' shows that the sentence is in future continuous tense. Will be playing is the future continuous form of the verb 'play'.

Multiple choice

Directions: The given question carries four options. You are to mark the correct option after checking the punctuation(s) of each option.

God rules and governs all things said the priest.

  1. God rules and governs all things, said the priest.

  2. “God rules and governs all things,” said the priest.

  3. “god rules and governs all things,” said the priest.

  4. “God rules and governs all things” said the priest.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is direct form of narration. The reported speech has to be separated by inverted commas (" ") and we need to put a comma between the reporting verb and the reported speech. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following options best corrects/completes statement IV?

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to complete the passage.
Statement I: Samsung’s has displaced Nokia to become the world’s top mobile brand for the year 2012.
Statement II: This is the one time in 14 years that Nokia is not on top of the global cell-phone business on an annual basis.
Statement III: The market for smart-phones is going to keep growing and this probably explains the rise of Samsung.
Statement IV: Samsung’s Android powered phones are now ____________.                    

  1. leading devices, in US as well which is a key market, for smart-phones

  2. leading devices in US as well, which is a key market for smart-phones

  3. leading devices in US: as well which is a key market, for smart-phones

  4. leading devices in US, as well: which is a key market for smart-phones
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The punctuations taken care of correctly.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is the best substitute for the underlined words in statement III?

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to complete the passage.
Statement I: Samsung’s has displaced Nokia to become the world’s top mobile brand for the year 2012.
Statement II: This is the one time in 14 years that Nokia is not on top of the global cell-phone business on an annual basis.
Statement III: The market for smart-phones is going to keep growing and this probably explains the rise of Samsung.
Statement IV: Samsung’s Android powered phones are now ____________.                    

  1. has

  2. was

  3. could

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

Going to keep growing is unidiomatic and repetitive. Simple usage is 'will keep'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is the best substitute for the underlined words in statement II?

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to complete the passage.
Statement I: Samsung’s has displaced Nokia to become the world’s top mobile brand for the year 2012.
Statement II: This is the one time in 14 years that Nokia is not on top of the global cell-phone business on an annual basis.
Statement III: The market for smart-phones is going to keep growing and this probably explains the rise of Samsung.
Statement IV: Samsung’s Android powered phones are now ____________.                    

  1. once

  2. wrong

  3. first

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

The sentence implies that it has never happened before in the last 14 years. This time is the first time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options best corrects/completes statement I?

Directions: This passage contains errors and an omission. Choose the correct option to complete the passage.
Statement I: Samsung’s has displaced Nokia to become the world’s top mobile brand for the year 2012.
Statement II: This is the one time in 14 years that Nokia is not on top of the global cell-phone business on an annual basis.
Statement III: The market for smart-phones is going to keep growing and this probably explains the rise of Samsung.
Statement IV: Samsung’s Android powered phones are now ____________.                    

  1. Comma required after ‘Nokia’.

  2. Apostrophe not required for ‘world’s’.

  3. Possessive form not required for ‘Samsung’s’.

  4. Comma required after ‘brand’.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Samsungs is the name of the company and does not need an apostrophe.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 20?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.
All rocks ______ (17) _______ formed in the same way.
One kind of rock, called “sedimentary rock,” is formed by sediment. Sandstones and lime–stones are _____ (18) _______ sedimentary rocks.
Since they are ______ (19) _______ in layers which are called “strata,” these rocks are called “stratified” rocks.
The tiny particles of which such rocks are made are usually rounded, since the sharp edges and corners ______ (20) _____ worn off while the particles were being rolled along stream beds, washed by the waves, or blown by winds.

  1. had been

  2. are being

  3. will be

  4. have been
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is in the past tense.