Free Grammar MCQs with Answers

71. Identify the sentence among the following which is punctuated correctly:

• A. The teaching staff asked the principal what time the meeting would start.
• B. The teaching staff asked the principal: "What time would the meeting start"?
• C. The teaching staff asked the principal, "What time would the meeting start?"
• D. The teaching staff asked the principal; "What time would the meeting start?"

Explanation: A direct quotation is introduced by a comma, begins with a capital letter and keeps its question mark inside the closing quotation marks. A colon or semicolon cannot introduce quoted speech in this way, and placing the question mark outside the quotation is wrong because the question belongs to the quoted words. The first option is grammatically fine as reported speech, but it is not punctuated as a quotation.

72. The board of directors expressed _______ disappointment with the financial results.

• A. their
• B. its
• C. his or her
• D. one's

Explanation: Board is a collective noun acting here as a single body, so the singular possessive its is correct in formal written English. Their would treat the members individually, which is acceptable in British usage but is not what an examination rewards. Consistency matters most: having chosen a singular verb for the collective noun, the pronoun must be singular too.

73. It rained all night; _______, the roads were flooded in the morning.

• A. similarly
• B. instead
• C. as a result
• D. in contrast

Explanation: The flooding follows from the rain, so the connector must signal consequence, and as a result, therefore and consequently all do that job. Similarly draws a comparison, in contrast signals opposition and instead signals replacement, none of which fits a cause and effect relationship. Reading both clauses before choosing is the reliable method with connector questions.

74. Change the voice : You will be acknowledge by the Government.

• A. Government will acknowledge you
• B. Government was acknowledge you
• C. Government is acknowledge you
• D. None of these

Explanation: The passive sentence should read “You will be acknowledged by the Government”; changing it to active voice gives “The Government will acknowledge you.” The stem contains a grammatical typo in “be acknowledge,” but the intended transformation is clear.

75. Which form of verb is usually used in "Passive Sentences"?

• A. First Form
• B. Second Form
• C. Third Form
• D. None

Explanation: Passive constructions use the past participle, traditionally called the third form of the verb, usually with a form of “be,” as in “was written.”

76. Change the voice "Set the thief to catch the thief".

• A. Let the thief to catch the thief
• B. Let the thief be set to catch the thief
• C. Thief is set to catch the thief
• D. None of These

Explanation: In an imperative passive construction, “let” is followed by the object and “be” plus the past participle: “Let the thief be set to catch the thief.” The other versions either omit the passive auxiliary or are grammatically incomplete.

77. Mr. Jamal asked him a question.

• A. He was asked a question Mr. Jamal.
• B. He was asked a question to Mr. Jamal.
• C. He was asked a question by Mr. Jamal.
• D. A question was being asked by Mr. Jamal.

Explanation: In the passive voice, the object 'him' becomes 'he', and the doer is introduced by by: 'He was asked a question by Mr. Jamal.' Option d changes the tense to the past progressive.

78. A lion does not eat grass, however hungry he may be.

• A. Grass is not eaten by a lion, however hungry he may be.
• B. Grass is not being eaten by a lion, however hungry he may be.
• C. Grass is eaten not by a lion, however hungry he may be.
• D. Grass is being not eaten by a lion, however hungry he may be.Government & Public Sector Jobs

Explanation: The simple present negative "does not eat" becomes "is not eaten" in the passive, with "grass" as the subject. The adverbial clause remains unchanged.

79. It is your duty to make tea at eleven O'clock.

• A. You are asked to make tea at eleven O'clock.
• B. Your are required to make tea at eleven O'clock.
• C. You are supposed to make tea at eleven O'clock.
• D. Tea is to be made by you at eleven

Explanation: "It is your duty to" expresses an obligation, which is naturally recast as "You are supposed to." Option b contains a grammatical error in "Your are," while d is awkward and incomplete in punctuation.

80. Women like men to flatter them?

• A. Men are liked by women to flatter them
• B. Women like to be flattered by men
• C. Women like that men should flatter them
• D. Women are liked to be flattered by men

Explanation: In the passive, "men" becomes the agent after "by," while "to flatter them" becomes "to be flattered by men." Thus, the meaning is preserved in "Women like to be flattered by men."