English Grammar Proficiency Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Choose the correct present progressive sentence.

She reads a book every night.
She is reading a book right now. (Correct answer)
She has read a book.
She reads a book right now.

Correct answer: She is reading a book right now.

The present progressive "is reading" expresses an action happening at this moment.

Question 2: Which sentence is correct?

Everyone are responsible for their actions.
Everyone is responsible for their actions. (Correct answer)
Everyone were responsible for their actions.
Everyone have been responsible.

Correct answer: Everyone is responsible for their actions.

"Everyone" is an indefinite pronoun that always takes a singular verb.

Question 3: Which sentence correctly punctuates a direct address?

Let's, eat Grandma!
Let's eat, Grandma! (Correct answer)
Let's eat Grandma!
Lets eat Grandma!

Correct answer: Let's eat, Grandma!

A comma before a direct address (vocative) separates the name from the rest of the sentence.

Question 4: What verb form is used in the result clause of a first conditional sentence?

Will + base form (Correct answer)
Simple past
Would + base form
Past perfect

Correct answer: Will + base form

The first conditional result clause uses 'will + base form' because it expresses a real and likely future outcome that depends on the condition being met.

Question 5: Which sentence correctly inverts the conditional by omitting 'if'?

Should you need help, please call me. (Correct answer)
Had should you needed help, call me.
You should need help, please call me.
If should you need help, please call me.

Correct answer: Should you need help, please call me.

Conditional inversion places the auxiliary verb ('should') before the subject to replace the 'if' clause, creating a more formal register.

Question 6: Which sentence contains an error in gerund usage?

We discussed going on a trip.
They practice to speak Spanish. (Correct answer)
She enjoys reading novels.
He admitted stealing the money.

Correct answer: They practice to speak Spanish.

'Practice' requires a gerund, so the correct form is 'practice speaking,' not 'practice to speak.'

Question 7: Which sentence uses a comma splice incorrectly?

Before leaving, lock the door.
Although he was late, he stayed.
She was tired, she went to bed. (Correct answer)
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 8: Complete the sentence: "She _____ in Paris for ten years before she moved to London."

lived
was living
has lived
had lived (Correct answer)

Correct answer: had lived

"Had lived" (past perfect) describes an action completed before another past event (moving to London).

Question 9: Select the correct sentence.

Neither John nor his brothers was attending.
Neither John nor his brothers is attending.
Neither John nor his brothers are attending. (Correct answer)
Neither John nor his brothers has 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 10: The sentence structure is: Birds can fly, and throughout the winter, they migrate southward.

Compound
Complex
Simple
Compound-complex (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Compound-complex

The sentence 'Birds can fly, and throughout the winter, they migrate southward' consists of two independent clauses: 'Birds can fly' and 'they migrate southward', joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and'. The phrase 'throughout the winter' is a prepositional phrase, not a dependent clause. This structure defines a compound sentence, not a compound-complex sentence, which would require at least one dependent clause in addition to the two independent clauses.

Question 11: Which option correctly identifies the voice of the verb in: 'The report was submitted by the intern'?

Imperative voice
Subjunctive voice
Passive voice (Correct answer)
Active voice

Correct answer: Passive voice

The subject ('the report') receives the action rather than performing it, making this passive voice.

Question 12: He said, 'I can swim.' What is the reported speech?

He said that he can swim.
He said that he could swim.
He said that he was able to swim.
Both B and C are correct. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Both B and C are correct.

'Can' backshifts to 'could' or 'was able to' in reported speech; both are correct.

Question 13: Which sentence uses "going to" future correctly?

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

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 14: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
She likes to hike, swimming, and run.
She likes hike, swim, and to run.
She likes hiking, to swim, and runs.

Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.

Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; all three gerunds (-ing) maintain consistency.

Question 15: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a compound subject?

Neither the coach nor the players is ready.
Neither the coach nor the players were ready. (Correct answer)
Neither the coach nor the players was ready.
Neither the coach nor the players are was ready.

Correct answer: Neither the coach nor the players were ready.

When 'neither/nor' connects subjects of different numbers, the verb agrees with the closer subject ('players' is plural).

Question 16: Which sentence correctly places the adverbial clause?

The bell rang she finished the test before.
Before, the bell rang she finished the test.
She finished before the test the bell rang.
She finished the test before the bell rang. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She finished the test before the bell rang.

The adverbial clause 'before the bell rang' correctly follows the independent clause it modifies.

Question 17: Choose the correct past perfect sentence.

By the time she arrived, they ate dinner.
By the time she arrived, they had eaten dinner. (Correct answer)
By the time she arrived, they have eaten dinner.
By the time she arrived, they were eating dinner.

Correct answer: By the time she arrived, they had eaten dinner.

"Had eaten" is the past perfect tense, showing an action completed before another past action.

Question 18: What grammatical structure is 'to become a doctor' in: 'Her dream is to become a doctor'?

Gerund phrase
Prepositional phrase
Infinitive phrase (Correct answer)
Participial phrase

Correct answer: Infinitive phrase

'To become a doctor' is an infinitive phrase functioning as a predicate nominative.

Question 19: I purchased a stunning dress in the mall.

adjective (Correct answer)
preposition
noun

Correct answer: adjective

In the sentence, 'stunning' describes the noun 'dress.' Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns or pronouns, providing more information about their qualities or characteristics. Therefore, 'stunning' functions as an adjective by telling us what kind of dress was purchased.

Question 20: Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect progressive?

She had worked for three hours.
She is working for three hours.
She has been working for three hours. (Correct answer)
She 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 21: Which correctly demonstrates how to make a singular noun ending in 's' possessive?

James' car
Jamess' car
James's car
Either is acceptable by style guide (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Either is acceptable by style guide

Both 'James' car' and 'James's car' are accepted depending on the style guide (AP vs. Chicago) used.

Question 22: In transformational grammar, what does a 'deep structure' refer to?

The abstract underlying meaning of a sentence before transformation. (Correct answer)
A highly complex sentence with multiple clauses.
The written form of a sentence as it appears on paper.
The punctuation and spelling rules of formal writing.

Correct answer: The abstract underlying meaning of a sentence before transformation.

Chomsky's deep structure represents the abstract, underlying semantic representation before surface transformations are applied.

Question 23: When should a comma be used before a coordinating conjunction?

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

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 24: Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?

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

Correct answer: Neither of the answers is correct.

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

Question 25: What type of phrase is 'running through the field' in: 'The horse running through the field is mine'?

Prepositional phrase
Infinitive phrase
Gerund phrase
Participial phrase (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Participial phrase

'Running through the field' is a participial phrase that modifies the noun 'horse.'

Question 26: Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?

Each of the boys has his own room. (Correct answer)
Each of the boys have their own room.
Each of the boys are having their own room.
Each of the boys had been having their room.

Correct answer: Each of the boys has his own room.

"Each" is singular and requires a singular verb "has."

Question 27: What is the function of 'very' in 'The exam was very difficult'?

It modifies the adjective 'difficult.' (Correct answer)
It modifies the determiner 'The.'
It modifies the noun 'exam.'
It modifies the verb 'was.'

Correct answer: It modifies the adjective 'difficult.'

'Very' is an adverb that intensifies the adjective 'difficult.'

Question 28: Which sentence uses a gerund as a subject complement (predicate nominative)?

Painting requires skill.
Her passion is painting. (Correct answer)
She paints beautifully.
She loves to paint.

Correct answer: Her passion is painting.

In 'Her passion is painting,' the gerund 'painting' follows the linking verb 'is' as a subject complement.

Question 29: In 'The beautiful garden bloomed,' which word is an adjective?

garden
bloomed
beautiful (Correct answer)
The

Correct answer: beautiful

'Beautiful' is an adjective modifying the noun 'garden,' describing what kind of garden it is.

Question 30: Identify the type of conditional: 'If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.'

Mixed conditional (Correct answer)
Second conditional
Zero conditional
First conditional

Correct answer: Mixed conditional

This is a mixed conditional: the if-clause uses past perfect (unreal past situation) while the result clause uses 'would + be' (a present consequence of that past choice).

Question 31: Ram enquired about my job. His initial remarks were

Do you work there?
Where do you work? (Correct answer)
Where do I work?

Correct answer: Where do you work?

The reported speech 'Ram enquired about my job' indicates that Ram asked a question concerning the speaker's employment. The direct question 'Where do you work?' directly addresses this topic, with 'you' correctly transforming to 'my' (referring to the speaker) in reported speech. Options B and C do not accurately reflect the meaning or grammatical transformation implied by the reported statement.

Question 32: When should you NOT use a comma before 'because'?

When the main clause is negative, such as 'I didn't leave because of her.'
When the sentence is very short.
When 'because' introduces a reason that directly explains the main clause. (Correct answer)
When 'because' begins a sentence.

Correct answer: When 'because' introduces a reason that directly explains the main clause.

When 'because' directly explains a positive main clause, no comma is needed before it.

Question 33: In which sentence are quotation marks used correctly?

He asked if I was "ready".
The article "How to Write" was helpful. (Correct answer)
She loved the "movie", but not the ending.
She said she was "fine."

Correct answer: The article "How to Write" was helpful.

Quotation marks correctly set off titles of shorter works like articles, poems, and chapters.

Question 34: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

She and her sister am coming to the party.
She and her sister are coming to the party. (Correct answer)
She and her sister is coming to the party.
She and her sister comes to the party.

Correct answer: She and her sister are coming to the party.

"She and her sister are" is correct because compound subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb.

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

adverb (Correct answer)
conjuction
verb

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: Which sentence contains a reflexive pronoun?

He taught himself to code. (Correct answer)
They enjoyed the show.
We met them at noon.
She called him later.

Correct answer: He taught himself to code.

'Himself' refers back to the subject 'he,' making it a reflexive pronoun.

Question 37: What is the significance of pre-market and after-hours trading?

It follows different rules entirely
It is only for institutions
Trading that occurs outside regular market hours, often with lower volume, wider spreads, and higher volatility (Correct answer)
It does not exist

Correct answer: Trading that occurs outside regular market hours, often with lower volume, wider spreads, and higher volatility

Extended hours trading allows reactions to news and earnings before and after the regular session, but typically with less liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads.

Question 38: Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound-complex sentence?

We left early but, the traffic was already heavy.
She studied hard, and she passed; because she prepared.
Although it rained, we continued hiking, and we enjoyed ourselves. (Correct answer)
He runs every morning he stays healthy.

Correct answer: Although it rained, we continued hiking, and we enjoyed ourselves.

This sentence has a subordinate clause ('Although it rained'), two independent clauses joined by 'and,' and correct punctuation throughout.

Question 39: Choose the correct sentence about "police."

The police was arrived at the scene.
The police is arriving at the scene.
The police have arrived at the scene. (Correct answer)
The police has arrived at the scene.

Correct answer: The police have arrived at the scene.

"Police" is a plural noun in American English and takes a plural verb "have."

Question 40: Which word is a conjunction in the sentence: 'She wanted to go, but it was raining'?

raining
but (Correct answer)
wanted
She

Correct answer: but

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. 'But' is a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.

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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