English Grammar Proficiency Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which sentence correctly demonstrates the use of a parenthetical citation within academic writing?

Grammar is evolving — Smith (2020).
Grammar is evolving (Smith 2020).
Grammar is evolving, according to Smith (2020).
Grammar is evolving (Smith, 2020). (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Grammar is evolving (Smith, 2020).

APA and MLA styles use the format '(Author, Year)' for in-text parenthetical citations.

Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses the past progressive tense?

I was studying when she called. (Correct answer)
I studied when she called.
I were studying when she called.
I was study when she called.

Correct answer: I was studying when she called.

"I was studying" is the correct past progressive, using "was + verb-ing" for an ongoing past action interrupted by another.

Question 3: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

She carefully edited her essay.
The dog that bit the mailman was quarantined.
He nearly drove his kids to school every day. (Correct answer)
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 4: Identify the correct use of "used to."

I am used to live in Ohio.
I used to live in Ohio. (Correct answer)
I use 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 5: "Wipe your feet, please." I requested they clean.

their feet nicely
your feet nicely
their feet (Correct answer)

Correct answer: their feet

When reporting a request or order, pronouns must be adjusted to reflect the new speaker's perspective. 'Your feet' in the direct speech refers to the feet of the people being addressed. In reported speech, if 'they' are the ones being requested to clean, then 'your feet' transforms to 'their feet.' The word 'nicely' is an unstated addition and not part of the original request.

Question 6: What part of speech is 'golden' in 'She wore a golden crown'?

Adjective (Correct answer)
Noun
Adverb
Verb

Correct answer: Adjective

'Golden' modifies the noun 'crown' by describing its quality, so it functions as an adjective.

Question 7: In which case should you use 'who's' instead of 'whose'?

"___ coming to the party?" (Correct answer)
"The dog ___ owner left is missing."
"___ book is on the table?"
"___ coat is this?"

Correct answer: "___ coming to the party?"

'Who's' is a contraction of 'who is' or 'who has'; 'whose' is the possessive form.

Question 8: What is the Oxford comma?

A comma after a greeting
The optional comma placed before the final 'and' or 'or' in a list of three or more items (Correct answer)
A comma at the end of a sentence
A comma used in British English only

Correct answer: The optional comma placed before the final 'and' or 'or' in a list of three or more items

The Oxford (serial) comma prevents ambiguity in lists. Compare: 'I love my parents, Batman and Wonder Woman' vs. 'I love my parents, Batman, and Wonder Woman.'

Question 9: What is a pronoun?

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

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 10: Which sentence is correct?

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

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).

Question 11: In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly?

The childrens' coats were wet.
Its' time to leave.
The dog wagged it's tail.
The children's coats were wet. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The children's coats were wet.

'Children' is an irregular plural, so the possessive is formed by adding 's after the word: children's.

Question 12: What is the correct use of an apostrophe in possessives?

Apostrophes are never used in possessives
Add 's only to proper nouns
Add 's to all nouns
Add 's to singular nouns and s' to regular plural nouns (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Add 's to singular nouns and s' to regular plural nouns

Singular nouns add 's (dog's bone), while regular plural nouns ending in s add only an apostrophe (dogs' bones). Irregular plurals add 's (children's toys).

Question 13: The bus slowed down and stopped in front of a T-shirt store, pulling up to the curb.

Compound
Compound-complex
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 14: Which sentence correctly uses an article with a nationality adjective used as a noun?

An French are known for their cuisine.
The French are known for their cuisine. (Correct answer)
A French are known for their cuisine.
French are known for their cuisine.

Correct answer: The French are known for their cuisine.

When a nationality adjective is used as a plural noun referring to a people as a whole, 'the' is required.

Question 15: Which sentence correctly uses an article with an acronym?

She works for a FBI division.
She works for FBI division.
She works for the a FBI division.
She works for an FBI division. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: She works for an FBI division.

Use 'an' before acronyms that begin with a vowel sound; 'FBI' is pronounced 'ef-bee-eye', starting with the vowel sound /ɛ/.

Question 16: Choose the correct verb form: "The team _____ playing well tonight."

is (Correct answer)
have
were
are

Correct answer: is

In American English, collective nouns like "team" are treated as singular and take singular verbs.

Question 17: Complete the sentence: "She _____ in Paris for ten years before she moved to London."

has lived
lived
had lived (Correct answer)
was living

Correct answer: had lived

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

Question 18: Which sentence correctly inverts the conditional by omitting 'if'?

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

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 19: Choose the correct sentence about "police."

The police have arrived at the scene. (Correct answer)
The police is arriving at the scene.
The police was arrived at the scene.
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 20: What is a predicate nominative?

A noun that renames the subject after a linking verb (Correct answer)
A noun that receives the verb's action
A noun functioning as an adverb
A noun that modifies another noun

Correct answer: A noun that renames the subject after a linking verb

A predicate nominative follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject, as in 'She is a doctor.'

Question 21: Which is grammatically correct?

Fifty percent of the pie have been left.
Fifty percent of the pie are left.
Fifty percent of the pie is left. (Correct answer)
Fifty percent of the pie were left.

Correct answer: Fifty percent of the pie is left.

With fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the noun in the "of" phrase; "pie" is singular.

Question 22: Which sentence correctly uses 'wish' to express an unreal present desire?

I wish I would have more time.
I wish I had more time. (Correct answer)
I wish I have more time.
I wish I will have more time.

Correct answer: I wish I had more time.

'Wish' expressing an unreal present situation is followed by the simple past tense ('had'), following the same pattern as the if-clause in a second conditional.

Question 23: Which conditional structure is most commonly used for polite requests in English?

Zero conditional with simple present
First conditional with 'will'
Second conditional with 'would' (Correct answer)
Third conditional with 'would have'

Correct answer: Second conditional with 'would'

The second conditional form using 'would' creates a tentative, hypothetical tone that makes requests sound more polite and less direct, as in 'Would you mind helping me?'

Question 24: Well, I doubt I'll arrive at home before six.

interjection (Correct answer)
preposition
pronoun

Correct answer: interjection

"Well" at the beginning of a sentence, separated by a comma, is used to express a pause, hesitation, or to introduce a remark. An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses a sudden strong feeling or emotion, often standing apart from the rest of the sentence. In this case, "Well" serves as an interjection.

Question 25: What does it mean for a sentence to have 'syntactic ambiguity'?

The sentence uses overly technical vocabulary.
The sentence lacks a clear main clause.
The sentence can be parsed in more than one grammatically valid way. (Correct answer)
The sentence contains a grammatical error.

Correct answer: The sentence can be parsed in more than one grammatically valid way.

Syntactic ambiguity occurs when a sentence's structure allows two or more valid grammatical interpretations, e.g., 'I saw the man with the telescope.'

Question 26: Select the appropriate sentence from the list below for each.

Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his aunt, and two cousins.
Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his Aunt and two Cousins.
Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his Aunt, and two Cousins.
Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his aunt and two cousins. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Paolo hurried to the depot to meet his aunt and two cousins.

Common nouns like 'aunt' and 'cousins' should not be capitalized unless they are used as part of a proper noun (e.g., 'Aunt Carol') or begin a sentence. In this context, they are general terms for relatives, so lowercase is appropriate. Additionally, no unnecessary commas are needed in the list of people Paolo is meeting.

Question 27: In his Warner Bros. cartoons, Bugs Bunny was a wise man and a con man.

Dependent Clause
Independent Clause (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Independent Clause

The sentence 'In his Warner Bros. cartoons, Bugs Bunny was a wise man and a con man' is an independent clause. It contains a subject ('Bugs Bunny') and a predicate ('was a wise man and a con man') and expresses a complete thought. The introductory phrase 'In his Warner Bros. cartoons' is a prepositional phrase, not a dependent clause, so the main clause stands alone.

Question 28: Which of the following is a simple sentence?

She sings and he dances.
She sings, but he dances.
She sings beautifully every morning. (Correct answer)
She sings because she loves music.

Correct answer: She sings beautifully every morning.

A simple sentence has one independent clause with one subject and one predicate, regardless of modifiers.

Question 29: Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?

She suggested that he takes a break.
The committee recommended that the policy be reviewed. (Correct answer)
It is essential that every student submits the form.
I wish I was taller.

Correct answer: The committee recommended that the policy be reviewed.

The subjunctive 'be' (not 'is') is required after verbs like 'recommend' in that-clauses.

Question 30: In the sentence 'To win the championship was her dream,' what is the infinitive phrase functioning as?

Adjective
Subject (Correct answer)
Adverb
Direct object

Correct answer: Subject

The infinitive phrase 'To win the championship' acts as the subject of the verb 'was.'

Question 31: My mother forbids me from ____ with you.

come (Correct answer)
to come
coming

Correct answer: come

The verb 'forbid' is typically followed by an object and an infinitive (e.g., 'forbids me to come') or by 'from' and a gerund (e.g., 'forbids me from coming'). While 'coming' would be the standard choice after 'from,' in some less formal or specific contexts, a bare infinitive like 'come' might be used to emphasize the direct action being prohibited. This construction, though less common, focuses on the simple act of coming.

Question 32: After making your first left, cross the bridge.

preposition
verb (Correct answer)
noun

Correct answer: verb

In this imperative sentence, "cross" is a command or an instruction to perform an action. Verbs are words that describe an action, state, or occurrence. Therefore, "cross" functions as the main verb, directing the listener to perform the action of crossing the bridge.

Question 33: Which sentence uses an absolute phrase?

Running quickly, she reached the finish line.
After the storm, we resumed our walk.
Because the storm passed, we resumed our walk.
The storm having passed, we resumed our walk. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The storm having passed, we resumed our walk.

An absolute phrase has a noun and a participle ('storm having passed') and modifies the whole sentence.

Question 34: What is the primary function of the third conditional?

To talk about general truths and scientific facts
To reflect on how a different past action would have changed a past outcome (Correct answer)
To speculate about unlikely hypothetical present situations
To describe real possibilities in the future

Correct answer: To reflect on how a different past action would have changed a past outcome

The third conditional is used exclusively to speculate about unreal past situations and describe what the (also unreal) past outcome would have been.

Question 35: Which sentence correctly uses a dash to set off an appositive list?

Three cities; Paris, Rome, and Tokyo; are on my list.
Three cities, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo, are on my list.
Three cities: Paris, Rome, and Tokyo are on my list.
Three cities—Paris, Rome, and Tokyo—are on my list. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Three cities—Paris, Rome, and Tokyo—are on my list.

Em dashes effectively set off an appositive list within a sentence, especially when the list itself contains commas.

Question 36: Which sentence is correct?

Bread and butter is a common breakfast. (Correct answer)
Bread and butter have been a common breakfast.
Bread and butter are a common breakfast.
Bread and butter were a common breakfast.

Correct answer: Bread and butter is a common breakfast.

"Bread and butter" refers to a single concept (a food combination), so it takes a singular verb.

Question 37: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

There were several reason for the delay.
There is several reasons for the delay.
There are several reasons for the delay. (Correct answer)
There has been several reasons for the delay.

Correct answer: There are several reasons for the delay.

"There are" is correct because the subject "reasons" is plural and takes a plural verb.

Question 38: Which word in the sentence 'Ouch! That really hurt!' is an interjection?

That
Ouch (Correct answer)
Really
Hurt

Correct answer: Ouch

'Ouch' expresses sudden pain and stands alone grammatically, making it an interjection.

Question 39: Which tense is used in: "By next year, she will have been teaching for 20 years"?

Past perfect
Future continuous
Present perfect
Future perfect continuous (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Future perfect continuous

"Will have been teaching" is future perfect continuous, emphasizing the duration of an action up to a future point.

Question 40: What is the function of 'very' in 'The exam was very difficult'?

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

Correct answer: It modifies the adjective 'difficult.'

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

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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