Grammar Quiz With Answers and Explanations (40 Items)

TL;DR. Forty grammar items, each with the answer and a paragraph-length explanation. Use as a self-study set or as the basis for a teacher-led lesson.

Tenses (10)

Present perfect for a state that began in the past and continues now. With duration markers like “for 10 years,” either present perfect or present perfect continuous works (subtle aspectual difference).

Past continuous describes an ongoing past action interrupted by another past event (simple past, “rang”).

Past perfect for an action completed *before* another past event.

Past continuous emphasises the ongoing situation; past simple states it as fact.

Present perfect for life experience with no specific past time.

“Going to” for a prediction based on present evidence.

Future continuous for an action in progress at a specific future time.

Future perfect for an action completed by a specific future point.

Present simple for general truths and habits.

Present simple for habits.

Articles (5)

Musical instruments take “the” when describing playing them.

Most mountains take no article; mountain *ranges* take “the” (the Alps).

Use “an” before vowel *sounds* — “an apple”, “an hour”, but “a university”.

Abstract nouns in a general sense take no article.

Superlatives take “the”.

Prepositions (5)

“On” with specific days and dates.

“In” with years, months, seasons.

“At” with specific times.

“In” with cities, countries, regions.

“On” for surfaces.

Conditionals (5)

First conditional: present simple in if-clause + “will” in main clause.

Second conditional uses “were” (subjunctive) for all persons in formal writing.

Third conditional: past perfect in if-clause + “would have + past participle”.

Zero conditional: present simple in both clauses for general truths.

Second conditional — formal advisory.

Passive voice (5)

Past passive: be + past participle.

Present passive.

Future passive.

Future perfect passive for completion by a future point.

Past simple passive.

Reported speech (5)

Tenses shift back in reported speech (present → past).

Will → would.

Yes/no questions use “if” or “whether”.

Imperatives: “to” or “not to” + verb.

Wh-questions: tense shifts back, wh-word retained.

Modal verbs (5)

Mustn't = prohibition.

Must = strong logical conclusion.

Needn't = lack of necessity.

Could = past general ability. For a specific past achievement, use “was able to”.

Same as 38 — not necessary.

Using these in class

The format works best when the explanation is taught *after* students attempt the question. Hand out only the items first; collect; then walk through each with the explanation.

Related reading

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