English Grammar MCQS

The correct synonym for ABATE is B: Reduce. The verb "abate" means to become less intense or widespread, or to make something less intense or widespread. It implies a decrease in degree, force, or amount. For instance, a storm might abate, meaning its intensity lessens, or a pain might abate, meaning it becomes less severe.

Let's look at the other options: A: Increase means to become or make greater in size, amount, or degree, which is the direct opposite of abate. C: Expand means to become or make larger or more extensive, also an antonym. D: Multiply means to increase in number or quantity, often by reproduction, or to perform the mathematical operation of multiplication. Therefore, "reduce" is the only option that accurately captures the meaning of "abate," signifying a decrease or lessening of something. Understanding such vocabulary is crucial for precise communication.

The correct answer is A: appreciated. The sentence describes a manager's reaction to an employee's 'outstanding performance,' which implies excellent work and positive results. To 'appreciate' someone means to recognize their value, acknowledge their efforts, and show gratitude for their contributions. This action is a natural and positive response to exceptional work, fostering a supportive and motivating workplace environment. Conversely, options like B: criticized, which means to find fault or express disapproval, would be entirely inappropriate for outstanding performance. Similarly, C: ignored, meaning to pay no attention to, would be detrimental to employee morale and contradict the positive context. D: fired, meaning to dismiss from employment, is a severe negative consequence typically reserved for poor performance or misconduct, not outstanding achievement. Therefore, 'appreciated' is the only choice that logically and grammatically fits the positive context of the employee's excellent work, demonstrating recognition and valuing their significant contributions to the organization. This choice highlights the importance of positive reinforcement in management.

The correct answer is A: treaty. In the context of two countries promoting trade, a 'treaty' is the most appropriate term. A treaty is a formally concluded and ratified agreement between states, often dealing with peace, trade, or other international relations. It carries significant legal weight under international law and typically involves formal negotiation and ratification processes by the respective governments. While B: contract, C: agreement, and D: deal can all refer to formal understandings, they are generally broader terms. A 'contract' is usually a legally binding agreement between individuals or private entities, or sometimes between a government and a private entity, but less commonly between two sovereign nations for broad trade promotion. 'Agreement' and 'deal' are more general terms that can apply to various situations, but 'treaty' specifically denotes a formal, legally binding accord between nations, making it the most precise and correct term for international trade promotion between countries. This choice emphasizes the formal nature of international relations.

The correct answer is A: since. The word 'since' is used to indicate a starting point in time for an action or state that continues up to the present. In the sentence, 'He has been working here __________ 2015,' the year 2015 marks the specific point in the past when his employment began, and the present perfect continuous tense ('has been working') indicates that this action is ongoing. Therefore, 'since 2015' correctly conveys that his employment started in 2015 and continues to the current moment. B: for is used to indicate a duration or period of time (e.g., 'for five years'). C: from is typically used with 'to' or 'until' to indicate a starting and ending point (e.g., 'from 2015 to 2020'). D: at is used for specific points in time (e.g., 'at 5 o'clock') or locations, not for a duration or starting point of an ongoing action. Thus, 'since' is the only option that accurately expresses the continuous nature of the work from a specific past point.

The correct answer is B: Unless. 'Unless' is a conjunction that means 'if not' or 'except if.' It introduces a condition that, if not met, will lead to a specific outcome. In the given sentence, '__________ you work hard, you will not succeed,' 'unless' perfectly conveys the meaning that success will not be achieved if the condition of working hard is not fulfilled. Essentially, it means 'If you do not work hard, you will not succeed.' A: If would create a different meaning, implying 'If you work hard, you will not succeed,' which is illogical in this context. C: When indicates a time, not a condition, and would mean 'At the time you work hard, you will not succeed,' which doesn't fit. D: While suggests simultaneity or contrast, neither of which applies here. Therefore, 'unless' is the only word that correctly establishes the necessary negative conditional relationship between working hard and achieving success, highlighting the importance of effort.

The error in the sentence "I have bought a furniture yesterday" lies with the word C: furniture. There are two main issues here. Firstly, "furniture" is an uncountable noun in English. This means it does not take an indefinite article ("a" or "an") before it, nor does it have a plural form (we don't say "furnitures"). To refer to individual items, we would use phrases like "a piece of furniture" or "some furniture."

Secondly, the use of "yesterday" indicates a specific point in the past, which typically requires the simple past tense (e.g., "I bought"). The present perfect tense ("have bought") is generally used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or for past actions with a result in the present, without a specific past time marker. Combining "have bought" with "yesterday" is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, the sentence should correctly be "I bought some furniture yesterday" or "I bought a piece of furniture yesterday."

The error in the sentence "He asked that why I was late" is B: that. When reporting questions indirectly, especially those introduced by a 'wh-word' (like who, what, where, when, why, how), we do not use the conjunction "that." The 'wh-word' itself acts as the conjunction, introducing the reported clause. Using "that" creates redundancy and is grammatically incorrect in this context.

The verb "asked" correctly introduces an indirect question. The word "why" correctly introduces the content of the question, and the clause "I was late" maintains the correct word order for an indirect question (subject-verb, not inverted like a direct question). Therefore, the correct way to phrase this sentence is "He asked why I was late." This structure is essential for forming grammatically sound reported speech, ensuring clarity and avoiding unnecessary words. Removing "that" makes the sentence flow naturally and adhere to standard English grammar rules for indirect questions.

The error in the sentence "One should respect his elders" is D: his. This is a common mistake related to pronoun agreement. When the indefinite pronoun "one" is used as the subject of a sentence, the possessive pronoun referring back to "one" should also be "one's," not "his," "her," or "their." The pronoun "one" is used to refer to people in general, and using "one's" maintains this general, impersonal tone throughout the sentence.

Using "his" (or "her") makes the sentence sound as if it's referring to a specific male (or female) person, which contradicts the general nature of "one." While some older grammar conventions might have accepted "his" as a generic pronoun, modern English grammar emphasizes gender-neutrality and consistency. Therefore, to maintain proper pronoun agreement and a general reference, the sentence should be "One should respect one's elders." This ensures that the pronoun correctly reflects the antecedent and maintains the intended meaning of the statement.

The correct answer is verdict. A verdict refers to the formal finding or decision made by a jury or judge in a trial, stating whether a defendant is guilty or innocent, or determining the facts of a case. It is the conclusion reached after considering all the evidence and engaging in deliberation. The phrase "after two hours of deliberation" strongly indicates that the judge was concluding the fact-finding or guilt-determining phase of the trial. In contrast, a sentence is the punishment assigned to a defendant who has been found guilty, and it is typically delivered after the verdict. Punishment is the act of penalizing someone for an offense, which is part of a sentence. An order is a command or directive issued by the court, but it does not represent the final decision on the merits of the case regarding guilt or innocence. Therefore, "verdict" is the most appropriate term to describe the judge's decision following deliberation.

The correct answer is elder. Both "elder" and "older" are comparative forms of the adjective "old," but they are used in slightly different contexts. Elder is primarily used when referring to siblings or family members, specifically to denote seniority in age within the family. It often carries a connotation of respect or established birth order and is typically used attributively before a noun, such as "my elder brother" or "the elder sister." Older, on the other hand, is a more general comparative form that can be used for people or things to indicate greater age. It can be followed by "than" (e.g., "He is older than me") or used attributively (e.g., "the older car"). Since the question specifically refers to "the two brothers," "elder" is the more idiomatic and appropriate choice for comparing age within a family context. Old is the base adjective, and oldest is the superlative form, used when comparing three or more individuals or items.

The correct answer is attributes. To attribute something to someone or something means to regard it as being caused by or resulting from that person or thing. In this sentence, the speaker is identifying hard work and dedication as the causes or sources of her success. This usage correctly conveys the idea of assigning credit or cause. Let's look at the other options: Contributes means to give something, especially money or time, to help achieve or provide something. While hard work contributes to success, the phrasing "she contributes her success to" is grammatically awkward and does not accurately express the causal link intended here. Distributes means to give out shares of something or deal out, which is unrelated to the context of assigning cause for success. Owes means to have an obligation to pay or repay something. While one might say "she owes her success to her mentor," using it with abstract concepts like "hard work" in this structure is less precise and less common than "attributes."

The correct answer is protect. When a new law is enacted concerning rights, its primary function is often to protect those rights, meaning to keep them safe from harm, infringement, or violation. Laws are designed to safeguard the entitlements and freedoms of individuals or groups, ensuring they are upheld and respected. Let's examine why the other options are less suitable: Prevent means to stop something from happening or arising. While a law might prevent violations of rights, the overarching action of a law regarding rights is to protect them. "Protect" encompasses the idea of preventing harm while also affirming the existence and validity of the rights. Protest means to express an objection or disapproval, which is an action taken by people, not by a law itself in this context. Promote means to support or actively encourage something. While a law might promote equality or certain values, the direct action on existing "rights" is to ensure their security and enforcement, which is best described by "protect."

The correct answer is sensitive. To be sensitive to the needs of others means to be quick to detect, understand, and respond to their feelings, requirements, or difficulties. It implies empathy, awareness, and a readiness to act thoughtfully in consideration of others. This is a common and correct idiomatic expression. Let's consider the other options: Sensible describes someone who makes good judgments, is practical, or acts with wisdom and prudence. While a sensible person might also be sensitive, the word "sensible" itself doesn't directly convey the idea of being responsive to others' needs. Senseless means lacking meaning, purpose, or common sense; foolish, which is the opposite of the intended meaning. Sentimental refers to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia, often associated with emotional attachment to things or memories. While it relates to emotions, it doesn't accurately describe the quality of being aware of and responsive to the practical or emotional needs of other people in an empathetic way, as "sensitive" does.

The correct answer is A: Despite. This question tests your understanding of prepositions and conjunctions that express contrast.

Despite is a preposition that means 'in spite of' or 'regardless of'. It is always followed by a noun, a noun phrase, or a gerund (verb + -ing). In the given sentence, 'the rain' is a noun phrase, making 'Despite the rain' grammatically correct and conveying the intended meaning of continuing the match even with the rain.

• B: Although is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a subordinate clause and must be followed by a subject and a verb (e.g., 'Although it was raining, we continued the match.').
• C: However is a conjunctive adverb. It connects two independent clauses and is typically used with a semicolon or a period (e.g., 'It was raining; however, we continued the match.' or 'It was raining. However, we continued the match.').
• D: Because is a subordinating conjunction that indicates cause or reason, which is the opposite of the intended meaning of contrast (e.g., 'Because of the rain, we stopped the match.').

Therefore, 'Despite' is the only option that correctly fits the grammatical structure and meaning of the sentence.

The correct answer is B: at. This question tests your knowledge of common prepositions used with adjectives to form idiomatic expressions.

The phrase 'good at' is a standard idiom in English used to express proficiency, skill, or talent in a particular subject, activity, or area. When you say someone is 'good at mathematics,' it means they possess a strong ability or skill in that subject.

• A: in is generally used to indicate location or inclusion (e.g., 'She is in the room' or 'She is interested in science'). While one might say 'She is good in class,' it doesn't specifically convey skill in a subject as effectively as 'good at'.
• C: on is typically used to indicate position on a surface, a topic of discussion, or a schedule (e.g., 'The book is on the table,' 'They are working on a project,' or 'The meeting is on Tuesday.'). It does not fit the context of expressing skill.
• D: for is used to indicate purpose, benefit, or duration (e.g., 'This is good for your health,' 'She studied for two hours,' or 'This gift is for you.'). It does not convey proficiency in a subject.

Thus, 'good at' is the only grammatically correct and idiomatic choice to express skill in mathematics.

The error in the sentence 'He is suffering from fever since Monday' is D: since. This sentence incorrectly uses the present continuous tense ('is suffering') with a time expression ('since Monday') that indicates an action or state that began in the past and continues up to the present.

When an action or state started at a specific point in the past and is still ongoing, we must use a perfect tense, specifically the present perfect continuous tense or the present perfect tense. The phrase 'since Monday' clearly indicates a duration that began on Monday and extends to the present moment.

• The correct sentence should be: 'He has been suffering from fever since Monday.' (Present perfect continuous)
• Alternatively, if the focus were on the completed duration, 'He has suffered from fever since Monday' could also be used, though 'has been suffering' is more common for ongoing conditions.

Let's look at the other options:

• A: is suffering is the present continuous tense, which is incorrect when combined with 'since Monday'.
• B: from is the correct preposition to use with 'suffering' (one suffers from an illness).
• C: fever is the correct noun for the illness.

Therefore, 'since' highlights the need for a different verb tense to accurately reflect the duration of the suffering.

The error in the sentence 'She is more taller than her sister' is A: more. This sentence contains a common grammatical mistake known as a double comparative.

In English, adjectives form their comparative degree in one of two ways:

• By adding -er to the end of short adjectives (e.g., tall -> taller, fast -> faster, big -> bigger).
• By placing more before longer adjectives (e.g., beautiful -> more beautiful, intelligent -> more intelligent, difficult -> more difficult).

You should never use both methods simultaneously. 'Taller' is already the comparative form of the adjective 'tall'. Adding 'more' before 'taller' creates redundancy and is grammatically incorrect. It's like saying 'more faster' or 'more bigger'.

The correct sentence should be: 'She is taller than her sister.'

• B: taller is the correct comparative form of 'tall' and is appropriate for the comparison.
• C: than is correctly used to introduce the second element in a comparison.
• D: her sister is grammatically correct as the object of comparison.

The word 'more' is superfluous and creates the error in this sentence.

The correct answer is A: was. This question tests your understanding of subject-verb inversion, a crucial grammatical structure in English, especially when a negative adverbial phrase like "Not only" initiates a sentence. When "Not only" is positioned at the very beginning of a sentence, it necessitates an inversion of the subject and the auxiliary verb, mirroring the structure typically found in interrogative sentences. The standard pattern becomes "Not only + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (if applicable)..."

In this particular sentence, the subject is "he," which is a singular pronoun. Furthermore, the phrase "forgot his assignment" clearly indicates that the action occurred in the past tense. Consequently, the appropriate choice is the singular past tense form of the auxiliary verb "to be," which is "was," to ensure agreement with the singular subject "he."

• A: was is correct as it aligns with both the singular subject and the past tense context, while also adhering to the inversion rule.
• B: is is incorrect due to its present tense nature.
• C: were is incorrect because it is the plural past tense form.
• D: are is incorrect as it is the plural present tense form.

The grammatically correct sentence is: "Not only was he late, but he also forgot his assignment."

The correct answer is B: the better. This question assesses your knowledge of parallel comparative structures, often referred to as "double comparatives" or "the... the..." constructions. This grammatical pattern is used to show that one thing depends on another, or that two things change together. The structure typically follows the form: "The + comparative adjective/adverb + clause, the + comparative adjective/adverb + clause."

In this sentence, "The more you practice" sets up the first part of the comparison, indicating an increasing amount of practice. The second part of the sentence requires a comparative form to show a corresponding increase in skill or proficiency. "Better" is the comparative form of "good."

• A: better is incorrect because it lacks the definite article "the" required for this specific parallel structure.
• B: the better correctly completes the parallel comparative structure.
• C: good is the positive form, not comparative.
• D: best is the superlative form, not comparative.

Therefore, the complete and grammatically correct sentence is: "The more you practice, the better you become."

The correct answer is B: such. This question tests your understanding of how to use "so" and "such" to express cause and effect or intensity. Both "so... that" and "such... that" constructions are used to indicate a degree or extent that leads to a particular result. The key difference lies in the grammatical structure that follows them.

"Such" is typically used before a noun phrase (an adjective + noun, or just a noun). The structure is usually "such a/an + adjective + noun + that clause." In this sentence, "honest woman" is a noun phrase, with "honest" being the adjective and "woman" being the noun. Therefore, "such an honest woman" is the correct construction.

• A: so is incorrect because "so" is used before an adjective or adverb alone (e.g., "so honest that..."), not directly before "a/an + adjective + noun."
• C: very is incorrect because while it expresses intensity, it doesn't fit the "that" clause structure to show a result.
• D: too is incorrect because it implies excessiveness and is usually followed by "to + infinitive" (e.g., "too honest to lie").

The complete sentence should be: "She is such an honest woman that everyone trusts her."

The correct answer is A: a few. This question assesses your understanding of quantifiers, specifically the difference between "a few" and "few," and "a little" and "little." These quantifiers are used with countable and uncountable nouns to express quantity.

The noun "rupees" is a countable noun (you can count individual rupees). Therefore, we must use quantifiers that are appropriate for countable nouns, which are "a few" or "few."

• A: a few means "some" or "a small number." It implies a positive quantity, suggesting he has some rupees, enough to be mentioned. This fits the common context of having money in a wallet.
• B: few means "almost none" or "not many." It carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of rupees. While grammatically possible, "He has few rupees" would suggest he has barely any, which might not be the intended meaning unless specified. However, "a few" is the more neutral and common choice when simply stating presence of some countable items.
• C: little and D: a little are incorrect because they are used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "little water," "a little time"). "Rupees" is countable.

Given the options, "a few" is the most appropriate choice to indicate a small but present number of rupees.

The correct answer is C: little. This question tests your knowledge of quantifiers, specifically the distinction between "a little" and "little," and their usage with uncountable nouns. The noun "hope" is an uncountable noun; you cannot count individual "hopes." Therefore, we must use quantifiers appropriate for uncountable nouns, which are "a little" or "little."

• C: little means "almost none" or "not much." It carries a negative connotation, implying a scarcity or lack of something. In the context of "hope of his recovery," "little hope" suggests that there is very minimal or almost no chance of him recovering, which is a common and often somber expression.
• D: a little means "some" or "a small amount." It implies a positive quantity, suggesting there is some hope, however small. While grammatically correct, "a little hope" would convey a more optimistic outlook than "little hope."
• A: a few and B: few are incorrect because they are used with countable nouns (e.g., "a few chances," "few doctors"). "Hope" is uncountable.

Given the options and the common usage in such contexts, "little hope" is the most fitting choice to express a very low probability of recovery.

The correct answer is B: review. This question tests your understanding of vocabulary in a formal context, specifically actions taken by a committee regarding a proposal.

To review a proposal means to formally examine or assess it with the intention of making a decision or suggesting changes. This action logically precedes making a final decision, as a committee would need to thoroughly understand and evaluate the proposal's contents, merits, and implications before coming to a conclusion. It implies careful consideration and scrutiny.

• A: reject means to dismiss or refuse to accept. This would be the final decision itself, not the action taken before making a decision. A committee might reject a proposal after reviewing it.
• C: ignore means to intentionally disregard or pay no attention to something. This is contrary to the purpose of a committee, which is to consider proposals and make informed decisions. Ignoring a proposal would mean failing in their duty.
• D: dismiss means to treat something as unworthy of serious consideration or to send it away. Similar to 'reject,' this implies a final action or a lack of serious engagement, rather than a preliminary examination.

Therefore, 'review' is the most appropriate verb to describe the committee's action before making a decision, as it signifies a process of careful examination.

The correct answer is "were" because this sentence employs the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical, unreal, or contrary-to-fact situations. The phrase "If I were you" is a classic example of the second conditional, often used to give advice about an imaginary scenario. In such constructions, even when the subject is "I" (first person singular), the verb "were" is used instead of "was" to clearly indicate that the situation is not real but rather a hypothetical one. This grammatical rule is essential for conveying the speaker's intent to imagine themselves in another person's position, offering advice based on that imagined state. The use of "were" signals that the speaker is not actually the other person, but is considering what they would do if they were. This distinction is vital in formal English to differentiate between a factual past event and a hypothetical condition. Therefore, "were" correctly reflects the subjunctive mood required for this type of conditional statement, making it the only grammatically sound option.

The correct answer is "knew". This sentence uses the phrase "as if," which introduces a clause describing an unreal or hypothetical comparison. When "as if" (or "as though") is followed by a clause that expresses something contrary to fact, improbable, or merely a supposition, the subjunctive mood is typically employed. In this specific context, "she speaks as if she knew everything" implies that she does not, in fact, know everything, but her manner of speaking gives that impression. To convey this hypothetical or unreal condition in the present, the past simple tense ("knew") is used in the "as if" clause, even though the main verb "speaks" is in the present tense. This grammatical construction is crucial for expressing an unreal condition or an imagined scenario that contrasts with reality. The use of "knew" correctly signals that the statement following "as if" is a supposition or an imagined state, rather than a factual assertion. This makes "knew" the appropriate choice to maintain grammatical accuracy and convey the intended meaning of an unreal comparison.