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 capitalization punctuation english

henry viii was the first english king of ireland.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. Henry VIII was the first English king of Ireland.

  2. Henry viii was the first english king of Ireland.

  3. Henry VIII was the first english king of Ireland.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the first word of a sentence is always capitalized. Capitals are used for all proper nouns in a sentence or the words derived from proper nouns, like 'English'.
As a rule, if roman numbers in a sentence refer to a person or place, it must be capitalized.
Thus, according to rules, the correct answer is Option A. The remaining options are incorrect.
Multiple choice dash and hyphen punctuation english

Surgeons, doctors and nurses; all went on strike to protest low wages.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Surgeons, doctors and nurses: all went on strike to protest low wages.

  3. Surgeons, doctors and nurses (all went on strike to protest low wages).

  4. Surgeons, doctors and nurses - all went on strike to protest low wages.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the em dash is often used to resume a scattered subject in a sentence. Thus, the correct answer in the given sentence must be Option D.
Option A is incorrect. A semi colon is used to connect two independent clauses in a sentence.
Option B is incorrect. A colon is used to introduce a list of items in a sentence.
Option C is incorrect. A pair of parentheses is used to add additional information in a sentence.
Multiple choice dash and hyphen punctuation english

The review team, besides conducting staff evaluations, conducted on site visits to check safety measures.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. The review team - besides conducting staff evaluations - conducted on site visits to check safety measures.

  2. The review team, besides conducting staff evaluations - conducted on-site visits to check safety measures.

  3. The review team, besides conducting staff evaluations, conducted on-site visits to check safety measures.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a hyphen is used to connect two words to make it clear to readers that the words work together as a unit of meaning. In the given sentence, 'on-site' is one such word.
A comma must be used to set off non essential information in a sentence.
Thus, the correct answer is Option C. The other remaining options are incorrect, according to the rules.
Multiple choice question mark punctuation english

The question is not whether Serena Williams will win a twenty-third Grand Slam title, but when.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. but when,

  3. but when?

  4. but when!
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, a question mark is used at the end of a direct sentence whereas, indirect sentences are ended with a period.
The given sentence is an indirect sentence, thus a period should be used to end the sentence.
Thus, the correct answer will be Option A, no change.
Option B and D are incorrect, because a comma is never used at the end of a sentence and an exclamation mark is used to  express strong feelings, high volume or for emphasis.

Multiple choice apostrophe mark punctuation english

Most contemporary computers language is binary which is written using only two symbols, 0s and 1s.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Most contemporary computers' language is binary which is written using only two symbols, 0's and 1's.

  3. Most contemporary computers' language is binary which is written using only two symbols, 0s and 1s.

  4. Most contemporary computer's language is binary which is written using only two symbols, 0's and 1's.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, plurals of single numbers are shown using an apostrophe and with a plural noun that already ends in s, the possessive is shown by only using an apostrophe.
Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer will be Option B. The remaining answers are incorrect.
Multiple choice apostrophe mark punctuation english

In the 1920s, women, often called flappers, wore knee-length dresses and cut their hair in a short bob.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence.

  1. In the 1920's, women, often called flappers wore knee-length dresse's and cut their hair in a short bob.

  2. In the 1920s, women, often called flapper's, wore knee-length dress's and cut their hair in a short bob.

  3. In the 1920's, women, often called flappers', wore knee-length dresses and cut their hair in a short bob.

  4. NO CHANGE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to general rule, the plurals of nouns, abbreviations, or dates made up of numbers use only a 's' or 'es', if the noun in question forms it's plural with -es and no apostrophe. Therefore, in the given sentence, the plural of 1920 should be written as '1920s'. Similarly, the plural of the words flapper and dress should be flappers and dresses respectively.
Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer is Option D, no change. The other remaining options are incorrect.

Multiple choice

What do you think ... the new James Bond film?

  1. in

  2. about

  3. on

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

The verb phrase 'think about' is used to ask for an opinion regarding something. The other prepositions do not form the correct idiomatic phrase here.

Multiple choice

... football, golf, tennis

  1. do

  2. go

  3. make

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

The verb 'play' is used for competitive sports and games. 'Do' is used for individual activities like karate, and 'go' for activities ending in -ing.

Multiple choice

Sharks ____________ in the ocean.

  1. are living

  2. lived

  3. live

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

Sharks is a plural subject, so the simple present verb 'live' is the correct form for a general fact.