English Grammar Aptitude Test: Practice Questions & Tips

Job hunting in today’s competitive market often involves clearing hurdles like aptitude tests. These tests evaluate your skills and suitability for the role, and a significant component of many such assessments is English grammar. A strong grasp of grammar is essential for effective communication, a crucial skill in any professional setting. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for English grammar aptitude tests. We’ll break down key grammatical concepts, provide ample practice questions, and offer valuable test-taking strategies.

Key Grammar Areas Covered in the Aptitude Test

English grammar aptitude tests typically cover a wide range of grammar topics, including parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure.

1) Sentence Structure

Sentence structure refers to the way words and clauses are arranged to form meaningful sentences. Understanding the different types of sentences and their components is crucial for writing and speaking clearly and correctly.

Simple Sentences: A simple sentence contains a single independent clause, meaning it expresses a complete thought with a subject and a verb.

Example: The cat slept.
Example: The sun shines brightly.

Compound Sentences: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon.

Example: The cat slept, and the dog barked.
Example: She went to the store; she bought some milk.

Complex Sentences: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and relies on the independent clause for its meaning.

Example: Although the cat slept, the dog barked. (Dependent clause followed by independent clause)
Example: The dog barked while the cat slept. (Independent clause followed by dependent clause)

Subject-Verb Agreement: One of the fundamental rules of grammar is that the verb in a sentence must agree with its subject in number. This means a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Correct: The dog barks.
Incorrect: The dog bark.
Correct: The dogs bark.
Incorrect: The dogs barks.

Special Cases:

Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group) can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the noun is considered a single unit or a collection of individuals.

Example: The team is playing well. (Team as a unit)
Example: The team are arguing about strategy. (Team as individuals)

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, anyone, nobody) are usually singular.

Example: Everyone has a role to play.
Example: Somebody is at the door.

Sentence Fragments: A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. It may lack a subject, a verb, or both, or it may be a dependent clause on its own.

Fragment: Running through the park. (Missing a subject)
Fragment: The cat on the mat. (Missing a verb)
Fragment: Because it was raining. (Dependent clause)
Complete Sentence: The dog was running through the park.
Complete Sentence: The cat slept on the mat.
Complete Sentence: We stayed inside because it was raining.

Run-on Sentences: A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined incorrectly. This can happen when there is no punctuation or conjunction between clauses or when a comma is used without a coordinating conjunction (comma splice).

Run-on: The cat slept the dog barked.
Run-on: She went to the store, she bought some milk.
Correct: The cat slept, and the dog barked.
Correct: She went to the store; she bought some milk.
Correct: She went to the store, and she bought some milk.

2) Parts of Speech

Parts of speech are the building blocks of sentences. Each word in a sentence belongs to a specific part of speech, and understanding these categories is essential for analyzing and constructing sentences correctly.

Nouns: Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas.

Examples: cat, dog, house, city, happiness, freedom

Types of Nouns:

Common nouns: Name general people, places, or things (e.g., dog, city, book).
Proper nouns: Name specific people, places, or things (e.g., London, Amazon, Monday).
Concrete nouns: Name things you can experience with your senses (e.g., table, rain, music).
Abstract nouns: Name ideas, qualities, or concepts (e.g., love, justice, time).
Collective nouns: Name groups of people or things (e.g., team, family, flock).
Pronouns: Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition.

Examples: he, she, it, they, we, you, I, me, him, her, us, them

Types of Pronouns:

Personal pronouns: Refer to specific people or things (e.g., I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Possessive pronouns: Show ownership (e.g., mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs).
Reflexive pronouns: Refer back to the subject of the sentence (e.g., myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves).
Indefinite pronouns: Refer to nonspecific people or things (e.g., someone, anyone, everyone, no one, something, anything, everything, nothing).
Relative pronouns: Introduce relative clauses (e.g., who, whom, whose, which, that).
Verbs: Verbs express actions or states of being.

Examples: run, jump, sleep, eat, is, are, was, were

Types of Verbs:

Action verbs: Describe physical or mental actions (e.g., run, think, write).
Linking verbs: Connect the subject to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, seems, appears, becomes).
Helping verbs (auxiliary verbs): Combine with main verbs to form verb phrases (e.g., have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, can, could, should).
Adjectives: Adjectives describe or modify nouns or pronouns.

Examples: big, small, red, happy, beautiful, intelligent

Adjectives answer questions like:

What kind? (e.g., a red car)
Which one? (e.g., that book)
How many? (e.g., three cats)

Adverbs: Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Examples: quickly, slowly, very, really, happily, often

Adverbs answer questions like:

How? (e.g., He runs quickly.)
When? (e.g., She arrived early.)
Where? (e.g., They went outside.)
To what extent? (e.g., He is very tall.)

Prepositions: Prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence.

Examples: on, in, at, under, over, beside, between, through, with, without

Prepositional phrases: A preposition combines with a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) to form a prepositional phrase.

Example: The cat sat on the mat.
Example: She walked through the park.

Conjunctions: Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses.

Examples: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so, because, although, since, if

Types of Conjunctions:

Coordinating conjunctions: Join words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance (e.g., and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so).
Subordinating conjunctions: Join dependent clauses to independent clauses (e.g., because, although, since, if, while, when, after).

Interjections: Interjections express strong emotions or sudden outbursts.

Examples: Wow! Ouch! Hey! Oh no!

Interjections are usually followed by an exclamation point.

3) Tenses and Verb Forms

Verb tenses indicate the time of an action or state of being. English has three main tenses (present, past, and future) and various aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous) that provide more specific information about the action.

Present Tense: The present tense describes actions or states that are happening now, happen regularly, or are generally true.

Simple Present: Example: I eat breakfast every morning.
Present Continuous: Example: I am eating breakfast right now.
Present Perfect: Example: I have eaten breakfast already.
Present Perfect Continuous: Example: I have been eating breakfast for an hour.

Past Tense: The past tense describes actions or states that happened before now.

Simple Past: Example: I ate breakfast this morning.
Past Continuous: Example: I was eating breakfast when the phone rang.
Past Perfect: Example: I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.
Past Perfect Continuous: Example: I had been eating breakfast for an hour when the phone rang.

Future Tense: The future tense describes actions or states that will happen in the future.

Simple Future: Example: I will eat breakfast tomorrow.
Future Continuous: Example: I will be eating breakfast at 8:00 AM.
Future Perfect: Example: I will have eaten breakfast by 9:00 AM.
Future Perfect Continuous: Example: I will have been eating breakfast for an hour by 9:00 AM.

Irregular Verb Forms: Irregular verbs do not follow the standard rules for forming past tense and past participles (the verb form used with “have” in perfect tenses).

Examples:

go (present) – went (past) – gone (past participle)
eat (present) – ate (past) – eaten (past participle)
see (present) – saw (past) – seen (past participle)

It’s important to memorize the forms of common irregular verbs.

4) Punctuation

Punctuation marks are essential for clear and effective writing. They help to organize sentences, clarify meaning, and indicate pauses and intonation.

Comma (,): The comma is a versatile punctuation mark with various uses.

Separating items in a list: Example: I bought apples, bananas, and oranges.
Separating clauses in a sentence: Example: When I went to the store, I bought some milk.
Setting off introductory phrases: Example: However, I forgot to buy eggs.
Setting off nonessential information: Example: My sister, who is a doctor, lives in London.

Period (.): The period marks the end of a declarative sentence.

Example: The cat slept on the mat.

Semicolon (;): The semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Example: She went to the store; she bought some milk.

Colon (:): The colon introduces a list, an explanation, or a quotation.

Introducing a list: Example: I need to buy the following: milk, eggs, and bread.
Introducing an explanation: Example: There’s only one reason for his behavior: he’s jealous.
Introducing a quotation: Example: She said: “I’m going to the store.”

Quotation Marks (” “): Quotation marks enclose direct speech or quoted material.

Example: He said, “I’m tired.”
Example: The article was titled “The Importance of Grammar.”

Note: In American English, periods and commas go inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons go outside.

Apostrophe (‘): The apostrophe has two main functions:

Showing possession: Example: The cat’s toy, the children’s books
Indicating contractions: Example: can’t (cannot), don’t (do not), it’s (it is)

5) Articles (a, an, the)

Articles are words that precede nouns and specify whether the noun is general or specific.

Indefinite Articles (a, an):

Use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound. Example: a cat, a dog, a university (pronounced “yoo-ni-ver-si-ty”)
Use “an” before words that begin with a vowel sound. Example: an apple, an hour, an umbrella

Definite Article (the):

Use “the” before specific nouns, nouns that have already been mentioned, or nouns that are unique.

Specific noun: Example: The cat that sat on the mat.
Previously mentioned noun: Example: I saw a cat. The cat was black.
Unique noun: Example: The sun, the moon, the Earth

Common Mistakes:

Using the wrong indefinite article (e.g., “an car” instead of “a car”)
Omitting articles when they are needed (e.g., “I went to store” instead of “I went to the store”)
Using “the” before general plural nouns (e.g., “The cats are good pets” instead of “Cats are good pets”)

6) Conditionals

Conditional sentences express hypothetical situations and their consequences. They consist of an “if” clause (the condition) and a main clause (the result).

Zero Conditional: Expresses general truths or facts.

Structure: If + present simple, present simple
Example: If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.

First Conditional: Expresses a possible future condition and its likely result.

Structure: If + present simple, will + base form of verb
Example: If it rains tomorrow, I will stay inside.

Second Conditional: Expresses an unlikely or imaginary present or future condition and its hypothetical result.

Structure: If + past simple, would + base form of verb
Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

Third Conditional: Expresses a past unrealized condition and its hypothetical past result.

Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Mixed Conditionals: Combine elements of different conditional types.

Example: If I had won the lottery last year, I would be rich now. (Past unrealized condition with a present result)

7) Active vs. Passive Voice

Voice refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence.

Active Voice: In the active voice, the subject performs the action.

Example: The dog chased the ball. (Subject “dog” performs the action “chased”)
Passive Voice: In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Example: The ball was chased by the dog. (Subject “ball” receives the action “chased”)

Usage:

Active voice is generally preferred because it is more direct, concise, and engaging.

Passive voice can be useful in certain situations:

When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant: Example: The window was broken.
When you want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action: Example: The award was presented to the scientist.
In formal or scientific writing to create an objective tone: Example: The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions.

Transforming Active to Passive:

Identify the object of the active sentence (the receiver of the action). This becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Use a form of the verb “be” (is, are, was, were, been) + past participle of the main verb.
Add “by” + the agent (the doer of the action) if necessary.

Example:

Active: The cat caught the mouse.
Passive: The mouse was caught by the cat.

Transforming Passive to Active:

Identify the agent (the doer of the action) in the “by” phrase, if present. This becomes the subject of the active sentence. If no agent is given, you may need to infer it or use a general subject like “someone” or “they.”
Use the main verb in the active voice.
Make the subject of the passive sentence the object of the active sentence.

Example:

Passive: The book was written by the author.
Active: The author wrote the book.

8) Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are ways of reporting what someone said.

Direct Speech: Direct speech quotes the exact words someone said, using quotation marks.

Example: She said, “I am going to the store.”

Indirect Speech: Indirect speech reports what someone said without using their exact words. It often involves changes in tense, pronouns, and time expressions.

Example: She said that she was going to the store.

Tense Changes: When the reporting verb (e.g., said, told, asked) is in the past tense, the tense of the verb in the reported speech usually shifts back one tense.

Direct: He said, “I am tired.”

Indirect: He said that he was tired.

Direct: She said, “I went to the store.”

Indirect: She said that she had gone to the store.

Pronoun Changes: Pronouns may need to change to reflect the different speaker and listener in indirect speech.

Direct: He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”

Indirect: He said that he would call me the next day.

Time and Place Expressions: Time and place expressions may also need to be adjusted in indirect speech.

Direct: She said, “I am here now.”

Indirect: She said that she was there then.

Reporting Questions:

Direct: He asked, “Where are you going?”

Indirect: He asked where I was going.

Reporting Commands:

Direct: She said, “Go to the store.”

Indirect: She told me to go to the store.

Now that you know the key areas, let’s look at the different types of questions you might encounter in an English grammar aptitude test.

Types of Questions in the English Grammar Aptitude Test

Aptitude tests assess your grammatical knowledge and your ability to apply it in different contexts. Here are some common question types you may encounter:

1) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Identifying Errors: You are presented with a sentence and asked to identify the grammatical error.

Example: Which sentence is grammatically incorrect? (A) She has been studying all week. (B) The team are playing well today. (C) He gave the book to John and me.

Correcting Mistakes: You are given a sentence with an error and asked to choose the correct version from the options.

Example: Choose the correct version of the sentence: (A) Me and my friend went to the park. (B) My friend and I went to the park. (C) I and my friend went to the park.

Completing Sentences: You need to choose the grammatically correct word or phrase to complete a sentence.

Example: Complete the sentence: “If I had more time, I _____ (travel) the world.” (A) will travel (B) would travel (C) traveled

2) Error Spotting

You are given a sentence and need to identify the specific grammatical error, often underlined or highlighted.

Example: Identify the error in the sentence: The cat sat on the mat, it was sleeping soundly.

3) Fill-in-the-Blanks

You need to fill in the blanks in a sentence with the correct word forms, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, etc.

Example: She is _____ (good) than her brother at math.

4) Sentence Improvement

You are asked to rewrite a sentence to improve its clarity, conciseness, or grammatical correctness.

Example: Improve the sentence: The dog barked at the mailman, he was very loud.

5) Cloze Tests

You are presented with a text passage with missing words. You need to fill in the blanks based on the context and your grammatical knowledge.

Example: (1)_____ the years, technology has significantly changed the way we communicate.

To help you practice, let’s look at 40 English grammar aptitude test questions that cover different grammar concepts.

40 English Grammar Aptitude Test Questions

Here are 40 practice questions to test your grammar knowledge.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1) Which sentence is grammatically correct?

(A) Me and my friend went to the park.

(B) My friend and I went to the park.

2) Choose the correct verb form: “She _____ (study) for her exams all week.”

(A) study

(B) has been studying

3) Which sentence uses the correct punctuation?

(A) “I went to the store,” she said. “They didn’t have what I needed.”

(B) “I went to the store” she said. “They didn’t have what I needed.”

4) Identify the incorrect sentence:

(A) Each of the students has a book.

(B) The team are playing well today.

5) Choose the correct article: “I saw _____ owl in the tree.”

(A) a

(B) an

6) Complete the sentence: “If I had more time, I _____ (travel) the world.”

(A) will travel

(B) would travel

7) Which sentence is in the passive voice?

(A) The dog chased the ball.

(B) The ball was chased by the dog.

8) Convert to indirect speech: He said, “I am going to the store.”

(A) He said that he was going to the store.

(B) He said he is going to the store.

9) Choose the correct word: “The flowers smell _____.”

(A) sweetly

(B) sweet

10) Identify the error: “She is the most tallest girl in the class.”

(A) most tallest

(B) the

11) Which sentence uses commas correctly?

(A) Although, it was raining we went for a walk.

(B) Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

12) Choose the correct pronoun: “The dog wagged ______ tail.”

(A) its

(B) it’s

13) Identify the type of sentence: “She went to the store because she needed milk.”

(A) Simple

(B) Compound

Error Spotting

14) The cat sat on the mat, it was sleeping soundly.

15) Despite of the rain, we went for a walk.

16) She gave the book to John and I.

17) He has went to the store.

18) The children is playing in the garden.

19) I am looking forward to see you.

20) She is more prettier than her sister.

21) Neither of the boys are coming to the party.

22) He insisted on me going with him.

Fill-in-the-Blanks

23) She is _____ (good) than her brother at math.

24) I have been living here _____ ten years.

25) The dog jumped _____ the fence.

26) _____ you like some tea?

27) He is _____ honest man.

28) She is _____ tallest girl in the class.

29) I enjoy reading books _____ history.

30) _____ sun rises in the east.

31) He went to the store, _____ he forgot to buy milk.

32) I will call you _____ I get home.

33) She is _____ a kind and generous person.

Sentence Improvement

34) The dog barked at the mailman, he was very loud.

35) Being tired, I went to bed early.

36) He is a man of great wealth and who is very generous.

37) Due to the fact that it was raining, we stayed inside.

38) She is not only intelligent but also she is kind.

Cloze Tests

Passage 1

(39)_____ the years, technology has significantly changed the way we communicate. (40)_____ the advent of the internet and mobile devices, people can now connect with each other instantly, regardless of (41)_____ location. Social media platforms have further revolutionized communication, allowing individuals to share ideas and experiences with a wider audience. (42)_____, it is important to use technology responsibly and be mindful of its potential impact on our relationships and well-being. While technology can enhance communication in many ways, it should not replace face-to-face interactions and genuine human connection. (43)_____ striking a balance between online and offline communication is crucial for maintaining healthy social connections and a sense of community.

(A) Over (B) During (C) While

(A) With (B) For (C) By

(A) them (B) their (C) they’re

(A) Therefore (B) However (C) Furthermore

(A) Because (B) Although (C) Therefore

Passage 2

The human brain is a complex and remarkable organ, capable of incredible feats of learning, memory, and creativity. (44)_____ scientists have made significant progress in understanding the brain, many of its mysteries remain unsolved. (45)_____ of the most fascinating aspects of the brain is its plasticity, its ability to change and adapt throughout life. (46)_____ means that our brains are constantly rewiring themselves in response to new experiences and learning. (47)_____ , we can continue to learn and grow throughout our lives, and even recover from brain injuries. (48)_____ , maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in mentally stimulating activities, and staying socially connected can all help to promote brain health and cognitive function.

(A) Although (B) Because (C) Since

(A) One (B) Each (C) Every

(A) This (B) That (C) These

(A) Furthermore (B) However (C) Therefore

(A) In addition (B) On the other hand (C) Consequently

Answers to Practice Questions

Multiple Choice:

Error Spotting:

Comma splice – Replace the comma with a period or a semicolon, or add a coordinating conjunction.
Incorrect preposition – Remove “of” (“Despite the rain…”)
Incorrect pronoun case – Change “I” to “me” (“…to John and me”).
Incorrect verb form – Change “has went” to “has gone.”
Subject-verb agreement – Change “is” to “are” (“The children are playing…”).
Incorrect verb form – Change “to see” to “to seeing.”
Double comparative – Remove “more” (“She is prettier…”).
Subject-verb agreement – Change “are” to “is” (“Neither of the boys is…”).
Incorrect pronoun case – Change “me” to “my” (“He insisted on my going…”).

Fill-in-the-Blanks:

better
for
over
Would
an
the
about
The
but
when
both

Sentence Improvement:

Combine the sentences with a conjunction: “The dog barked at the mailman, and he was very loud.”
Rewrite to clarify the meaning: “Because I was tired, I went to bed early.”
Remove the unnecessary “who”: “He is a man of great wealth and very generous.”
Simplify: “Because it was raining, we stayed inside.”
Remove the redundant “she is”: “She is not only intelligent but also kind.”

Cloze Test – Passage 1:

Cloze Test – Passage 2:

To maximize your performance on the English grammar aptitude test, follow these tips and strategies.

Tips for Preparation for the English Grammar Aptitude Test

To prepare effectively for the English grammar aptitude test, practice regularly, read extensively, and use grammar resources.

Tips Preparation English Grammar Aptitude Test

1) Understanding Common Grammar Mistakes

Review error patterns: Focus on common errors like subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, tense inconsistencies, and misuse of articles and prepositions.

Use grammar check tools: Utilize online grammar checkers and writing assistants to identify errors in your writing and learn from your mistakes. However, don’t rely solely on these tools; develop your own understanding of the rules.

2) Mastering the Basics

Solidify foundational grammar rules: A strong understanding of basic grammar concepts is crucial for success. Review the parts of speech, sentence types, and basic punctuation rules.

Focus on core areas: Pay special attention to areas that are frequently tested, such as subject-verb agreement, tenses, and punctuation.

3) Practice Regularly

Use grammar workbooks and online quizzes: There are numerous resources available to help you practice your grammar skills. Find workbooks and online quizzes that cover the specific areas you need to improve.

Create flashcards for rules and exceptions: Flashcards are a helpful way to memorize grammar rules and exceptions. Create your own flashcards or use pre-made sets.

Write regularly: Practice writing in different styles and formats. This will help you apply your grammar knowledge in context and improve your overall writing skills.

4) Review Practice Tests

Analyze test results: After taking practice tests, carefully analyze your results to identify your weak areas. Focus your study efforts on those areas.

Re-attempt questions with feedback: Try to understand why you got certain questions wrong. Review the explanations and re-attempt the questions to reinforce your learning.

5) Time Management

Set timers during practice: Simulate test conditions by setting timers during your practice sessions. This will help you develop your speed and accuracy under pressure.

Develop speed-reading and fast decision-making skills: Practice reading quickly and efficiently to identify key information. Develop strategies for making quick decisions on grammar questions.

Best Tool to Prepare for the English Grammar Aptitude Test

iScalePro: This online platform offers comprehensive preparation for various aptitude tests, including English grammar assessments. It provides:

Adaptive learning technology: Tailors the learning experience to your individual needs and progress.
Comprehensive content: Covers all the key grammar areas with detailed explanations and examples.
Realistic practice tests: Simulates the actual test environment with timed assessments.
Performance analysis: Provides detailed feedback on your strengths and weaknesses.
Personalized study plan: Helps you create a structured study plan based on your goals and available time.

By following these tips and practicing consistently, you can improve your grammar skills and ace your English grammar aptitude test.

Conclusion

English grammar aptitude tests can be challenging, but with thorough preparation and the right strategies, you can increase your chances of success. This article has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the key grammar areas covered in these tests, along with ample practice questions and valuable tips. Remember to focus on understanding the fundamental rules, practicing regularly, and managing your time effectively during the test. By following these guidelines and utilizing resources like iScalePro, you can confidently approach your English grammar aptitude test and demonstrate your strong language skills.

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