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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Basic Grammar Quiz: Practice Essential English Rules

Quick, free grammar quiz for beginners. Instant results and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Tom WiserUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to a Basic English Grammar Quiz.

This basic English grammar quiz helps you practice core rules, spot errors, and build confidence. Answer 15 quick multiple-choice questions and see your score right away, then review topics you missed. For more targeted practice, try the english grammar rules quiz, check your knowledge with an english quiz for beginners, or focus on nouns, verbs, and modifiers in a parts of speech test.

She ____ to school every day.
goes
going
went
go
In the simple present tense, third-person singular subjects like 'she' require the verb to take an -es ending. Therefore, 'goes' correctly expresses a habitual action.
I saw ____ elephant at the zoo.
a elephant
an elephant
the elephant
elephant
The article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since 'elephant' begins with a vowel sound, 'an elephant' is correct.
They ____ dinner last night.
ate
eat
eating
eats
The simple past tense of 'eat' is 'ate,' which indicates the action occurred last night. This matches the time reference given.
We will meet ____ the park.
on
at
in
for
The preposition 'at' is used to specify a particular point or location, such as 'the park.' Thus, 'meet at the park' is correct.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
It is' raining today
Its' raining today
It's raining today
Its raining today
The contraction for 'it is' is written as 'it's.' Therefore, 'It's raining today' is the correctly punctuated sentence.
Each of the students ____ responsible for completing the assignment on time.
are
is
am
were
When using 'each of,' the subject is treated as singular, so the verb must be 'is.' Even though 'students' is plural, 'each' makes the agreement singular.
By the time we arrived, the movie ____.
has begun
had begun
begun
began
The past perfect tense 'had begun' is used to indicate that the movie started before another past event ('we arrived').
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
She loves coffee; he prefers tea.
She loves coffee, he prefers tea.
She loves coffee and; he prefers tea.
She loves coffee; and he prefers tea.
A semicolon can join two related independent clauses without a conjunction. 'She loves coffee; he prefers tea.' correctly uses the semicolon.
Which word is an adjective in the sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'?
jumps
lazy
fox
quick
'Quick' describes the noun 'fox,' making it an adjective. Although 'brown' and 'lazy' are also adjectives, only 'quick' is among the options marked correctly.
In the sentence 'Although it was raining, we went for a hike,' which part is the independent clause?
it was raining
Although it was raining
we went for a hike
for a hike
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. 'We went for a hike' is the independent clause, while the other part is a subordinate clause.
She bought ____ uniform for the ceremony.
a
an
the
no article
Although 'uniform' begins with 'u,' it has a 'yoo' sound, which is a consonant sound. Therefore, the correct article is 'a.'
Between you and ____, this is top secret.
me
I
myself
mine
After a preposition like 'between,' an object pronoun is required. 'Me' is the correct object pronoun in this context.
Neither the teacher nor the students ____ aware of the change.
be
is
are
was
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the closer subject. 'Students' is plural, so the correct verb is 'are.'
Add commas: 'However I decided to go to the meeting'
However I decided to go to the meeting
However, I decided to go to the meeting
However I decided to go, to the meeting
However I decided, to go to the meeting
When 'however' begins a sentence and means 'nevertheless,' it should be followed by a comma. Thus, 'However, I decided to go to the meeting' is correct.
She was singing while he ____ the guitar.
is playing
was playing
played
plays
To maintain parallel past progressive tense, both actions use 'was' plus the -ing form. Therefore, 'was playing' matches 'was singing.'
Which sentence corrects the dangling modifier in 'After reading the book, the movie was disappointing.'?
After reading the book, the movie found I disappointing.
After reading the book, I found the movie disappointing.
After reading the movie, the book was disappointing.
After reading the book, the folder was forgotten.
The modifier 'After reading the book' must refer to the person who read it. 'I found the movie disappointing' places the subject correctly and removes the dangling modifier.
If I ____ you, I would apologize.
was
am
were
would be
In hypothetical conditional clauses contrary to fact, the subjunctive mood uses 'were' for all subjects. Hence, 'If I were you' is correct.
Identify the sentence with correct pronoun - antecedent agreement.
Each student must submit their assignment by Friday.
Every students must submit their assignment by Friday.
Every student must submit their assignment by Friday.
Each student must submit his or her assignment by Friday.
Singular antecedents like 'each student' require singular pronouns. 'His or her' correctly matches the singular antecedent and avoids agreement errors.
Select the correctly punctuated sentence introducing a list.
She packed: socks, shoes, and a hat.
She packed the following items socks, shoes, and a hat.
She packed socks, shoes, and a hat.
She packed the following items: socks, shoes, and a hat.
A colon properly introduces a list when it follows an independent clause. 'She packed the following items:' sets up the list correctly.
Combine 'I finished my homework.' and 'I watched a movie.' using a coordinating conjunction and proper punctuation.
I finished my homework, and I watched a movie.
I finished my homework; I watched a movie.
I finished my homework and I watched a movie.
I finished my homework, and watched a movie.
When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, a comma precedes the conjunction. 'I finished my homework, and I watched a movie.' is correct.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Master essential grammar rules like tenses and articles.
  2. Identify correct subject-verb agreement in sentences.
  3. Apply punctuation conventions effectively in writing.
  4. Analyse sentence structure for clarity and accuracy.
  5. Demonstrate proper use of parts of speech.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the use of articles: "a," "an," and "the" - Think of articles as VIP passes for your nouns, signaling whether you're talking about any random cat or that one legendary feline. Swapping "a cat" for "the cat" can totally change the scene's spotlight! Play with sentences by switching articles and watch your clarity soar.
  2. Understand subject-verb agreement - Subjects and verbs are best friends: they must match in number to keep your sentences dancing smoothly. Say "She runs every day" when it's just one runner, and "They run every day" for the whole squad. When you spot a mismatch, you'll know a grammar party foul just happened!
  3. Recognize and use different tenses appropriately - Tenses are your time machine, transporting readers to past adventures, current moments, or future plans. "I eat," "I ate," and "I will eat" each paint a different timeline in your story. Mastering tenses means your narrative never gets lost in time!
  4. Apply punctuation marks correctly - A comma can save Grandma from becoming dinner, so treating punctuation like your sentence's red light/green light is crucial. Periods, commas, semicolons - all keep your thoughts organized and drama-free. Experiment by adding or removing commas to feel their real power!
  5. Identify and use parts of speech accurately - Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and the gang each have starring roles in your sentence blockbuster. Spotting them helps you cast words correctly, like calling "quick" an adjective in "a quick fox." Turn this into a game: label words in a song lyric to boost your word-class skills!
  6. Construct clear and coherent sentences - Every sentence needs a superhero trio: a subject, a verb, and a complete thought to save the day. "The dog barks loudly" shows how simple structure can pack a punch. When in doubt, break long sentences into bite-sized heroes for maximum impact!
  7. Use active and passive voice appropriately - Active voice ("The cat chased the mouse") feels direct and energetic, while passive voice ("The mouse was chased by the cat") can add mystery or shift focus. Both have their superpowers - just know when to call them into action. Try rewriting a news headline in both voices to spot the difference!
  8. Employ correct pronoun usage - Pronouns like he, she, it, and they let you avoid repetitive tag-alongs and keep your writing sleek. Always match pronouns in number and gender to their antecedents so nobody feels left out. Next time you write, highlight pronouns in one color and their nouns in another - it's a fun color-coding challenge!
  9. Understand and use conjunctions to connect ideas - Conjunctions are the friendly bridges linking your thoughts: and, but, or, so, because, and more. "I wanted to go, but I was too tired" shows how a tiny word can do big work. Mix and match conjunctions to create sentence rhythms that really groove!
  10. Recognize and correct common grammatical errors - Watch out for sneaky slip-ups like run-ons, dangling modifiers, and misused words. "Running quickly, she crossed the finish line" keeps your subject and phrase aligned for crystal-clear storytelling. Practice by turning a messy paragraph into polished prose - your inner editor will thank you!
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