Mixed Grammar MCQ Test With Answers + PDF Exercise 003

This is the 3rd of 100 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. Each test comprises 20 multiple choice questions on almost all the topics of English grammar. So these tests are perfect for you to check your English grammar knowledge thoroughly. To do this, we suggest you take these 100 grammar tests one by one.

Grammar Test 003

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Congratulations - you have completed Grammar Test 003. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

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Question 1

He heard on the morning news that a family of 6 _____ in an explosion.

A	were being injured
B	had injured
C	have injured
D	had been injured

Question 1 Explanation:

The injuries happened before he heard the news, so we use the past perfect. The family did not injure someone; someone injured them, so it is passive: had been injured. Not had injured, because that is active and means the family injured another person.

Question 2

The family had just had a new gas cooker _____ in their kitchen.

A	fitted
B	fitting
C	to be fitted
D	for fit

Question 2 Explanation:

Have something done (have + object + past participle) means someone else does a job for you: They had a new cooker fitted. A worker fitted it, not the family.

Question 3

The man who fixed it must _____ a mistake with the connections.

A	have made
B	to have made
C	to made
D	made

Question 3 Explanation:

For a confident guess about the past, use must have + past participle: He must have made a mistake. Modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive, so to have made is wrong.

Question 4

He _____ his job properly because a lot of gas escaped.

A	shouldn’t do
B	must have done
C	needn't have done
D	can’t have done

Question 4 Explanation:

The gas escaped, so we conclude he did not do his job properly. For a negative guess about the past, use can't have + past participle: He can't have done his job properly. Not must have done, because that means we are sure he did it properly, which does not fit the escaping gas.

Question 5

After Peter _____ his breakfast, he went to work.

A	finishing
B	was finishing
C	had finished
D	has finished

Question 5 Explanation:

Finishing breakfast happened before he went to work, so we use the past perfect: After Peter had finished his breakfast, he went to work. Not has finished, because the story is in the past.

Question 6

He thought he _____ able to read about the explosion when he got home.

A	will be
B	is
C	would be
D	was

Question 6 Explanation:

After a past reporting verb (He thought), will becomes would: He thought he would be able to read about it. This is the future seen from the past.

Question 7

“By the time I get home the story _____ in the evening newspaper,” he thought.

A	appears
B	would be
C	will have appeared
D	has appeared

Question 7 Explanation:

The words in quotation marks are his actual thoughts, in present time. By the time + present simple goes with the future perfect for an action completed before a future moment: By the time I get home, the story will have appeared. Not would be, because we do not change will to would in direct speech.

Question 8

Peter _____ spending weekends alone.

A	didn’t use to
B	wasn’t used to
C	hadn’t used to
D	used not to

Question 8 Explanation:

Be used to + -ing means 'be accustomed to': He wasn't used to spending weekends alone. Not didn't use to, because use to is followed by the base verb (didn't use to spend), not the -ing form.

Question 9

He wished she _____ have to spend so much time away.

A	didn’t
B	hadn’t
C	doesn’t
D	couldn’t

Question 9 Explanation:

For a wish about a present situation, use wish + past simple: He wished she didn't have to spend so much time away. Not hadn't, because hadn't have to is not correct English.

Question 10

He suggested _____ him on Tuesday evening.

A	her to meet
B	she should meet
C	she meeting
D	that her meeting

Question 10 Explanation:

Suggest can be followed by a that-clause with should: He suggested (that) she should meet him. Not her to meet, because suggest is not followed by object + to-infinitive.

Question 11

You _____ have worried because the test wasn’t difficult, was it?

A	could
B	needn’t
C	must
D	wouldn’t

Question 11 Explanation:

Needn't have + past participle means you did something that was not necessary: You needn't have worried because the test was easy. Not must, because the clue the test wasn't difficult shows the worry was unnecessary.

Question 12

Now it’s time _____ a short composition.

A	you write
B	you are writing
C	for to write
D	you wrote

Question 12 Explanation:

After It's time + subject, we use the past simple with a present meaning: It's time you wrote a composition. You can also say It's time for you to write, but for to write is wrong.

Question 13

He _____ ill for a long time.

A	has had
B	has been
C	is
D	were

Question 13 Explanation:

We say be ill, and the present perfect with for a long time shows a state that started in the past and continues now: He has been ill for a long time. Not has had, because we don't say have ill.

Question 14

I had two eggs for breakfast and _____ of them was fresh.

A	either
B	neither
C	no
D	none

Question 14 Explanation:

Neither of means 'not one and not the other' and is used for two things: two eggs … neither of them was fresh. Not none, which we use for three or more.

Question 15

A: Have you passed the test?

B: _____.

A	I don’t doubt
B	Yes, I doubt it
C	I doubt
D	I doubt it

Question 15 Explanation:

I doubt it means 'I don't think so'. Doubt needs an object, so I doubt alone is incomplete. Not Yes, I doubt it, because yes contradicts the doubt.

Question 16

I usually watch TV, but at present I _____ to the radio.

A	am listening
B	listened
C	listen
D	will listen

Question 16 Explanation:

At present means 'now', so we use the present continuous: I am listening. Usually goes with the present simple (I usually watch TV).

Question 17

He speaks English well _____ he has never been to England.

A	however
B	even
C	so
D	although

Question 17 Explanation:

Although joins two ideas that contrast: he speaks English well, but he has never been to England. Not even, because we need even though; even alone cannot join two clauses.

Question 18

How long _____ Mr. Brown?

A	do you know
B	did you know
C	have you known
D	will you know

Question 18 Explanation:

Use the present perfect with How long for a situation that started in the past and continues now: How long have you known Mr. Brown? Not do you know, because the present simple does not show how long something has lasted up to now.

Question 19

Jane is _____ than Mary.

A	very tall
B	taller
C	the tallest
D	tallest

Question 19 Explanation:

Than shows a comparison between two people, so we use the comparative: taller than.

Question 20

While I _____ my car I heard a scream.

A	was parking
B	will park
C	park
D	have parked

Question 20 Explanation:

Use the past continuous for a longer action in progress (was parking) and the past simple for a short action that interrupts it (heard a scream).

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