IELTS Grammar & Sentence Structure 2

Question 1

Choose the correct sentence: 'By the time the results were published, the candidates ___ for weeks.'

Accepted Answer

had been waiting

Answer

The past perfect continuous 'had been waiting' shows an action ongoing up to a point in the past.

Question 2

Which sentence uses the conditional correctly?

Accepted Answer

If I had known earlier, I would have helped.

Answer

The third conditional uses 'had + past participle' in the if-clause and 'would have + past participle' in the main clause.

Question 3

Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.

Accepted Answer

The report, which was late, cost us the contract.

Answer

Non-defining relative clauses are enclosed by a pair of commas.

Question 4

Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Accepted Answer

Neither the manager nor the staff were informed.

Answer

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'staff', here treated as plural.

Question 5

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'She is used to ___ in a busy office.'

Accepted Answer

working

Answer

'Be used to' is followed by a gerund (-ing form).

IELTS Practice Test