Grade 10 English – 2.1.1 Critical Listening Quiz
1. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
When subjects are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Teacher' is singular, so the correct singular verb is 'was'.
2. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
First conditional for a real future possibility uses present simple in the 'if' clause and 'will' in the main clause: 'If I see him, I will tell him.'
3. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
Use 'better at' to describe skill; when comparing with a pronoun after 'than', the subject form 'he' (short for 'he is') is correct.
4. Which of these sentences uses the correct tense?
The future perfect ('will have started') describes an action that will be completed before another future time ('by the time we arrive').
5. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
'Everyone' is singular, so traditionally a singular pronoun ('his or her') agrees in number. (In spoken modern usage 'their' is common but the task requires traditional grammar.)
6. Select the grammatically correct option.
A committee is a collective noun treated as singular in formal English, so use 'has' and 'its'.
7. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Wishes about present situations use the past simple ('knew') after 'wish' to express unreality.
8. Choose the correct sentence.
After verbs of suggestion (suggested), the subjunctive ('she go') is acceptable and concise; 'she should go' is also possible but the subjunctive form is most direct and grammatically correct here.
9. Which sentence shows correct subject–verb agreement?
The subject is 'the number' (singular), so it takes the singular verb 'is increasing'.
10. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
When the relative pronoun functions as the object of the clause, 'whom' is correct formally: 'whom I trust'. 'Who' is often used informally, but 'whom' is grammatically precise.
11. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
This is a third conditional expressing a past unreal condition: 'If I had known... I would have attended.'
12. Which sentence uses the correct comparative form?
For one-syllable adjectives like 'long', use the comparative '-er' form: 'longer', not 'more longer'.
13. Select the grammatically correct sentence.
In reported speech when the reporting verb is past ('said'), the backshift often changes 'will' to 'would': 'He said that he would come tomorrow.'
14. Which of the following sentences is correct?
With 'important that' the subjunctive ('do') is possible, but to match singular 'every student' use 'his or her' for number agreement in formal grammar.
15. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
'None' can be singular or plural depending on context; with uncountable 'money' it is singular, so 'was stolen' is correct.
16. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
The verb 'explain' requires the preposition 'to' before the person: 'explain to me the rules.'
17. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
With 'she' (third person singular) the verb requires the '-s' in present simple: 'goes'.
18. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Use 'for' with a period of time (for five years) and present perfect ('have lived') to indicate duration up to now.
19. Select the grammatically correct sentence.
After 'insisted that' the subjunctive 'apologise' (bare infinitive) is correct in formal usage. 'Should apologise' is also possible but the subjunctive is concise and correct.
20. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
The noun 'cake' is singular and the reduced relative clause 'eaten by the children' modifies it; therefore use singular verb 'was'.
21. Choose the correct sentence.
For adverbs, use 'more quickly' to form the comparative; 'quick' is an adjective, not an adverb, so 'more quick' is incorrect.
22. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
With 'either of' the subject is singular ('either'), so use singular verb 'is'.
23. Select the grammatically correct sentence.
The verb 'discuss' is transitive and does not take a preposition; use 'discuss the exam timetable.'
24. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
In formal grammar, after a linking verb 'to be' the pronoun should be in the nominative case: 'It was he.' Colloquially 'It was him' is common, but 'It was he who won the prize' is grammatically correct.
25. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
'Friends' is countable, so use 'fewer' (not 'less'). 'Few' would change the meaning to 'not many'.