Grammar · Class 10 English · Words and Expressions: 225 MCQs with answers

Q1. Choose the correct option: My grandmother ______ in this village since 1975, and she refuses to move to the city.

Q2. Choose the verb form for the blank: Water ______ at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.

Q3. Look at those dark clouds over the hills! It ______ any minute now.

Q4. I will phone you as soon as I ______ at the hotel in Shimla.

Q5. Which of these questions is grammatically correct?

Q6. Identify the error and its correction: 'Yesterday my father has bought a new scooter for my sister.'

Q7. Every morning my grandfather ______ a long walk before breakfast.

Q8. Which time expression can follow 'since' in a present perfect sentence?

Q9. Complete with the right phrase: We have not heard from our cousin in Canada ______.

Q10. Look! The children ______ a sandcastle near the water.

Q11. The guests ______ dinner when the lights suddenly went out.

Q12. I ______ my homework yet, so I cannot come out to play.

Q13. Explain the use of 'for' and 'since' with the perfect tenses, giving examples.

Q14. You ______ wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler; it is the law.

Q15. When I was five, I ______ recite all the multiplication tables up to twenty.

Q16. Speaking formally to her class teacher, a student asks for permission: '______ I leave the class early today, ma'am? My mother is unwell.'

Q17. Your friend has been coughing for a week but still plays in the rain every evening. Which piece of advice is worded correctly?

Q18. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Q19. Pick the sentence in which 'ought' is used correctly.

Q20. We ______ finish the project yesterday because the internet was down all day.

Q21. Seeing an elderly neighbour struggling up the stairs with heavy shopping bags, you want to offer help politely. Which question fits?

Q22. The forecast is unclear, so it ______ snow in Manali tomorrow.

Q23. ______ you please lower the volume? The baby has just fallen asleep.

Q24. What is the function of 'may' in 'May you live a long and happy life!'?

Q25. What does 'could' express in 'Could you help me carry these chairs?'

Q26. Explain the difference between 'mustn't' and 'needn't' with an example of each.

Q27. State three grammatical rules that apply to modals, with an example for each.

Q28. The box of chocolates ______ on the top shelf of the cupboard.

Q29. Each of the girls ______ a different musical instrument.

Q30. Mathematics ______ my favourite subject since Class 6.

Q31. The police ______ questioning the shopkeeper about the theft.

Q32. This pair of scissors ______ blunt; please sharpen it.

Q33. The scissors ______ on the table where you left them.

Q34. The furniture in these rooms ______ just been polished.

Q35. Somebody ______ left an umbrella in the staffroom.

Q36. Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement?

Q37. Find the error and its correction in 'The quality of these shirts are poor.'

Q38. The Arabian Nights ______ a collection of very old stories.

Q39. Twenty kilometres ______ too far to walk in this heat.

Q40. Why do we say 'The bag of mangoes is heavy' and not 'are heavy'?

Q41. In reported speech, what does 'tomorrow' usually change to?

Q42. In reported speech, what does 'ago' usually change to?

Q43. In reported speech, what does 'last night' usually become?

Q44. In reported speech, what does 'next week' usually become?

Q45. A gardener shouts to visitors, "Beware of the dog!" Which reporting verb suits this best?

Q46. Explain the difference between 'say' and 'tell' in reported speech, with correct examples.

Q47. My uncle is ______ honest man who never tells a lie.

Q48. She wants to study at ______ university in Canada.

Q49. ______ Ganga is considered a sacred river by millions of people in India.

Q50. How ______ sugar do you take in your tea?

Q51. How ______ chapters have you revised so far?

Q52. The boy lost ______ keys on the way to school.

Q53. The dog wagged ______ tail when it saw its owner.

Q54. She is ______ best singer in our school choir.

Q55. ______ Himalayas protect India from the cold winds of Central Asia.

Q56. When we reached the platform, the train ______, so we had to hire a taxi to Agra.

Q57. Which sentence uses the present perfect correctly?

Q58. Choose the correct option: By the end of this month, the workers ______ the new bridge over the river.

Q59. At this time tomorrow, my cousins ______ over the Himalayas on their way to Leh.

Q60. The doctor ______ patients since eight o'clock this morning and has not had a break yet.

Q61. While Ravi ______ his bicycle up the steep hill, the chain snapped and he fell.

Q62. Pick the right form: I ______ this sum at all, so please explain it once more.

Q63. Read these statements about the past perfect and choose the correct combination. 1. It usually shows an action that is still going on at present. 2. It is formed with had and the past participle. 3. It marks the earlier of two actions in the past.

Q64. In which sentence does the present simple refer to a fixed future timetable?

Q65. Neha ______ at the bus stop for forty minutes when the bus finally came round the corner.

Q66. Our Physics teacher told us that light ______ faster than sound.

Q67. Why is 'had' used in 'She realised that she had left her phone in the auto'?

Q68. If it ______ tomorrow, the school will cancel the sports day and hold it next week.

Q69. What is the difference in meaning between 'I have lived in Kochi for ten years' and 'I lived in Kochi for ten years'?

Q70. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the fire ______ half the shop.

Q71. She ______ the violin since she was six, and she is still in the school orchestra.

Q72. Which sentence is written in the future continuous tense?

Q73. Decide which of these sentences are correct. 1. I have been knowing her since childhood. 2. It has been raining for three hours. 3. We have been living in this flat since 2021.

Q74. The shop was closed on Monday because the owner ______ to his village for a wedding.

Q75. A student writes: 'Last year our team wins the inter-school quiz.' Which is the best correction?

Q76. Choose the correct version of 'She is working here since last April.'

Q77. In a story written in the past tense, which sentence keeps the tense consistent?

Q78. Distinguish between the present perfect and the past simple, with one example of each.

Q79. When is the past perfect needed in a narrative? Illustrate with a sentence.

Q80. Why do we write 'I will call you when I reach' and not 'when I will reach'?

Q81. What are stative verbs? Why is 'I am knowing him well' incorrect?

Q82. Write a paragraph of about 100-120 words describing what you have done so far this year to prepare for the board examination. Use the present perfect, the present perfect continuous, the past simple and one future form correctly.

Q83. Your younger cousin keeps writing sentences like 'I have gone there last week' and 'I am staying here since two years.' Write a note of about 100-120 words explaining the two errors and giving corrected versions with the rules behind them.

Q84. You ______ bring your lunch tomorrow, as the school is serving a special meal for everyone.

Q85. Visitors ______ touch the paintings in the museum; it is strictly forbidden.

Q86. The lights are on in Meera's room, and her shoes are at the door. She ______ be at home.

Q87. That ______ be Arjun at the door; he flew to Canada yesterday.

Q88. I missed the train by two minutes. I ______ left home a little earlier.

Q89. The road is wet and there are puddles everywhere. It ______ rained during the night.

Q90. You ______ bought so many vegetables; we already had plenty in the fridge.

Q91. What is the difference between 'You mustn't use your phone in the exam hall' and 'You needn't use your phone in the exam hall'?

Q92. After the accident, the doctor said that Sonu ______ walk again within a month.

Q93. Children, you ______ play in the park until six, but you must come home after that.

Q94. Which of these sentences use modals correctly? 1. You must to submit the form today. 2. She might come to the party later. 3. They could not find the address.

Q95. Read these statements about modals and choose the correct combination. 1. A modal is followed by the base form of the verb. 2. Modals take -s with he, she and it. 3. 'Ought' is followed by 'to'.

Q96. The fire spread quickly, but all the residents ______ escape through the back door.

Q97. Parents ______ sign the consent form before a child can join the trip; it is a school rule.

Q98. Why is 'must have' used in 'Riya must have forgotten our meeting; she never misses one otherwise'?

Q99. Which sentence expresses regret about the past?

Q100. He ______ not tell anyone the secret; he was too frightened of the consequences.

Q101. In the library, you ______ talk loudly, as it disturbs other readers.

Q102. You ______ have told me about the change of venue; I went to the wrong hall!

Q103. Which sentence uses 'have to' correctly?

Q104. Which statement about the sentence 'You don't have to come' is accurate?

Q105. How can 'must' express two different meanings? Illustrate with two sentences.

Q106. Why is 'I will can come tomorrow' wrong? How would you correct it?

Q107. Write a notice of about 100-120 words for your school library giving rules for students. Use at least five different modals, including must, mustn't, may, needn't and should, correctly.

Q108. Write a paragraph of about 100-120 words advising a new student on how to settle into your school. Use modals of advice, necessity, possibility and permission, and explain at least one difference between two modals within your advice.

Q109. The captain of the Indian women's hockey team, along with her players, ______ arrived at the stadium for practice.

Q110. Neither the principal nor the teachers ______ aware that the timetable had been changed for the last week of term.

Q111. Either the students or the class teacher ______ going to present the award.

Q112. Every boy and girl in the auditorium ______ asked to stand up when the national anthem began to play.

Q113. The news of our school team's victory in the state finals ______ spread across the whole town within minutes.

Q114. Bread and butter ______ what my grandfather eats for breakfast every day.

Q115. Why is 'is' correct in 'Five hundred rupees is a big amount for a child to lose'?

Q116. One of my cousins, who moved abroad after finishing college in Pune, ______ in Melbourne now.

Q117. A number of students from both sections ______ absent on Monday because of the flu that was spreading.

Q118. The number of students in our school ______ risen this year.

Q119. Information about the new scholarships for girls in science ______ available on the school website from today.

Q120. The jury ______ given its verdict after a long discussion.

Q121. Not only the players but also their coach ______ disappointed with the result of the match against Kerala.

Q122. The teacher, as well as her thirty students, ______ excited about the excursion to the science museum tomorrow.

Q123. Choose the sentence in which the verb agrees with its subject.

Q124. Which of these sentences show correct agreement? 1. Each of the players has a new kit. 2. The committee have given its report. 3. Measles is a contagious disease.

Q125. Read these statements about concord and choose the correct combination. 1. 'Each' takes a singular verb. 2. 'Physics' takes a singular verb. 3. 'Trousers' takes a plural verb.

Q126. Why is 'has' correct in 'The leader of the protesters has agreed to talk'?

Q127. Why do we say 'Rice and dal is my favourite meal' but 'Rice and dal are grown in this region'?

Q128. What is the error in 'Every one of the windows were broken in the storm', and why?

Q129. What does the plural verb tell us in 'The committee are divided over the new dress code'?

Q130. Explain the proximity rule in subject-verb agreement with two examples.

Q131. Distinguish between 'the number of' and 'a number of', with an example of each.

Q132. When do two subjects joined by 'and' take a singular verb? Give two examples.

Q133. Name three kinds of nouns that end in -s but take a singular verb, with an example of each.

Q134. Write a paragraph of about 100-120 words describing your school's annual sports day. Use at least six sentences that correctly apply different concord rules, such as each, neither/nor, along with, a number of, the number of and a collective noun.

Q135. Your younger brother has written: 'The furnitures in my room is old and the scissors is missing. Neither my parents nor my sister have time to help, and everyone in the family are busy.' Write a note of about 100-120 words correcting each error and explaining the rule.

Q136. Ravi said to me, "I will lend you my bicycle tomorrow." Choose the correct reported form.

Q137. The teacher asked, "Have you finished your project?" Which option reports this correctly?

Q138. "Where do you live?" the stranger asked the boy. Select the correctly reported question.

Q139. "Please close the window," Mother said to me. How is this request reported?

Q140. "Don't touch the wires," the electrician warned us. Pick the correct reported command.

Q141. She said, "I am reading a novel now." Which reported version is correct?

Q142. "I will definitely return your notes on Monday," said Arun. Which reporting best captures his purpose?

Q143. She said to her brother, "Did you lock the door?" Choose the correct reported form.

Q144. The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." Which is the correct reported form?

Q145. Mira says, "I am bored." Which reported form is correct?

Q146. "Stand up," the coach said to the players. How is this command reported?

Q147. Read these statements about reporting questions and choose the correct combination. 1. Yes/no questions are introduced by if or whether. 2. Wh-questions keep their question word order in reported speech. 3. The helping verb do, does or did is dropped in reported questions.

Q148. Which of these sentences are correctly reported? 1. He asked me why I was late. 2. She told me to sit down. 3. They said me that they were leaving.

Q149. Why is 'said' changed to 'asked' when reporting 'Are you coming?'

Q150. "This book belongs to me," said Tara. Select the correct reported form.

Q151. Neha said, "Let's go for a walk after dinner." Which option reports the suggestion correctly?

Q152. "Could you help me with this sum?" Aman asked his sister. Choose the correct reported request.

Q153. "Please don't play loud music after ten," the neighbour said to us. How is this reported?

Q154. Ria said to Kabir, "You have forgotten my birthday." Which reported form is correct?

Q155. He said, "I can solve this puzzle." Pick the correct reported statement.

Q156. "You must submit the form by Friday," the clerk told me. Which reported form is correct?

Q157. Which direct speech matches the reported sentence 'She asked me whether I had seen her keys'?

Q158. "When will the results be declared?" the students asked. Choose the correctly reported question.

Q159. When may the tense stay unchanged after a past reporting verb?

Q160. Why is 'She told that she was hungry' incorrect?

Q161. He asked, "Why are you crying?" Choose the correct reported form.

Q162. The guard said to us, "You may go in now." Which is the correct reported form?

Q163. How are yes/no questions and wh-questions reported differently? Give one example of each.

Q164. Report the command '"Do not leave the room until the bell rings," the invigilator told the candidates' and explain the pattern used.

Q165. When is backshift of tense not necessary in reported speech? Give two examples.

Q166. Why do time and place words change in reported speech? Give three examples.

Q167. Report the following conversation in a paragraph of about 100-120 words. Doctor: What seems to be the problem? Anil: I have had a headache since yesterday. Doctor: Have you been sleeping well? Anil: No, I have been studying late for my exams. Doctor: You must sleep at least seven hours. Don't look at screens after ten. Anil: I will follow your advice.

Q168. Your teacher made these announcements this morning. Write a message of about 100-120 words to a classmate who was absent, reporting them. "The Science practical will be held next Monday." "Bring your lab coat and your record book." "Don't forget to revise the three experiments on light." "Has everyone paid the excursion fee?"

Q169. Which sentence uses articles correctly?

Q170. There is ______ milk left in the jug, so we will have to buy more before breakfast.

Q171. I have ______ friends in Pune, so I will not feel lonely there when I move for college next year.

Q172. Could you lend me ______ money for the auto? I have left my wallet at home on the dining table.

Q173. We didn't see ______ tigers during the safari in Ranthambore, though we spotted plenty of deer and peacocks.

Q174. ______ player on the school team was given a new jersey and a pair of shoes before the final.

Q175. I asked two shopkeepers in the market, but ______ of them had the book I wanted.

Q176. ______ books on this shelf are mine, and those on the table over there are my sister's.

Q177. Assertion (A): 'She is knowing the answer' is not standard English. Reason (R): Stative verbs such as know, believe and own are normally not used in the continuous form.

Q178. Assertion (A): 'I have met him in 2020' is correct because the meeting happened in the past. Reason (R): The present perfect is not used with a finished, definite past time such as 'in 2020'.

Q179. Explain how the future continuous and the future perfect differ, with one example of each.

Q180. Narrate, in about 100-120 words, an incident in which you missed something important because you arrived late. Use the past simple, the past continuous and the past perfect to show the order of events clearly.

Q181. Assertion (A): 'He needs not worry about the result' is incorrect. Reason (R): When need is used as a modal, it takes no -s and is followed by the base verb, as in 'He need not worry'.

Q182. Assertion (A): 'Could' is used only as the past tense of 'can'. Reason (R): 'Could' can also make a polite request, as in 'Could you pass the salt?'

Q183. Assertion (A): 'You had better leave now' gives strong advice. Reason (R): 'Had better' always refers to the past because it contains the word 'had'.

Q184. Explain the meaning of 'should have', 'could have' and 'must have' with one example each.

Q185. How are 'need' and 'dare' used as modals and as main verbs? Give examples.

Q186. Your friend lost an important match because of careless mistakes. Write a message of about 100-120 words reflecting on what went wrong, using perfect modals such as should have, could have, might have, must have and needn't have.

Q187. Assertion (A): 'The news are encouraging' is incorrect. Reason (R): 'News' ends in -s but is an uncountable noun that takes a singular verb.

Q188. Assertion (A): 'Bread and butter is good for breakfast' is correct. Reason (R): Two nouns joined by 'and' always take a plural verb.

Q189. Assertion (A): 'The cattle is grazing in the field' is correct. Reason (R): 'Cattle' is a plural noun and takes a plural verb.

Q190. How do collective nouns agree with verbs? Illustrate with two sentences.

Q191. Explain, in about 100-120 words, why concord errors are common in long sentences, and show how to avoid them using three example sentences of your own.

Q192. Assertion (A): In 'She asked where I lived', no question mark is used. Reason (R): A reported question becomes a statement in form, with the subject before the verb.

Q193. Assertion (A): 'He asked me what was my name' is correct reported speech. Reason (R): In reported wh-questions, the subject comes before the verb.

Q194. Assertion (A): 'She said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius' keeps the present tense. Reason (R): The reporting verb 'said' is in the present tense.

Q195. Assertion (A): In reported speech, 'here' usually changes to 'there'. Reason (R): Yes/no questions are reported with 'if' or 'whether'.

Q196. Report '"Let's visit the museum on Sunday," said Kavya' in two correct ways and name one common error.

Q197. Report the following exchange in about 100-120 words, using suitable reporting verbs. Coach: Why were you late for practice today? Meena: The bus broke down near the market. Coach: Please inform me next time. Can you stay back for an extra half hour? Meena: Yes, I can. Shall I bring the cones from the store? Coach: That would be very helpful.

Q198. Assertion (A): 'An university' is incorrect. Reason (R): The choice between a and an depends on the first sound, and 'university' begins with a consonant 'yu' sound.

Q199. Assertion (A): 'She has a few friends' means she has almost no friends. Reason (R): 'A few' means a small but positive number.

Q200. Assertion (A): 'Each' and 'every' are followed by singular nouns. Reason (R): 'Each' is used only for groups of more than two.