English Grammar Proficiency Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which sentence uses a comma splice incorrectly?

Although he was late, he stayed.
She was tired, she went to bed. (Correct answer)
Before leaving, lock the door.
I went to the store, and I bought milk.

Correct answer: She was tired, she went to bed.

A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction.

Question 2: What did she request of you?

conjunction
pronoun (Correct answer)
preposition

Correct answer: pronoun

In this sentence, 'What' is an interrogative pronoun, used to ask a question and referring to an unspecified thing. 'She' is a personal pronoun, standing in for a female person, and 'you' is also a personal pronoun, referring to the person being addressed. Pronouns are words that replace nouns to avoid repetition.

Question 3: What is the subject of the sentence: 'There are three cats on the roof'?

three cats (Correct answer)
are
roof
There

Correct answer: three cats

'There' is an expletive; the true subject is 'three cats,' which controls the plural verb 'are.'

Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect progressive?

She is working for three hours.
She has been working for three hours. (Correct answer)
She worked for three hours.
She had worked for three hours.

Correct answer: She has been working for three hours.

"Has been working" shows an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present.

Question 5: Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?

Neither of the answers have been correct.
Neither of the answers is correct. (Correct answer)
Neither of the answers were correct.
Neither of the answers are correct.

Correct answer: Neither of the answers is correct.

"Neither" as a subject takes a singular verb, so "is" is correct.

Question 6: Select the appropriate sentence from the list below for each.

We have much to do; for example, the carpets need vacuuming. (Correct answer)
We have much to do, for example. The carpets need vacuuming.
We have much to do for example: the carpets need vacuuming.
We have much to do, for example: the carpets need vacuuming.

Correct answer: We have much to do; for example, the carpets need vacuuming.

Similar to 'therefore,' the phrase 'for example' is a conjunctive adverbial phrase that introduces an illustration for the preceding independent clause. A semicolon is correctly used to connect the two independent clauses, and a comma follows 'for example' to set it off from the rest of the sentence, ensuring proper grammatical flow.

Question 7: Which sentence uses the present perfect continuous incorrectly?

She has been cooking since noon.
They have been waiting for an hour.
He have been running every day. (Correct answer)
We have been studying all night.

Correct answer: He have been running every day.

"He have been" is incorrect; "he" requires "has been" in the present perfect continuous.

Question 8: What is a pronoun?

A word that describes an action
A word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition (Correct answer)
A word that modifies a verb
A word that connects clauses

Correct answer: A word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition

Pronouns like he, she, it, they, and we replace nouns to avoid repetitive use of the same noun in speech and writing.

Question 9: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

She crossed the finish line while running fast.
After running fast, she crossed the finish line.
Running fast, she crossed the finish line.
Running fast, the finish line was crossed. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Running fast, the finish line was crossed.

A dangling modifier has no clear subject; 'Running fast' implies the finish line was running.

Question 10: Which sentence correctly punctuates a tag question?

You're coming to the party; aren't you?
You're coming to the party aren't you?
You're coming to the party, aren't you.
You're coming to the party, aren't you? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: You're coming to the party, aren't you?

A tag question is separated from the main clause by a comma and ends with a question mark.

Question 11: Which sentence illustrates a correct use of the Oxford comma?

We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin.
We invited the strippers JFK, and Stalin.
We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin. (Correct answer)
We invited: the strippers, JFK and Stalin.

Correct answer: We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin.

The Oxford comma (after 'JFK') clarifies that JFK and Stalin are separate invitees, not the strippers themselves.

Question 12: Select the appropriate sentence from the list below for each.

“How,” I asked, “can you always be so forgetful”?
“How,” I asked, “Can you always be so forgetful?”
“How,” I asked, “Can you always be so forgetful”?
“How,” I asked, “can you always be so forgetful?” (Correct answer)

Correct answer: “How,” I asked, “can you always be so forgetful?”

Option A correctly punctuates the direct quotation with an interruption. Commas are used to set off 'I asked' from the quoted material. The second part of the quote, 'can you always be so forgetful?', correctly begins with a lowercase letter because it continues the original sentence. Finally, the question mark belongs inside the closing quotation mark because the quoted material itself is a question.

Question 13: What makes effective communication important in professional settings?

Clear communication prevents errors, builds client trust, improves teamwork, and ensures expectations are met (Correct answer)
Only written communication matters
Only verbal communication matters
It is not important if you have technical skills

Correct answer: Clear communication prevents errors, builds client trust, improves teamwork, and ensures expectations are met

Effective communication across all channels prevents misunderstandings, builds relationships, and ensures everyone has the information needed to do their job well.

Question 14: Which sentence correctly omits an article?

I drink the coffee every morning.
I drink a coffee every morning.
I drink coffee every morning. (Correct answer)
I drink an coffee every morning.

Correct answer: I drink coffee every morning.

No article is used with uncountable nouns like 'coffee' when speaking in general terms.

Question 15: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

He nearly drove his kids to school every day. (Correct answer)
She carefully edited her essay.
The dog that bit the mailman was quarantined.
I clearly explained the assignment.

Correct answer: He nearly drove his kids to school every day.

'Nearly' should modify 'every day,' but its placement implies he almost drove (rather than drove almost every day).

Question 16: What is a sentence fragment?

An incomplete sentence that is missing a subject, verb, or complete thought (Correct answer)
A sentence with errors
A complete sentence
A very short sentence

Correct answer: An incomplete sentence that is missing a subject, verb, or complete thought

Fragments lack one or more essential sentence elements. 'Running through the park' is a fragment because it lacks a subject and main verb.

Question 17: Which word functions as the object of the preposition in: 'She walked through the park'?

park (Correct answer)
through
walked
She

Correct answer: park

The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition; 'park' follows 'through.'

Question 18: The bus slowed down and stopped in front of a T-shirt store, pulling up to the curb.

Compound-complex
Compound
Complex
Simple (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Simple

This is a simple sentence because it contains only one independent clause and no dependent clauses. The clause 'The bus slowed down and stopped in front of a T-shirt store' has a single subject ('The bus') and a compound verb ('slowed down and stopped'). The phrase 'pulling up to the curb' is a participial phrase, not a separate clause.

Question 19: Choose the correct form: 'If the weather _____ nicer, we would go to the beach.'

will be
has been
were (Correct answer)
is

Correct answer: were

This is a second conditional describing a hypothetical situation, so the if-clause uses 'were' (or simple past) for all persons with the verb 'to be'.

Question 20: Choose the correct article: 'He is _____ engineer by profession.'

no article
a
the
an (Correct answer)

Correct answer: an

'An' is used before 'engineer' because it begins with the vowel sound /ɛ/.

Question 21: Select the correctly written sentence.

Five dollars is a lot for a pencil. (Correct answer)
Five dollars are a lot for a pencil.
Five dollar is a lot for a pencil.
Five dollars were a lot for a pencil.

Correct answer: Five dollars is a lot for a pencil.

When an amount of money is treated as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.

Question 22: When should a comma be used before a coordinating conjunction?

Only in lists
When it joins two independent clauses (Correct answer)
Always
Never

Correct answer: When it joins two independent clauses

A comma is placed before coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when they join two independent clauses.

Question 23: Which sentence uses articles correctly with a plural noun?

An dogs are loyal animals.
A dogs are loyal animals.
The a dogs are loyal animals.
The dogs are loyal animals. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The dogs are loyal animals.

'The' can be used with plural nouns to refer to a specific group, and 'the dogs' correctly specifies a particular set.

Question 24: What is the verb form called when it acts as a noun, as in 'Swimming is fun'?

Participle
Infinitive
Gerund (Correct answer)
Auxiliary

Correct answer: Gerund

A gerund is a verb ending in '-ing' that functions as a noun, and 'swimming' is the subject here.

Question 25: Which verb form correctly completes this sentence: "Every morning, the dog _____ at the mail carrier."

barks (Correct answer)
will bark
barked
is barking

Correct answer: barks

"Barks" is the simple present tense used for a habitual action.

Question 26: Which sentence correctly uses the first conditional?

If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.
If he had enough money, he would travel.
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam. (Correct answer)
If I would see him, I will tell him.

Correct answer: If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.

The first conditional uses 'if + simple present' in the condition clause and 'will + base infinitive' in the result clause to describe real future possibilities.

Question 27: Select the correct sentence.

Neither John nor his brothers are attending. (Correct answer)
Neither John nor his brothers has attending.
Neither John nor his brothers is attending.
Neither John nor his brothers was attending.

Correct answer: Neither John nor his brothers are attending.

With "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it ("brothers" = plural, so "are").

Question 28: Which sentence correctly omits the Oxford (serial) comma, yet remains unambiguous?

She wore red, white and blue. (Correct answer)
I ordered coffee, tea and juice.
I thanked my parents, the president and the CEO.
We invited the twins, Sam and Max.

Correct answer: She wore red, white and blue.

'Red, white and blue' lists three colors with no risk of ambiguity, so omitting the Oxford comma is acceptable.

Question 29: Which sentence contains an absolute phrase?

Because it was late, we left early.
Running quickly, she caught the bus.
She left, and he stayed behind.
The game having ended, the fans went home. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The game having ended, the fans went home.

An absolute phrase ('The game having ended') modifies the entire main clause and is grammatically independent from it.

Question 30: Which sentence uses "going to" future correctly?

Look at those clouds — it rained.
Look at those clouds — it is going to rain. (Correct answer)
Look at those clouds — it will rain.
Look at those clouds — it rains.

Correct answer: Look at those clouds — it is going to rain.

"Is going to rain" is correct when there is present evidence suggesting a near future event.

Question 31: I work on Saturdays from nine till five.

verb (Correct answer)
adverb
preposition

Correct answer: verb

In the sentence, "work" is the main action being performed by the subject "I". A verb is a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. Therefore, "work" functions as a verb, indicating what the speaker does on Saturdays.

Question 32: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

The dog are barking loudly.
The dog bark loudly.
The dogs barks loudly.
The dog barks loudly. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The dog barks loudly.

"The dog barks" is correct because a singular subject ("dog") takes a singular verb ("barks").

Question 33: Which sentence uses an adjective as a predicate adjective?

They found the missing keys.
The tall man stood outside.
She painted the blue wall.
The soup smells delicious. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The soup smells delicious.

In 'The soup smells delicious,' 'delicious' follows a linking verb and describes the subject, making it a predicate adjective.

Question 34: Which sentence is in the past continuous tense?

She has slept when I called.
She was sleeping when I called. (Correct answer)
She sleeps when I call.
She slept when I called.

Correct answer: She was sleeping when I called.

"Was sleeping" is the past continuous, describing an ongoing past action interrupted by another event.

Question 35: We can see a movie if we finish our assignment promptly.

conjuction
verb
adverb (Correct answer)

Correct answer: adverb

The word "promptly" describes how the action of "finish" (a verb) is performed. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about manner, time, place, or degree. In this sentence, "promptly" tells us *how* the assignment should be finished, making it an adverb.

Question 36: Identify the correct use of "used to."

I used to live in Ohio. (Correct answer)
I use to live in Ohio.
I am used to live in Ohio.
I used to living in Ohio.

Correct answer: I used to live in Ohio.

"Used to live" is correct; "used to" is followed by the base form of the verb to describe past habits.

Question 37: Select the sentence with correct agreement.

The news have been shocking.
The news is shocking. (Correct answer)
The news were shocking.
The news are shocking.

Correct answer: The news is shocking.

"News" is a singular noun despite ending in "s," so it takes the singular verb "is."

Question 38: You should _____ for your hair. It goes on and on.

to cut
cut (Correct answer)
cutting

Correct answer: cut

Modal verbs like 'should' are always followed by a bare infinitive, which is the base form of the verb without 'to.' 'Cut' is the bare infinitive, making it the grammatically correct choice after 'should.' This structure advises a direct action regarding the hair.

Question 39: Which sentence uses the past perfect tense correctly?

He has left the office before noon yesterday.
She had already left when he called. (Correct answer)
When I arrived, the meeting starts.
By the time she arrived, they finished dinner.

Correct answer: She had already left when he called.

The past perfect 'had already left' correctly expresses an action completed before another past action.

Question 40: Which sentence is correct?

Either the cats or the dog are responsible.
Either the cats or the dog have been responsible.
Either the cats or the dog were responsible.
Either the cats or the dog is responsible. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Either the cats or the dog is responsible.

When subjects are joined by "either/or," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ("dog" = singular).

English Grammar Proficiency Test

A comprehensive English grammar assessment covering parts of speech, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, punctuation, articles, gerunds, and reported speech.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

65%

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