Pre Interview English Language Skills — Questions and Answers

Question 1: I haven't got ……

No brothers or sisters
Brothers or sisters
Any brothers or sisters (Correct answer)
Some brothers and sisters

Correct answer: Any brothers or sisters

In negative sentences, 'any' is used with plural countable nouns (like 'brothers or sisters') to indicate an unspecified quantity. 'No' would create a double negative with 'haven't got,' and 'some' is typically used in affirmative sentences or questions where a positive answer is expected.

Question 2: We haven't got ..... Champagne

A lot
Little
Too
Much (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Much

'Much' is used with uncountable nouns, and 'Champagne' is treated as an uncountable noun in this context (referring to the liquid itself). 'A lot' is generally used in affirmative sentences, and 'little' implies a small quantity, while 'too' needs a qualifier (e.g., 'too much').

Question 3: Please choose correct answer:

Where playing Real Madrid?
Where is playing Real Madrid?
Where is Real Madrid playing? (Correct answer)
Where playing is Real Madrid?

Correct answer: Where is Real Madrid playing?

This is the correct interrogative sentence structure in English for asking about an ongoing action. It follows the pattern: Question Word + Auxiliary Verb (is) + Subject (Real Madrid) + Main Verb (-ing form), making it grammatically sound and natural.

Question 4: I have Flamenco classes ……

On Saturday afternoons (Correct answer)
In Saturday afternoons
At Saturday afternoons
By Saturday afternoons

Correct answer: On Saturday afternoons

The preposition 'on' is used for specific days of the week (e.g., 'on Saturday') and parts of the day when combined with a specific day (e.g., 'on Saturday afternoons'). 'In' is used for general parts of the day, and 'at' for specific times or holidays.

Question 5: We have to go to the supermarket ..... some bread and milk.

For getting
To get (Correct answer)
To getting
For to get

Correct answer: To get

The infinitive 'to get' is used here to express purpose, answering the question 'Why do we have to go to the supermarket?' We go *in order to get* some bread and milk, making it the grammatically correct way to state the reason for the action.

Question 6: The party was a disaster. There ..... there!

Wasn’t nobody
Was anybody
Was nobody (Correct answer)
Was somebody

Correct answer: Was nobody

'Was nobody' correctly conveys that no person was present at the party, aligning with the idea that the party was a 'disaster.' Option A ('wasn't nobody') creates a grammatically incorrect double negative, while options B and D imply someone *was* there, contradicting the intended meaning.

Question 7: I've lost my passport. I can't find it .....

Anywhere (Correct answer)
Nowhere
Everywhere
Somewhere

Correct answer: Anywhere

'Anywhere' is used in negative sentences or questions to refer to an unspecified place. Since the sentence 'I can't find it...' is negative, 'anywhere' is the appropriate choice to indicate that the passport cannot be found in any location. 'Nowhere' would create a double negative.

Question 8: Please choose correct answer:

What like his brother?
How his brother is?
How's his brother?
What's his brother like? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: What's his brother like?

This is the standard English idiom used to ask about someone's personality or characteristics. 'What...like?' is used to inquire about qualities, while 'How is...?' typically asks about health or well-being, making 'What's his brother like?' the correct phrasing for this question.

Question 9: Michael.........Paris in the morning

To leaving
Leaves for
Is leaving for (Correct answer)
Leave to

Correct answer: Is leaving for

The present continuous tense ('is leaving') is often used to talk about future arrangements or plans, especially when they are fixed or certain. 'Leaves for' (present simple) can also be used for scheduled events, but 'is leaving for' emphasizes the immediate future arrangement, making it a common and correct usage.

Question 10: She has her German classes ……

In Tuesday mornings
At Tuesday mornings
By Tuesday mornings
On Tuesday mornings (Correct answer)

Correct answer: On Tuesday mornings

Similar to Q16, the preposition 'on' is used for specific days of the week (e.g., 'on Tuesday') and parts of the day when combined with a specific day (e.g., 'on Tuesday mornings'). This is the standard grammatical convention for expressing time in English.

Question 11: Please choose correct answer:

Pass the salt to Tom (Correct answer)
Pass the Tom a salt
Pass the salt at Tom
Pass to Tom the salt

Correct answer: Pass the salt to Tom

When a verb takes both a direct object (the salt) and an indirect object (Tom), and the indirect object is a proper noun, it often follows the direct object with the preposition 'to.' 'Pass the salt to Tom' is the grammatically correct and most natural phrasing in English.

Question 12: Suddenly, we heard a loud noise, but outside, there ........there!

Was nobody (Correct answer)
Is anybody
Wasn't nobody
Was somebody

Correct answer: Was nobody

'Was nobody' correctly conveys that no person was present outside. Options B ('is anybody') and D ('was somebody') imply someone *was* there. Option C ('wasn't nobody') creates a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect and means someone *was* there, contradicting the context.

Question 13: He says he's been robbed. He can't find his wallet............

Not anywhere
Nowhere
Anywhere (Correct answer)
Somewhere

Correct answer: Anywhere

Similar to Q19, 'anywhere' is used in negative sentences to refer to an unspecified place. Since the sentence 'He can't find his wallet...' is negative, 'anywhere' is the appropriate choice to indicate that the wallet cannot be found in any location. 'Nowhere' would create a double negative with 'can't.'

Question 14: He …….. breakfast yesterday

Hadn’t
No had
Didn’t have got
Didn’t have (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Didn’t have

The sentence describes a past action that did not happen, indicated by 'yesterday'. For negative statements in the simple past tense, we use the auxiliary verb 'didn't' (did not) followed by the base form of the main verb. Therefore, 'didn't have' is the correct grammatical construction.

Question 15: I have to go to the bank ..... some money.

For getting
To get (Correct answer)
To getting
For to get

Correct answer: To get

The infinitive form 'to + base verb' is used to express purpose or reason for an action. In this sentence, 'to get some money' clearly states the reason for going to the bank. Options like 'for getting' or 'to getting' are grammatically incorrect for expressing purpose.

Question 16: The door can't be broken! he .....

Is just fixed it
Have just fixed it
Just fix it
Has just fixed it (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Has just fixed it

The phrase 'The door can't be broken!' indicates a present result of a recent action. The present perfect tense ('has fixed') is used to describe actions completed in the recent past that have a direct connection or consequence in the present. The adverb 'just' further emphasizes the recency of the action.

Question 17: He works for the Bank, .....?

Doesn’t he? (Correct answer)
Does he?
Isn’t he?
Didn’t he?

Correct answer: Doesn’t he?

This is a tag question. The main clause 'He works for the Bank' is positive and in the present simple tense. To form the tag question, we use the auxiliary verb 'does' (for present simple, third person singular) in its negative form ('doesn't') followed by the subject pronoun 'he'.

Question 18: Have you sent that e-mail to Mr. O'Neill? Yes, I've …..done that.

Still
Already (Correct answer)
Yet
Now

Correct answer: Already

'Already' is used with the present perfect tense to indicate that an action has happened before now or sooner than expected. In this context, it confirms that the email sending is completed. 'Yet' is typically used in questions or negative statements, and 'still' implies an ongoing action or state.

Question 19: "..... have you been going out with him?" "Only a few months"

How long (Correct answer)
How long time
What time
For how long

Correct answer: How long

'How long' is the standard and most common phrase used to ask about the duration of an action or state. The answer 'Only a few months' directly provides a duration, making 'How long' the appropriate interrogative phrase. 'How long time' is grammatically incorrect.

Question 20: They weren't happy about the new cat, and frankly, nor .... I.

Weren’t
Wasn't
Were
Was (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Was

This sentence uses inversion with 'nor' to express agreement with a preceding negative statement. The structure is 'nor + auxiliary verb + subject'. Since the first clause uses 'weren't' (past tense of 'be') and the subject is 'I', the correct auxiliary verb for 'I' in the past tense is 'was'.

Question 21: I'm really looking forward ..... this exercise

To finish
Finishing
Finish
To finishing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To finishing

The phrasal verb 'look forward to' is always followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) or a noun. In this case, 'finishing' is the correct gerund form of the verb 'to finish', making 'to finishing' the grammatically correct construction.

Question 22: If I didn't have to work, I …….. the beach.

Will move to
Have moved to
Would move to (Correct answer)
Would have moved to

Correct answer: Would move to

This is a Type 2 conditional sentence, used for hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + past simple, would + base verb'. 'If I didn't have to work' is the past simple condition, so the result clause correctly uses 'would move to'.

Question 23: ".....have they been living in Paris?" "Only a few months"

How long
How long time
What time
For how long (Correct answer)

Correct answer: For how long

'For how long' is a grammatically correct way to ask about the duration of an action, especially when the expected answer specifies a period of time. While 'How long' is more common, 'For how long' emphasizes the period over which the action has occurred. Both are acceptable, but 'For how long' is explicitly chosen here.

Question 24: My friends asked me to go to the cinema, But I said that I …the movie.

Had already been
Had already saw
Had already seen (Correct answer)
Already saw

Correct answer: Had already seen

The sentence describes an action (seeing the movie) that happened before another past action (friends asking to go to the cinema). This sequence of past events requires the past perfect tense, which is formed with 'had' + past participle. 'Had already seen' correctly indicates the earlier completed action.

Question 25: Please choose correct answer:

I told her what she closed the window
I told her to close the window (Correct answer)
I told she close the window
I told her that she close the window

Correct answer: I told her to close the window

When reporting a command or request, the common and grammatically correct structure is 'tell someone to do something'. The infinitive 'to close' correctly follows 'I told her', indicating the action she was instructed to perform.

Pre Interview English Language Skills

I haven't got ……