ESL Grammar and Sentence Structure 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct sentence.
- She don’t like coffee.
- She doesn’t likes coffee.
- She doesn’t like coffee. (Correct answer)
- She don’t likes coffee.
Correct answer: She doesn’t like coffee.
In English grammar, for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), the auxiliary verb 'do' becomes 'does' in negative sentences. The main verb that follows 'does not' (doesn't) should be in its base form, without the 's' ending. Therefore, 'She doesn't like coffee' is the grammatically correct construction.
Question 2: Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
- I am studying for the test yesterday.
- I studied for the test yesterday. (Correct answer)
- I will studying for the test yesterday.
- I studies for the test yesterday.
Correct answer: I studied for the test yesterday.
The word "yesterday" clearly indicates that the action of studying happened in the past and is now completed. Therefore, the simple past tense verb "studied" is the correct choice to match this past time marker. Options A, C, and D use incorrect tenses (present continuous, future, and simple present respectively) for an action that occurred yesterday.
Question 3: Fill in the blank with the correct article: "I saw ___ apple on the table."
- a
- an (Correct answer)
- the
- no article
Correct answer: an
The indefinite article "an" is used before singular nouns that begin with a vowel sound. Since "apple" starts with the vowel sound /æ/, "an" is the appropriate article to use. "A" is used before consonant sounds, and "the" is a definite article used for specific items.
Question 4: Choose the correct form of the verb: "She ___ to the gym every day."
- go
- goes (Correct answer)
- going
- gone
Correct answer: goes
For third-person singular subjects like "she," the simple present tense verb takes an "-es" ending when the verb ends in "o" (like "go"). The phrase "every day" indicates a habitual action, which is correctly expressed using the simple present tense. Therefore, "goes" is the grammatically correct form.
Question 5: Which sentence is correct?
- The cat drink the milk.
- The cat drinks the milk. (Correct answer)
- The cat drinking the milk.
- The cat drank the milk every day.
Correct answer: The cat drinks the milk.
This sentence requires subject-verb agreement in the simple present tense. "The cat" is a third-person singular subject, so the verb "drink" must take an "-s" ending to become "drinks." This form correctly expresses a general truth or habitual action.
Question 6: Identify the sentence with the correct word order:
- Always she is late for work.
- She is always late for work. (Correct answer)
- Is always late for work she.
- She always is late for work.
Correct answer: She is always late for work.
Adverbs of frequency, such as "always," are typically placed after the verb "to be" (is, am, are, was, were) in a sentence. In this case, "is" is the main verb, so "always" correctly follows it. This standard word order ensures clarity and grammatical correctness in English.
Question 7: Choose the correct preposition: "The book is ___ the table."
- in
- on (Correct answer)
- at
- by
Correct answer: on
The preposition "on" is used to describe something that is physically resting directly on a surface. Since a book typically rests directly on the surface of a table, "on" is the most appropriate and natural preposition to use in this context. Other prepositions like "in" or "at" would imply different spatial relationships.
Question 8: Select the correct sentence:
- If I was you, I will apologize.
- If I were you, I would apologize. (Correct answer)
- If I am you, I would apologize.
- If I would be you, I will apologize.
Correct answer: If I were you, I would apologize.
This sentence uses the second conditional, which expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation. In the "if" clause of the second conditional, the subjunctive mood requires "were" for all subjects, even "I," to indicate a hypothetical state. The main clause then correctly uses "would" followed by the base form of the verb ("apologize").
Question 9: Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun: "Everyone should bring ___ own lunch."
- his
- their
- its
- her
While "everyone" is grammatically singular, it refers to a group of individuals. In modern English, "their" is widely accepted as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun to refer back to indefinite pronouns like "everyone," avoiding gender-specific language. This usage is common and considered grammatically correct in contemporary contexts.
Question 10: Which sentence uses the correct comparative form?
- This book is more interesting than that one. (Correct answer)
- This book is interestinger than that one.
- This book is most interesting than that one.
- This book is interesting than that one.
Correct answer: This book is more interesting than that one.
For adjectives that have three or more syllables, such as "interesting," the comparative form is created by placing "more" before the adjective. Adding "-er" (e.g., "interestinger") is incorrect for longer adjectives. The structure "more [adjective] than" is the correct way to compare two items with such adjectives.
Question 11: Identify the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement:
- The team are practicing for the match.
- The team is practicing for the match. (Correct answer)
- The team practicing for the match.
- The team has practicing for the match.
Correct answer: The team is practicing for the match.
"Team" is a collective noun, which refers to a group of individuals but is often treated as a singular unit in English, especially in American English. Therefore, it requires a singular verb, "is," for subject-verb agreement. "Are" would be used if the sentence emphasized the individual members of the team acting separately.
Choose the correct sentence.