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Past Questions — 2026
Select the alternative that expresses the same meaning in Direct / Indirect Speech: The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”
A)
The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.
B)
The teacher said that honesty was the best policy.
C)
The teacher said honesty had been the best policy.
D)
The teacher said that honesty will be the best policy.
In indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ('said'), a universal truth or proverb may remain unchanged in meaning, but in standard exam pattern the tense often shifts from present ('is') to past ('was'). Hence, 'Honesty is the best policy' becomes 'The teacher said that honesty was the best policy.' Option (a) keeps the present tense, (c) changes it incorrectly to past perfect, and (d) uses future tense, which is incorrect.
Choose the sentence that functions as Imperative.
A)
Do you like listening to music ?
B)
What a beautiful flower it is!
C)
Finish your work on time.
D)
He does not play football on Sundays.
An imperative sentence gives a command, request, instruction, or advice. Option (c) "Finish your work on time." is a direct command, so it is imperative. Option (a) is interrogative because it asks a question. Option (b) is exclamatory because it expresses strong feeling. Option (d) is declarative because it states a fact.
Complete the blank using the most appropriate determiner: The book is ________ the table.
A)
under
B)
over
C)
in
D)
between
The correct sentence is: "The book is under the table."
- "Under" means below or beneath something, which fits the position of the book relative to the table.
- "Over" means above something, so it does not fit here.
- "In" would mean inside something, which is incorrect.
- "Between" is used when something is in the middle of two objects, so it is also incorrect.
Complete the blank using the most appropriate determiner: They travelled _______ train.
A)
by
B)
in
C)
at
D)
to
The correct phrase is **"travelled by train"**. We use **by** to talk about the means of transport when referring to general travel.
- **by train** = correct
- **in train** = incorrect in this context
- **at train** = incorrect
- **to train** = incorrect
So the sentence becomes: **They travelled by train.**
Complete the blank using the most appropriate determiner: He jumped ________ the river.
A)
at
B)
on
C)
by
D)
into
The correct preposition is "into" because it shows movement from outside to inside: "He jumped into the river." The other options do not fit this meaning: "at" shows direction toward, "on" means on a surface, and "by" means near or beside.
Choose the correct Clause to complete the blank: “He continued working _______ he was completely exhausted.
A)
since
B)
even though
C)
as if
D)
as long as
The sentence expresses contrast: he kept working despite being completely exhausted. "Even though" is the correct concessive clause conjunction.
- since = gives reason or time, not contrast
- even though = shows contrast/concession, fits the meaning
- as if = indicates manner or appearance, not suitable here
- as long as = means provided that / during the time that, not correct in this context
Pick out the correct part of speech of the italicized word: He completed his work quickly.
A)
Determiner
B)
Verb
C)
Adverb
D)
Pronoun
"Quickly" modifies the verb "completed" by telling how the work was done, so it is an adverb. It is not a determiner (which introduces nouns), a verb (which shows action), or a pronoun (which replaces a noun).
Identify the correct form of sentence: Very few cities in India are as rich as Mumbai.
A)
Comparative Sentence
B)
Negative Sentence
C)
Affirmative Sentence
D)
Positive Sentence
The sentence 'Very few cities in India are as rich as Mumbai.' is a positive/affirmative statement because it does not contain a negative word like 'not', 'no', or 'never'. It simply states a fact. So, it is an Affirmative Sentence. It is not a Negative Sentence because there is no negation. It is not being asked for comparison in grammatical form here; the sentence remains affirmative in structure.
Choose the correct conjunction: She acted __________ she knew everything about the matter.
A)
because
B)
although
C)
as if
D)
unless
The sentence means she behaved in a way that suggested she had full knowledge, though that may not be true. The correct conjunction for such an unreal or imagined comparison is "as if".
- "because" gives a reason, which does not fit here.
- "although" shows contrast, but the sentence needs a comparison of manner.
- "unless" means "except if," which is incorrect here.
So, the correct sentence is: "She acted as if she knew everything about the matter."
Complete the blank using the most appropriate determiner: She walked __________ the room quietly.
A)
on
B)
of
C)
across
D)
out
The sentence needs a preposition showing movement from inside to outside: "She walked out the room quietly." However, the most natural and grammatically correct expression is usually "walked out of the room." Among the given options, 'out' is the only suitable choice. 'On' and 'of' do not fit the meaning, and 'across' means from one side to the other, which is not intended here.
Identify the correct form of sentence: Not many people would be cruel to animals.
A)
Assertive Sentence
B)
Affirmative Sentence
C)
Negative Sentence
D)
Comparative Sentence
The sentence 'Not many people would be cruel to animals' contains the negative word 'not', so it is a negative sentence. It is not comparative because it does not compare two things, and it is not an assertive/affirmative sentence in the usual sentence-type classification used in grammar questions.
Pick out the correct part of speech of the italicized word: Of two evils choose the less.
A)
verb
B)
noun
C)
adverb
D)
adjective
In the phrase "the less," the italicized word "less" describes the noun implied by "evil(s)" and is used as an adjective in the comparative degree. The construction means "the lesser evil." Therefore, the correct part of speech is adjective. It is not a verb because it does not show action, not a noun because it does not name a person/place/thing here, and not an adverb because it does not modify a verb, adjective, or adverb in this sentence.
Choose the correct preposition: She made a point ____ coming late so that everyone would look at her.
A)
of
B)
at
C)
in
D)
about
The correct phrase is **'made a point of doing something'**, meaning to deliberately do something. So, 'She made a point of coming late...' is correct. The other options do not form the standard idiomatic expression.
Pick out the correct part of speech of the italicized word: The Bible is the holy book of the Christians.
A)
Noun
B)
Pronoun
C)
Adjective
D)
Preposition
The italicized word "Bible" names a specific book, so it is a noun. A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. It is not a pronoun (used in place of a noun), adjective (describes a noun), or preposition (shows relation).
Pick out the correct part of speech of the italicized word: I really wanted to go, but it started raining.
A)
Interjection
B)
Conjunction
C)
Adjective
D)
Noun
The italicized word is likely 'but', which joins two clauses: 'I really wanted to go' and 'it started raining.' A word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses is a conjunction. It is not an interjection (expresses sudden feeling), adjective (describes a noun), or noun (names a person/place/thing).
Choose the correct vocabulary to complete the sentence: The manager was accused of being _________ favoring only a select group of employees.
A)
impartial
B)
biased
C)
neutral
D)
objective
The sentence says the manager was accused of favoring only a select group of employees, which means he showed unfair preference. "Biased" means showing prejudice or unfair favoritism, so it fits best. "Impartial," "neutral," and "objective" all mean fair and unbiased, so they are the opposite and do not fit the sentence.
Choose the correct conjunction: __________ you apologize, I will not forgive you.
A)
If
B)
Unless
C)
Because
D)
Although
The sentence expresses a condition: forgiveness will not happen except on the condition that you apologize. "Unless" means "if not," which fits the meaning: "Unless you apologize, I will not forgive you."
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) If: would require "If you apologize, I will forgive you," which is the opposite structure.
- (c) Because: shows reason, not condition.
- (d) Although: shows contrast, not condition.
Identify the correct sentence.
A)
Each of the students has completed his work.
B)
Each of the students has completed their work.
C)
Each of the students have completed their work.
D)
Each of the students has completed their works.
The subject is 'Each', which is singular, so the verb must be singular: 'has' (not 'have'). Also, in standard grammar, 'each' takes a singular pronoun, so 'his work' is correct in formal exam usage. Option (b) uses 'their' with a singular subject, option (c) uses 'have' with a singular subject, and option (d) is incorrect because 'works' is not needed here.
Choose the correct vocabulary to complete the sentence: The lawyer’s argument was so __________ that it weakened his entire case.
A)
flawed
B)
compelling
C)
persuasive
D)
logical
The sentence says the argument weakened his entire case, so the missing word should mean 'faulty' or 'defective.' 'Flawed' fits perfectly. 'Compelling,' 'persuasive,' and 'logical' are positive words and would suggest the argument was strong, not weak.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom in bold: The need for diversity and inclusion has come to the fore in many workplaces.
A)
Become prominent
B)
Be invincible
C)
Inconspicuous
D)
Ahead of others
The idiom/phrase "come to the fore" means to become noticeable, important, or prominent. Here, it says diversity and inclusion have become a prominent issue in many workplaces. The other options do not fit: (b) means impossible to defeat, (c) means not easily seen, and (d) means in front or leading, but not the idiomatic meaning here.
Select the alternative that expresses the same meaning in Direct / Indirect Speech: He said, “ I am going to the market.”
A)
He said that he was going to the market.
B)
He said that he is going to the market.
C)
He said that I am going to the market.
D)
He said that I was going to the market.
In indirect speech, the present tense "am" changes to the past tense "was" when the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"). The pronoun "I" also changes to "he" to match the speaker. So, "He said, 'I am going to the market.'" becomes "He said that he was going to the market." Option (b) keeps the present tense incorrectly, (c) wrongly keeps "I", and (d) changes the pronoun incorrectly.
Select the alternative that expresses the same meaning in Direct / Indirect Speech: She asked me why I was late.
A)
She asked me, “Why I am late?”
B)
She asked, “Why were you late?”
C)
She said to me, “Why was I late?”
D)
She said to me, “Why are you late?”
The given sentence in indirect speech is: "She asked me why I was late." To convert it into direct speech, we change the reporting verb back to a question form and adjust the pronouns and tense accordingly. Here, "I" becomes "you" because the speaker is addressing me, and "was" changes to the present tense "are" in direct speech. So the correct direct speech is: "She said to me, ‘Why are you late?’" Options (a), (b), and (c) have incorrect pronouns or tense changes.
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom in bold: It is said that he has a finger in the pie.
A)
To have no stake
B)
Be involved in something
C)
Have wealth and luxury
D)
Acquire distinction or glory
The idiom "have a finger in the pie" means to be involved in something, especially in a way that allows one to influence events or decisions. So option (b) is correct. Option (a) is opposite in meaning, while (c) and (d) do not match the idiom.
Select the alternative that expresses the same meaning in Direct / Indirect Speech: She said, “Will you have time to do it?” And I said, “Yes”.
A)
She asked if I will have time to do it and I replied that I will.
B)
She asked me if I will have time to do it and I said that I would.
C)
She asked me if I would have time to do it and I said that I would.
D)
She asked if I have the time to do it and I said that I will have the time.
In indirect speech, the reporting verb 'said' changes to 'asked' because the sentence is a question. The question 'Will you have time...?' changes from future tense to 'would have' in reported speech. Also, 'Yes' is reported as 'I would.' Option (c) correctly changes the tense and preserves the meaning. Options (a) and (b) incorrectly keep 'will' instead of changing it to 'would.' Option (d) uses incorrect tense and word form ('have the time') and does not properly report the original sentence.
Choose the correct preposition: I’m not exactly keen ____ cooking; but I prefer it to washing.
A)
at
B)
in
C)
of
D)
on
The correct phrase is **keen on** something. So, the sentence should read: "I’m not exactly keen **on** cooking; but I prefer it to washing." The other options do not form the correct collocation.