SSC CGL (Prelims) English: Grammar questions with solutions

Q1. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Rohit did not slap Kunal.

1. Kunal was not being slapped by Rohit.
2. Kunal had not been slapped by Rohit.
3. Kunal was not slapped by Rohit.
4. Kunal has not been slapped by Rohit.

Answer: Kunal was not slapped by Rohit.

The active sentence is in simple past negative: "did not slap." In passive voice, the object "Kunal" becomes the subject and the verb changes to "was not slapped." This preserves the tense and meaning correctly.

Q2. Select the option with the correct use of future tense.

1. By next December, I will have been completed six years in this home.
2. By next December, I will be completed six years in this home.
3. By next December, I will have complete six years in this home.
4. By next December, I will have completed six years in this home.

Answer: By next December, I will have completed six years in this home.

The phrase 'by next December' indicates a future deadline before which the action will be completed. The future perfect tense is used for such completed actions in the future.

Q3. Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined words in the given sentence. Ranjith failed in all his exams as he had been addicted to social media.

1. as he had been addicted at
2. as he had been addicted on
3. as he had been addicted in
4. as he had been addicted to

Answer: as he had been addicted to

'Addicted' is followed by the preposition 'to' when referring to a habit or dependency. So the corrected phrase is 'addicted to social media'.

Q4. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. The letter was being typed by the secretary when the phone rang.

1. The secretary will type the letter when the phone rings.
2. The secretary types the letter when the phone rings.
3. The secretary was typing the letter when the phone rang.
4. The secretary is typing the letter when the phone rings.

Answer: The secretary was typing the letter when the phone rang.

The sentence is in past continuous passive voice: "was being typed." In active voice, it becomes past continuous: "was typing," while the interrupting action remains in simple past.

Q5. Arrange the parts in the correct sequence to form a meaningful sentence: (P) an open mind (Q) seek it with (O) for personal growth and development (R) knowledge is a powerful tool

1. PQRO
2. ORPQ
3. QROP
4. ROQP

Answer: ROQP

The logical sentence begins with "knowledge is a powerful tool," followed by the purpose phrase "for personal growth and development," then the action "seek it with" and finally "an open mind." This gives a meaningful and grammatically correct sentence.

Q6. Select the option that can substitute the bracketed word correctly and complete the sentence. They could (always) stay in, or go for a walk.

1. had better
2. not only
3. either
4. neither

Answer: either

“Either ... or” is used to present two alternatives. Here, “either” correctly fits before “stay in, or go for a walk.”

Q7. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. The contract was grabbed by the biggest telecom company in India.

1. The biggest telecom company in India grabbed the contract.
2. The biggest telecom company in India grabs the contract.
3. The biggest telecom company in India will grab the contract.
4. The biggest telecom company in India has grabbed the contract.

Answer: The biggest telecom company in India grabbed the contract.

In the passive voice, “the contract” receives the action. The doer is “the biggest telecom company in India,” and the tense is simple past, so the active form uses “grabbed.”

Q8. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. By whom was grammar taught to you?

1. Did he teach you grammar?
2. Who had taught you grammar?
3. You were taught grammar by whom?
4. Who taught you grammar?

Answer: Who taught you grammar?

The passive sentence asks who performed the action of teaching. In active voice, the correct and natural form is “Who taught you grammar?”

Q9. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. I have been living in Hyderabad since I am born.

1. since I have born
2. since I will be born
3. since I born
4. since I was born

Answer: since I was born

The phrase 'since I am born' is grammatically incorrect. The correct expression is 'since I was born' because birth is a past event and 'since' is followed by a past reference point.

Q10. The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error. Renewable energy / sources like solar and wind power / will replaced traditional fossil fuels / and help reduce carbon emissions.

1. Renewable energy
2. sources like solar and wind power
3. will replaced traditional fossil fuels
4. and help reduce carbon emissions

Answer: will replaced traditional fossil fuels

The segment 'will replaced' is incorrect because after 'will' the base form of the verb should be used. The correct phrase is 'will replace'.

Q11. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank: She has been working here ______ 2015.

1. since
2. for
3. at
4. from

Answer: since

'Since' is used to indicate a point in time from which an action started and continues. Since 2015 is correct because 2015 is a specific starting year.

Q12. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence:

1. I bought apples bananas and grapes.
2. I bought apples, bananas, and grapes.
3. I bought, apples bananas and grapes.
4. I bought apples, bananas and, grapes.

Answer: I bought apples, bananas, and grapes.

The sentence lists three items, so commas should separate them properly. The second option correctly punctuates the list.

Q13. Rearrange the following jumbled sentence into the correct order: 1. a teacher 2. is 3. best 4. the. Choose the correct order:

1. 3-4-2-1
2. 1-2-4-3
3. 4-3-2-1
4. 2-3-1-4

Answer: 3-4-2-1

The words should be arranged to form the sentence “best the is a teacher,” which corresponds to the intended structure in the options. The correct sequence is 3-4-2-1.

Q14. Choose the correct comparative form: This chair is ______ than that one.

1. comfort
2. more comfort
3. comfortable
4. more comfortable

Answer: more comfortable

The sentence compares two chairs, so a comparative form is needed. "Comfortable" is the base adjective, and its comparative form is "more comfortable."

Q15. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

1. Whats the matter with you
2. What's the matter with you?
3. Whats the matter with you?
4. What's the matter with you

Answer: What's the matter with you?

The contraction of "What is" is "What's," which requires an apostrophe. Since the sentence is interrogative, it must end with a question mark.

Q16. What is the plural form of "cactus"?

1. Cactuses
2. Cactii
3. Cactia
4. Cacti

Answer: Cacti

The standard plural form of "cactus" is "cacti." It is a Latin-derived noun, and its plural follows the Latin pattern.

Q17. Choose the correct preposition: He has been living in Delhi ______ 2010.

1. for
2. at
3. since
4. from

Answer: since

"Since" is used with a specific point in time, such as a year. Since 2010 indicates the starting point of the action that continues up to now.

Q18. Choose the correct sentence:

1. He don’t have any friends.
2. He doesn’t has any friends.
3. He doesn’t have any friends.
4. He not have any friends.

Answer: He doesn’t have any friends.

With the singular subject 'He', the correct auxiliary is 'doesn't'. After 'doesn't', the main verb should be in its base form, 'have'. Therefore, the correct sentence is 'He doesn’t have any friends.'

Q19. What is the correct form of the verb: ‘They _____ watching a movie.’

1. is
2. was
3. were
4. be

Answer: were

The subject “They” is plural, so the plural past form of the verb “to be” is required. In the past continuous tense, the correct auxiliary is “were.”

Q20. Choose the correct article: He is ______ honest man.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. none

Answer: an

The word “honest” begins with a silent “h” and is pronounced with a vowel sound. Therefore, the correct article is “an.”

Q21. Choose the correct passive form: ‘They are cleaning the room.’

1. The room is cleaned by them.
2. The room is being cleaned by them.
3. The room was being cleaned.
4. The room was cleaned by them.

Answer: The room is being cleaned by them.

The active sentence is in the present continuous tense. Its passive form uses “is/are being” + past participle, so the correct sentence is “The room is being cleaned by them.”

Q22. Identify the type of sentence: ‘Please close the door.’

1. Declarative
2. Exclamatory
3. Interrogative
4. Imperative

Answer: Imperative

The sentence is used to request someone to do something, so it is an imperative sentence. Imperative sentences express commands, requests, or instructions.

Q23. What type of sentence is this: “How beautiful the scenery is!”

1. Interrogative
2. Imperative
3. Exclamatory
4. Declarative

Answer: Exclamatory

The sentence expresses strong admiration and ends with an exclamation mark, so it is exclamatory. It does not ask a question, give a command, or make a plain statement.

Q24. Choose the correct option: He was punished because he ______ the rules.

1. broke
2. had broke
3. break
4. breaking

Answer: broke

The sentence refers to a past action that caused punishment, so the simple past tense is required. The past tense of 'break' is 'broke'.

Q25. Identify the conjunction in the sentence: “I wanted to go, but I was too tired.”

1. I
2. to
3. go
4. but

Answer: but

A conjunction is a word used to join words, phrases, or clauses. In this sentence, “but” joins the two independent clauses and shows contrast.

Q26. Choose the correct form: He ______ playing since morning.

1. is
2. was
3. has been
4. will be

Answer: has been

The phrase “since morning” indicates an action that began in the past and continues to the present. The present perfect continuous form “has been playing” is correct.

Q27. Choose the correct sentence:

1. She don’t like coffee.
2. She doesn’t likes coffee.
3. She doesn’t like coffee.
4. She isn’t like coffee.

Answer: She doesn’t like coffee.

With the third-person singular subject ‘She’, the correct negative auxiliary is ‘doesn’t’. After ‘doesn’t’, the main verb should be in base form: ‘like’.

Q28. Choose the correct verb form: She ______ to school every day.

1. go
2. goes
3. gone
4. going

Answer: goes

The subject ‘She’ is third-person singular, so the present simple verb takes ‘-es’. Therefore, ‘goes’ is correct.

Q29. Which of the following is an example of a verb?

1. Run
2. Quick
3. Beautiful
4. Strong

Answer: Run

A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. "Run" denotes an action, so it is a verb. The other options are adjectives.

Q30. Select the correct question tag: You liked the movie, ______?

1. didn’t you
2. wasn’t you
3. aren’t you
4. don’t you

Answer: didn’t you

The main clause "You liked the movie" is in the simple past tense. The correct question tag for a positive simple past statement is "didn’t you?" Therefore, the correct option is "didn’t you."

Q31. Select the sentence with the correct subject–verb agreement:

1. The boys plays football every evening.
2. The boy play football every evening.
3. The boys play football every evening.
4. The boys playing football every evening.

Answer: The boys play football every evening.

The subject "boys" is plural, so the verb should also be plural/base form: "play." The other options have incorrect verb forms or sentence structure. Therefore, the correct sentence is "The boys play football every evening."

Q32. Fill in the blank: He is fond ______ classical music.

1. on
2. at
3. to
4. of

Answer: of

The correct preposition after fond is of. The fixed expression is “fond of,” meaning to like something very much.

Q33. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

1. Each of the students have submitted their assignments.
2. Each of the student has submitted their assignments.
3. Each of the students has submitted their assignments.
4. Each student have submitted their assignments.

Answer: Each of the students has submitted their assignments.

In the phrase 'each of the students', the subject is treated as singular because 'each' refers to one member at a time. Therefore, the verb should be 'has', not 'have'.

Q34. Identify the correct sentence in reported speech: He said, 'I can swim.'

1. He said he could swim.
2. He said I can swim.
3. He said he can swim.
4. He says he could swim.

Answer: He said he could swim.

In reported speech, the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, so 'can' changes to 'could'. The pronoun 'I' also changes to 'he'.

Q35. Fill in the blank with an appropriate verb: My friends and I ______ planning a trip.

1. am
2. is
3. are
4. has

Answer: are

'My friends and I' is a compound subject and takes a plural verb. Therefore, 'are' is correct: 'My friends and I are planning a trip.'

Q36. Choose the correct sentence in passive voice: ‘They completed the project.’

1. The project completes by them.
2. The project is completed by them.
3. The project was completed by them.
4. The project had completed by them.

Answer: The project was completed by them.

The active sentence is in simple past tense: ‘They completed the project.’ In passive voice, the object becomes the subject and the verb changes to ‘was completed’.

Q37. Choose the correct part of speech for the word ‘truth’ in the sentence: ‘He always speaks the truth.’

1. Verb
2. Adverb
3. Noun
4. Adjective

Answer: Noun

In the sentence, “truth” names an idea or concept, so it functions as a noun. It is the object of the verb “speaks.”

Q38. Select the correct indirect speech: He said, “I am going to the market.”

1. He said that he is going to the market.
2. He said he going to the market.
3. He said that he was going to the market.
4. He told that he will go to the market.

Answer: He said that he was going to the market.

The reporting verb “said” is in the past tense, so the present continuous “am going” changes to past continuous “was going.” The pronoun “I” changes to “he.”

Q39. Choose the correct part of speech of the word in the sentence: He arrived early.

1. Adjective
2. Verb
3. Adverb
4. Noun

Answer: Adverb

In the sentence, 'early' modifies the verb 'arrived' by telling when the action happened. Therefore, it functions as an adverb.

Q40. Choose the appropriate conjunction: She is poor ______ honest.

1. but
2. so
3. because
4. or

Answer: but

The sentence expresses contrast between being poor and being honest. The conjunction 'but' is used to join contrasting ideas.

Q41. Choose the correct conjunction: You must study hard, ______ you will fail.

1. because
2. and
3. or
4. but

Answer: or

The sentence gives a warning: study hard, otherwise you will fail. The conjunction 'or' correctly connects the two clauses with this meaning.

Q42. Identify the correct sentence:

1. She is more smarter than him.
2. She is smartest than him.
3. She is smarter than him.
4. She are smart than him.

Answer: She is smarter than him.

The correct comparative form of 'smart' is 'smarter'. The other options contain grammatical errors such as double comparison or incorrect subject-verb agreement.

Q43. Select the part of speech of the word ‘quick’ in the sentence: He is a quick learner.

1. Noun
2. Adverb
3. Adjective
4. Verb

Answer: Adjective

In the phrase ‘quick learner’, the word ‘quick’ describes the noun ‘learner’. Words that describe nouns are adjectives.

Q44. Select the correct sentence:

1. There is many books on the table.
2. There are many book on the table.
3. There is many book on the table.
4. There are many books on the table.

Answer: There are many books on the table.

The subject ‘books’ is plural, so the correct verb is ‘are’, not ‘is’. Also, ‘books’ should remain plural after ‘many’.

Q45. Identify the part of speech of the word 'and' in the sentence: She bought apples and oranges.

1. Noun
2. Conjunction
3. Verb
4. Adjective

Answer: Conjunction

The word 'and' joins two nouns, 'apples' and 'oranges'. A word used to join words or clauses is called a conjunction.

Q46. Choose the correct sentence:

1. The childs are playing in the park.
2. The children is playing in the park.
3. The children are playing in the park.
4. The childs is playing in the park.

Answer: The children are playing in the park.

The subject "children" is plural, so it must take the plural verb "are." The other options contain incorrect singular/plural forms of both the noun and verb.

Q47. Identify the conjunction in the sentence: I was tired, but I finished my homework.

1. tired
2. but
3. finished
4. homework

Answer: but

A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses. In the sentence, "but" joins the two independent clauses and shows contrast.

Q48. Identify the noun in the sentence: 'Wisdom is better than strength.'

1. Better
2. Wisdom
3. Than
4. Is

Answer: Wisdom

'Wisdom' is a noun because it names an abstract quality. In the sentence, it functions as the subject, while the other words are an adjective, preposition, and verb.

Q49. Select the sentence with correct subject–verb agreement:

1. Each of the boys have a book.
2. Each of the boys has a book.
3. Each of the boy has a book.
4. Each boys has a book.

Answer: Each of the boys has a book.

In sentences with 'each', the subject is treated as singular, so the verb should be singular as well. Therefore, 'Each of the boys has a book' is correct.

Q50. Identify the preposition: The book is on the shelf.

1. is
2. book
3. on
4. shelf

Answer: on

In the sentence, ‘on’ shows the relationship between ‘book’ and ‘shelf’ and indicates place. Therefore, it is the preposition.