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Quizzes > English & Grammar

English Trivia Questions to Test Your Word and Grammar Smarts

Quick, free quiz with language arts trivia questions. Instant results and tips.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Cum MasterUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz illustration with letters question marks open book pencils on teal background.

This quiz helps you tackle English trivia questions on words, grammar, and usage, with instant feedback to learn as you go. See which rules trip you up, then try english language trivia for a deeper challenge, explore a library quiz for book lovers, or check out teacher trivia questions to test classroom smarts.

Which word is an antonym of "bright"?
luminous
smart
clear
dull
The word "dull" directly contrasts with "bright" by indicating a lack of light or intelligence. In everyday usage, something described as dull is considered opposite of luminous or sharp. This pairing is one of the most common antonym examples in English vocabulary. .
What is the plural form of "mouse"?
mouces
mouses
mice
mousen
The irregular plural of "mouse" is "mice," a remnant of Old English noun pluralization patterns. Unlike regular nouns that add "-s" or "-es," this change involves an internal vowel shift known as an umlaut. Such plurals survive in only a few modern English words. .
Which of these is a homonym for "see"?
sea
seen
seed
seal
A homonym is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and spelling. "Sea," referring to the body of water, is pronounced exactly like "see," meaning to perceive with the eyes. Such words can often confuse learners of English. .
What is the past tense of "run"?
runned
ranned
running
ran
"Run" is an irregular verb whose past tense is "ran," not built by simply adding "-ed." Irregular verbs are common in English and must often be memorized. "Running" is the present participle, not the past tense. .
Which article correctly completes the phrase: "_____ apple"?
the
no article
an
a
The article "an" precedes words that begin with a vowel sound, like "apple." Using "a" before a vowel sound would be incorrect in standard English usage. The choice of article depends on pronunciation, not spelling alone. .
Which of these words is a conjunction?
house
run
quick
and
A conjunction is a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses. "And" is the most common coordinating conjunction used to link elements of equal grammatical value. "Run," "house," and "quick" are not conjunctions. .
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
Let's eat Grandma.
Lets eat Grandma.
Lets eat, Grandma.
Let's eat, Grandma.
The phrase "Let's eat, Grandma." uses both the apostrophe in "Let's" (short for "Let us") and the comma to separate the direct address "Grandma." The other options either omit punctuation or misplace the apostrophe. Proper punctuation clarifies meaning. .
Which word in this list is a noun?
quickly
running
apple
red
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. "Apple" is a concrete object and therefore a noun. "Red" is an adjective, "quickly" is an adverb, and "running" is a gerund or verb form. .
Which prefix means "not" or "opposite of"?
pre-
un-
re-
mis-
The prefix "un-" is commonly used to negate adjectives and verbs (e.g., "unhappy," "undo"). "Re-" means "again," "pre-" means "before," and "mis-" indicates a wrong action. Recognizing prefixes helps decode word meanings. .
Which phrase is an oxymoron?
pretty ugly
deafening silence
open secret
friendly fire
An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms for effect. "Deafening silence" combines the absence of sound with an overpowering quality. While other choices have interesting contrasts, they're more idiomatic than true oxymorons. .
Which word is a synonym for "fast"?
late
quick
steady
slow
"Quick" is a direct synonym for "fast," both describing high speed. "Slow" is an antonym, while "steady" and "late" describe different concepts. Thesauruses can help find synonyms and antonyms. .
Identify the subject in the sentence: "The cat chased the mouse."
none of the above
The cat
chased
the mouse
The subject is who or what performs the action in a sentence. Here, "The cat" is doing the chasing, so it's the subject. "Chased" is the verb, and "the mouse" is the object. .
What is the collective noun for a group of fish?
school
herd
flock
pack
A group of fish is commonly called a "school." "Herd" refers to land mammals, "pack" to predators like wolves, and "flock" to birds. Collective nouns often vary by species. .
Which word derives originally from Greek?
skyscraper
bungalow
cowboy
telephone
"Telephone" comes from the Greek words "tele" (far) and "phone" (voice). "Skyscraper" is English, "cowboy" is American English slang, and "bungalow" comes from Hindi. English borrows heavily from Greek and Latin. .
Which is the correct spelling?
acomodate
accomodate
accommodate
acommodate
"Accommodate" has two C's and two M's, making it one of the trickiest English words to spell. Many people mistakenly omit one of the letters. Remembering the double letters is key. .
Which sentence uses parallel structure?
She likes to swim, dancing, and to sing.
She likes swimming, dance, and to sing.
She likes swimming, dancing, and to sing.
She likes singing, dancing, and swimming.
Parallel structure means using the same grammatical form in a list. "Singing, dancing, and swimming" keeps all gerunds, making the sentence balanced. The other options mix infinitives and gerunds, breaking the pattern. .
What does the idiom "break the ice" mean?
To offend someone
To initiate conversation in a social setting
To shatter frozen water
To break a rule
"Break the ice" figuratively means to do something that eases social tension and encourages people to start talking. It originates from the practice of ships breaking ice to pass through waterways. It has nothing to do with offending or literal ice breaking. .
Which Shakespeare play first introduced the word "eyeball"?
Macbeth
Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet
A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Eyeball" appears in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," marking one of Shakespeare's many contributions to English vocabulary. He coined or popularized thousands of words and phrases. The term first surfaces in Act 3, Scene 2. .
What is a contronym?
A word that is its own antonym
A word spelled the same as another word
A blend of two words
A pair of two synonyms
A contronym (or auto-antonym) is a word that can mean two opposite things depending on context. For example, "dust" can mean to remove dust or to sprinkle it. These words are rare but fascinating. .
Which phoneme represents the sound /?/?
The "th" in "thin"
The "sh" in "ship"
The "ch" in "chip"
The "th" in "this"
The phoneme /?/ is the voiceless "th" sound as in "thin," distinguished from the voiced /ð/ sound in "this." Phonemes are distinct units of sound in a specified language. English learners often confuse these two. .
Which of these quotes is from Jane Austen?
It is a truth universally acknowledged
All that glitters is not gold
To be, or not to be
Call me Ishmael
The opening line "It is a truth universally acknowledged" begins Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice." The other quotes come from works by Herman Melville, William Shakespeare, and Shakespeare again. Austen's novels are famous for their wit and social critique. .
Which is an anagram of "admirer"?
rimdare
married
remarid
diameter
An anagram rearranges the letters of one word to form another. "Admirer" rearranged correctly spells "married." The other options either add or misplace letters. Anagram puzzles test your attention to detail. .
Which of these is a heteronym?
happy
letter
lead
long
A heteronym is a word spelled identically but pronounced differently with different meanings. "Lead" ( /li?d/ "to guide" ) vs. "lead" ( /l?d/ the metal ) is a classic example. It's distinct from homonyms and homographs. .
What does the word "sesquipedalian" mean?
A unit of measurement in poetry
Someone who loves short poems
A long word or someone who uses long words
A playful form of foot measurement
"Sesquipedalian" originates from Latin sesqui- ("one and a half") and pedalis ("foot"), literally meaning "a foot and a half long." In English, it describes a very long word or someone who uses long words. It's often used humorously. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze English Grammar Patterns -

    Understand the rules behind each trivia question to reinforce your grasp of English grammar.

  2. Expand Vocabulary Knowledge -

    Recall and apply diverse words featured in the quiz to enrich your English lexicon.

  3. Distinguish Language Facts from Myths -

    Evaluate statements about the English language to separate common misconceptions from verified facts.

  4. Apply Trivia Strategies -

    Employ quiz-taking tactics to tackle English trivia questions accurately and confidently.

  5. Self-Assess Language Proficiency -

    Interpret instant feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement in grammar and vocabulary.

  6. Reinforce English Language Trivia Knowledge -

    Solidify your understanding of captivating English language trivia to boost confidence in your language skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Latin and Greek Roots -

    Understanding common Latin and Greek roots like "bio-" (life) and "chron-" (time) lets you decode unfamiliar terms in English trivia questions. For example, "autobiography" combines "auto" (self) + "bio" (life) + "graphy" (writing). Refer to the Oxford English Dictionary or Cambridge University Press for comprehensive root lists.

  2. "I Before E" Mnemonic -

    The classic rule "I before E except after C" helps with spelling in many English trivia challenges, though it has exceptions like "weird" and "seize." Remembering "I before E, except after C, or when sounding like A as in neigh" can boost accuracy. See guidance from Merriam-Webster or Cambridge Dictionary for detailed exception lists.

  3. Palindromes and Their Charm -

    Palindromes read the same forwards and backwards, making them popular tidbits in language trivia. Examples include single words like "racecar" and phrases like "A man, a plan, a canal: Panama!" (Britannica cites this as a famous phrase palindrome). Spotting palindromes sharpens your pattern-recognition skills.

  4. Homophones vs. Homographs -

    Knowing the difference between homophones (sound-alike words like "to," "two," "too") and homographs (same spelling, different meaning like "lead" the metal vs. "lead" the verb) is key in English trivia questions. Practice with lists from Purdue OWL or Oxford Dictionaries to avoid confusion. Quiz yourself by writing sentences that use both meanings correctly.

  5. Oxford Comma Controversy -

    The Oxford comma (the final comma before "and" in a list) can change meaning, e.g., "I thank my parents, Superman, and Wonder Woman." Without it, "Superman and Wonder Woman" become appositive, per Chicago Manual of Style. AP Style omits it; knowing both styles is a great talking point in English language trivia.

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