The twenty multiple choice questions here are designed to test your familiarity with some basic terms and elements of English. Answers to the questions are at the end of the article.
Just as you need to identify the parts of a machine to follow instructions for using it, you need to know the names of verb tenses if you are having problems using them correctly.
1. I have decided to change my job. What is the name of the verb tense 'have decided'?
a) simple past
b) present perfect
2. What is 'decided' in the sentence above?
a) past tense
b) past participle
c) It's impossible to know.
When you look at a list of irregular verbs, the past participle is the third form, the one on the right.
3. What is the past participle of each verb below?
a) catch
b) begin
c) cost
Making comparisons correctly is basic. Also, it is important to recognize when a comparative structure is required in a test (part 5 of the TOEIC test, for example).
4. How do you make a comparison with 'as'?
a) use a second 'as'
b) use 'than'
Make sure that you know the difference between a comparative and a superlative. To take a simple example, 'bigger' does not mean 'biggest'. That's why there are two different words.
5. The most expensive one costs €1000. How many objects are being compared?
a) two
b) more than two
6. Which word below is a superlative adjective?
a) heavier
b) heaviest
The next three questions concern adverbs. Very often an adverb is formed by adding 'ly', or 'ally' to the end of an adjective, or by changing the 'y' at the end of an adjective to 'ily'. However, the category of adverbs is large, and they do not all look like this. Some adverbs are irregular, and you may not easily (that's an adverb) identify words such as 'very' and 'often' as adverbs. Think of them as having some connection with a verb, which is why they are called 'ad+verbs'. Also they are quite frequently placed before adjectives to give more information.
7. Which one of these words is an adverb?
a) added
b) addition
c) additional
d) additionally
8. Many adverbs give more information about a verb. Which word below is an adverb?
a) fast
b) quick
c) speedy
d) rapid
9. Which expression(s) below is / are correct?
a) very much better
b) especially interested
c) slightly cooler
d) They are all correct.
The following specific problem occurs again and again. It is easy to solve if you realise that 'despite' is followed by a noun or + ing, and 'although' is followed by a verb. Many people are not sure about the meaning of 'although', so make sure that you are.
10. What is the correct continuation after 'despite'?
a) I was late
b) being late
The next two questions concern something very basic, which a lot of people learning English do not realize.
11. She is arriving on Thursday. This sentence is about:
a) the present
b) the future
12. What is the name of the verb tense in number 11?
a) future perfect
b) future
c) present continuous
Do you know your modal verbs? They're important, and often tested.
13. How many of these words are modal verbs? can, must, should, may, will, might, would
a) none of them
b) all of them except 'will'
c) four of them
d) all of them
It's time for a very easy question, and one which is a little more difficult:
14. What is the plural of 'some'?
a) There isn't one.
b) 'any'
15. Do you have _____ time to see me now? How do you complete the question correctly?
a) 'any'
b) 'some'
c) either 'any' or 'some'
The following is a constant problem, but it's easy to solve, as it just concerns knowing the right word.
16. I've been living in Paris _____ five years. Which word is correct?
a) 'during'
b) 'for'
c) 'since'
Companies or robots produce cars, but what if you want to concentrate on the car, not the producer?
17. What is the correct completion of this sentence? The car _____ in California.
a) 'is producing'
b) 'is produced'
c) 'produces'
18. What sort of sentence is in number 17?
a) active
b) passive
A simple sentence is:
subject + main verb, or subject + main verb + object.
19. Which one of these is a sentence?
a) 'Going to the shops tomorrow'
b) 'I kicked the ball'
c) 'Tired from working too much'
Finally ...
20. Go back to number 3. Which sentence is not correct?
a) The past participle is never the same as the past tense in irregular verbs.
b) To make the past tense and past participle of regular verbs, add 'd' or 'ed' to the verb, or if it ends in 'y', change the 'y' to 'ied'.
c) Irregular verbs can have one, two or three forms for the verb, past tense, and past participle.
ANSWERS:
1. b
2. b
3. a caught
b begun
c cost
4. a
5. b
6. b
7. d
8. a
9. d
10. b
11. b
12. c
13. d
14. a
15. c
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. b
20. a