Examkin

Grammatical Structure

902 questions

All types902Multiple choice461Matching13Fill in the blank428
Question 281Question →

Complete the sentence below by providing the correct past participle form of the verb in brackets.

Fill in the blanks below

By the time the invigilator entered the hall, the examination had already .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

begun
The sentence uses the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle) to express an action that took place prior to another past action. The correct past participle form of 'begin' is 'begun'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the grammatical structure of the sentence.
The clause contains the auxiliary verb 'had', which indicates the past perfect tense.
The past perfect tense is used to describe an event that happened before another past event ('entered').
2
Select the correct form of the verb 'begin'.
The past participle form 'begun' is required after the auxiliary 'had'.
The verb 'begin' inflects as begin (base), began (simple past), and begun (past participle).

Key Concept

Past Perfect Tense and Irregular Verb Forms
Question 282Question →

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence below to maintain proper subject-verb agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The chief executive officer, together with her department heads, present at the board meeting today.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form is 'is'.
The singular verb 'is' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'The chief executive officer'. Expressions introduced by 'together with' are parenthetical and do not alter the number of the grammatical subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary grammatical subject of the sentence.
The head noun of the subject is 'The chief executive officer', which is singular.
Phrases introduced by expressions such as 'together with', 'along with', or 'as well as' form parenthetical modifiers and do not pluralize the main subject.
2
Select the verb form that agrees in number with the singular subject.
The singular verb 'is' agrees with 'chief executive officer' for present time reference ('today').
A singular subject requires a singular verb regardless of plural nouns within modifying prepositional phrases.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement (Parenthetical Prepositional Phrases)
Estimated Time:45s
Question 283Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling the blank space with the correct preposition.

Fill in the blanks below

Before presiding over the complex dispute, the lead arbitrator insisted on becoming fully conversant all the regulatory framework governing maritime trade.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct preposition to complete the sentence is 'with'.
The adjective 'conversant' means having knowledge or familiarity with something, and in standard formal English, it is strictly followed by the preposition 'with'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key adjective controlling the prepositional complement.
The target word is the adjective 'conversant'.
In English grammar, specific adjectives require fixed dependent prepositions.
2
Determine the appropriate dependent preposition for 'conversant'.
'conversant' takes the preposition 'with'.
The adjective 'conversant' (meaning familiar with or knowledgeable about) strictly collocates with 'with'.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions with Adjectives
Estimated Time:45s
Question 284Question →

Despite receiving multiple formal warnings from financial auditors regarding serious budget irregularities, the managing director remained completely impervious _____ all constructive advice. Which preposition correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: to

Answer

The correct preposition to complete the sentence is 'to'.
The adjective 'impervious' (meaning unable to be affected or influenced) strictly requires the dependent preposition 'to'. Therefore, 'impervious to' is the only syntactically and idiomatically correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head predicate adjective governing the prepositional complement.
The target adjective is 'impervious'.
The sentence structure requires an adjectival complement denoting resistance to external influence.
2
Determine the mandatory dependent preposition associated with 'impervious'.
'Impervious' collocates exclusively with 'to'.
Standard English syntax mandates that 'impervious' takes the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'impervious to criticism', 'impervious to moisture').

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions with Adjectives
Question 285Question →

Read the sentence context regarding a planned administrative event: 'The investigative panel ________ its report to the council last Friday, but the sudden resignation of the secretary disrupted the schedule.' Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence to express an unfulfilled past arrangement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was to have presented

Answer

The verb form 'was to have presented' is correct because the construction 'was/were to + perfect infinitive (have + past participle)' is specifically used to denote a past plan or obligation that was not carried out.
The verb structure combining the past tense of 'be' with a perfect infinitive ('was to have presented') specifically functions in English grammar to denote a past plan, duty, or arrangement that was not realized or carried out. Given that the sentence explicitly notes that the schedule was disrupted, this structure is grammatically required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and temporal markers
The clause 'but the sudden resignation... disrupted the schedule' establishes that the action of submitting the report was planned for the past ('last Friday') but did not actually occur.
Identifying whether the action was completed or unfulfilled determines the necessary verb aspect.
2
Evaluate the aspectual requirements for unfulfilled past arrangements
Expressing an unfulfilled past arrangement requires the past form of the auxiliary 'be' combined with the perfect infinitive ('have + past participle').
The simple infinitive ('was to present') implies a planned duty without specifying non-fulfillment, whereas the perfect infinitive ('was to have presented') explicitly encodes non-fulfillment.
3
Select the correct option matching this structural pattern
'was to have presented' accurately conveys both the past arrangement and its non-occurrence.
It satisfies both the tense alignment and aspectual requirements of the context.

Key Concept

Unfulfilled Past Arrangements (Was/Were + Perfect Infinitive)
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 286Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the modal verb phrase that correctly expresses past logical impossibility.

Fill in the blanks below

Considering that the chief archivist was under constant security surveillance throughout the evening, she the classified manuscript without being detected on camera.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

could not have removed
The modal phrase 'could not have removed' (or 'cannot have removed') correctly expresses a logical deduction of past impossibility based on the contextual evidence of continuous surveillance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and temporal clues.
The contextual phrase 'under constant security surveillance throughout the evening' provides factual evidence regarding a completed past situation.
Determining whether a sentence requires present modality or past modal deduction depends on time indicators and factual context.
2
Identify the specific modal meaning required.
The sentence calls for an expression of past logical impossibility—deducing that an action was impossible given the circumstances.
Modal auxiliaries express semantic nuances such as obligation, permission, logical deduction, and impossibility.
3
Formulate the correct modal structure.
The structure 'could not have + past participle' (or 'cannot have + past participle') correctly conveys negative past deduction/impossibility.
Using simple past modals without the perfective auxiliary 'have' fails to establish the deduction relative to a finished past event.

Key Concept

Modal Auxiliaries for Past Logical Impossibility
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 287Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

'Many a seasoned diplomat has insisted that _____ delegation should adhere strictly to the protocols laid down by the assembly.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his or her

Answer

The option containing 'his or her' is correct because the expression 'many a' takes a singular noun and requires a singular third-person pronoun to maintain grammatical agreement.
The phrase 'his or her' correctly agrees in number with the antecedent 'Many a seasoned diplomat'. In formal English grammar, the construction 'many a' is followed by a singular countable noun and singular verb, requiring a corresponding singular pronoun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent and its grammatical number.
The subject structure 'Many a seasoned diplomat' is grammatically singular despite its plural meaning.
The distributive quantifier 'many a' explicitly conditions the head noun ('diplomat') and verb ('has insisted') to be singular.
2
Determine the appropriate pronoun required for agreement.
A singular third-person possessive pronoun ('his or her') is required.
Pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedents in formal English grammar.
3
Evaluate the choices to select the syntactically correct form.
Selecting 'his or her' maintains strict singular antecedent agreement.
Plural forms like 'their' violate formal singular agreement rules in standard assessment contexts.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Distributive Quantifiers ('Many a')
Question 288Question →

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence below to express an action that will be ongoing and completed relative to a specified point in the future?

Fill in the blanks below

By the time the new environmental regulation takes effect next month, the task force the industrial waste disposal practices for over half a year.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

will have been investigating (or will have investigated)
The correct answer requires the future perfect continuous ('will have been investigating') or future perfect ('will have investigated') because the temporal prepositional phrase 'By the time... next month' anchors the reference point in the future, and the prepositional phrase 'for over half a year' denotes the duration of the activity preceding that future point.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal markers in the main and subordinate clauses.
The subordinate clause begins with the time conjunction 'By the time' and uses a present-tense verb ('takes effect next month') to establish a future time frame.
Clauses introduced by 'by the time' referencing the future require a perfect aspect in the main clause to indicate an action prior to that time.
2
Evaluate the duration expression to select the appropriate aspect.
The phrase 'for over half a year' indicates continuous duration leading up to that future reference point, requiring either the future perfect continuous ('will have been investigating') or future perfect simple ('will have investigated').
Simple future ('will investigate') or present continuous ('are investigating') fail to mark completion relative to a future milestone.

Key Concept

Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous Tenses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 289Question →

Which modal verb phrase correctly completes the sentence to express a past obligation that was not fulfilled?

Fill in the blanks below

Following the sudden drop in hydraulic pressure, the flight safety inspector concluded that the crew initiated emergency landing procedures immediately.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

should have
The context indicates a past recommendation or obligation that was not carried out by the crew. The modal auxiliary construction 'should have' (or 'ought to have') combined with the past participle 'initiated' correctly conveys past unfulfilled obligation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal and modal context of the sentence.
The inspector is evaluating an event that already occurred in the past where a recommended action was not taken at the right time.
The sentence describes a past situation where an action was desirable or mandatory but failed to happen.
2
Determine the correct modal auxiliary structure for past unfulfilled obligation.
The construction requires a modal verb followed by 'have' and the past participle ('should have initiated' or 'ought to have initiated').
Modal perfect structures ('should have + past participle') are specifically used to express past unfulfilled duty, advisability, or obligation.

Key Concept

Modal Perfect for Past Unfulfilled Obligation
Question 290Question →

Dr. Adeleke ________ at the teaching hospital for over a decade before he was appointed head of the clinical unit. Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: had been practicing

Answer

had been practicing
The form 'had been practicing' correctly uses the past perfect continuous aspect to show an ongoing action that occurred over a duration of time prior to another completed event in the past.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal sequence and time expressions in the sentence.
The sentence establishes a past reference point ('before he was appointed') and a duration leading up to that point ('for over a decade').
Identifying the relationship between past time frames determines the correct grammatical tense and aspect.
2
Select the appropriate verb tense and aspect for an action occurring prior to a past reference point.
An action that continued over a duration up to a specified past event requires the past perfect continuous aspect ('had been practicing').
The auxiliary structure 'had been' combined with the present participle '-ing' expresses ongoing duration completed before another past action.

Key Concept

Past Perfect Continuous Aspect
Estimated Time:45s
Question 291Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct conjunction to complete the result clause structure.

Fill in the blanks below

It was a stormy night that all flight operations at the airport were suspended.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

such
The conjunction 'such' correctly pairs with 'that' to form a cause-and-effect construction when modifying a noun phrase ('a stormy night').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the noun phrase following the blank.
The blank precedes the noun phrase 'a stormy night' composed of an article, an adjective, and a singular countable noun.
The choice between 'such' and 'so' depends on whether a noun phrase or a standalone adjective/adverb follows.
2
Identify the clause connector that completes the result clause.
The sentence uses 'that' later in the clause to introduce the result of the stormy weather.
The correlative structure 'such + noun phrase + that' introduces a cause-and-effect relationship.

Key Concept

Correlative Conjunctions of Result (such... that vs. so... that)
Question 292Question →

Read the sentence below:

"Despite initial skepticism from the review panel, the lead architect's innovative structural design remained the most viable solution to the urban transit crisis."

What is the syntactic function of the bolded noun phrase in the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Subject complement

Answer

Subject complement
The bolded noun phrase follows the stative linking verb 'remained' and describes the quality and identity of the grammatical subject, 'the lead architect's innovative structural design'. In English syntax, a noun phrase in this predicate position following a copular verb functions strictly as a subject complement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main verb of the independent clause to determine its grammatical category.
The verb 'remained' functions as a copular (linking) verb expressing a state of being rather than a transitive action.
Linking verbs connect the subject to a post-verbal element that describes or renames it.
2
Identify the grammatical subject of the main clause.
The subject is the noun phrase 'the lead architect's innovative structural design'.
This phrase serves as the syntactic entity preceding the verb 'remained'.
3
Determine the syntactic relationship between the subject and the post-verbal noun phrase.
The bolded noun phrase 'the most viable solution to the urban transit crisis' completes the predicate by characterizing the subject.
A noun phrase that follows a copular verb and completes the predicate by describing or renaming the subject functions syntactically as a subject complement.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases (Subject Complement)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 293Question →

Before entering the high-containment biohazard laboratory, all visiting researchers _____ sign the visitor logbook and wear full protective gear as mandated by safety regulations. Which of the following modal options correctly completes the sentence to express formal obligation?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: must

Answer

The modal auxiliary 'must' correctly completes the sentence to express formal obligation.
The modal verb 'must' accurately conveys mandatory obligation required by official regulations and correctly precedes the bare infinitive 'sign'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the required semantic meaning from the context.
The phrase 'as mandated by safety regulations' indicates a compulsory requirement, calling for a modal of strong obligation.
Mandated rules require a modal expressing necessity or obligation.
2
Determine the correct syntactic structure for the verb phrase.
The verb 'sign' is a bare infinitive, which requires a standard modal auxiliary without 'to' or additional inflections.
Modal auxiliaries are directly followed by the base form of the main verb.
3
Select the option that meets both semantic and grammatical criteria.
'must' fits both the meaning of mandatory obligation and the required bare infinitive structure.
'must' is uninflected and pairs directly with 'sign'.

Key Concept

Modal Auxiliaries and Expressing Modality
Question 294Question →

Match each bolded noun phrase in the given sentences with its corresponding syntactic function.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The town council appointed Chief Obi a trustee of the community development fund.
The foundation offered the talented young inventor a full scholarship for higher studies.
Dr. Danjuma, a leading authority on renewable energy solutions, addressed the international summit.
The panel expressed serious reservations about the consultant's revised financial forecast.

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

1. 'a trustee of the community development fund' matches Object complement. 2. 'the talented young inventor' matches Indirect object. 3. 'a leading authority on renewable energy solutions' matches Appositive. 4. 'the consultant's revised financial forecast' matches Prepositional complement.
Each noun phrase performs a distinct structural function in its sentence context: renaming a direct object (object complement), receiving the entity being offered (indirect object), restating a subject noun (appositive), and following a preposition (prepositional complement).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural role of the first bolded phrase relative to the verb 'appointed' and direct object 'Chief Obi'.
The phrase defines the post or identity conferred upon the direct object, making it an object complement.
An object complement follows a direct object to state what it has become or been designated as.
2
Examine the role of the second bolded phrase following the verb 'offered'.
The phrase receives the direct object ('a full scholarship'), classifying it as an indirect object.
Indirect objects indicate to whom or for whom the action of a ditransitive verb is performed.
3
Evaluate the third bolded phrase set off by commas next to 'Dr. Danjuma'.
The phrase renames and provides parenthetical detail about the subject, functioning as an appositive.
Appositives are noun phrases placed adjacent to another noun phrase to explain or expand its identity.
4
Identify the relationship between the fourth bolded phrase and the preposition 'about'.
The phrase follows the preposition directly and completes its prepositional phrase, functioning as a prepositional complement.
A noun phrase governed by a preposition acts as the complement or object of that preposition.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases
Question 295Question →

The new supervisor advised all factory workers to strictly comply _____ the safety guidelines established by the management.

Which preposition correctly completes the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: with

Answer

The preposition 'with' correctly completes the sentence.
In standard English grammar, the verb 'comply' takes the dependent preposition 'with' to mean obeying or acting in accordance with a rule, order, or request. Therefore, the phrase 'comply with the safety guidelines' is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head verb requiring a preposition
The target verb in the sentence is 'comply'.
Prepositions following specific verbs are fixed by standard English usage (dependent prepositions).
2
Determine the correct dependent preposition for 'comply'
'Comply' pairs exclusively with 'with' when expressing obedience to rules or commands.
Expressions like 'adhere to' or 'abide by' share similar meanings but take different prepositions.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions
Question 296Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct form of the verb in the past tense.

Fill in the blanks below

The lead counsel, as well as his junior associates, present at the high court hearing yesterday.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'was'.
The subject of the clause is the singular noun 'The lead counsel'. Intervening phrases introduced by 'as well as' do not pluralize the grammatical subject. Therefore, the singular past-tense verb 'was' is required to establish correct concord.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence and any intervening parenthetical expressions.
The principal subject is the singular noun phrase 'The lead counsel'. The modifying phrase 'as well as his junior associates' is introduced by a quasi-conjunction.
Expressions such as 'as well as', 'together with', 'alongside', and 'in addition to' do not form a compound plural subject.
2
Select the verb form that agrees in number with the principal subject and reflects the past time frame.
The singular past tense verb form 'was' correctly agrees with 'The lead counsel'.
A singular subject requires a singular verb regardless of plural nouns appearing within the intervening prepositional or parenthetical phrase.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Quasi-Conjunctions
Question 297Question →

In the sentence below, which word correctly fills the blank to maintain proper grammatical concord?

"Each of the newly appointed directors _______ expected to present a quarterly report to the board."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

The correct option is 'is' because the distributive indefinite pronoun 'Each' takes a singular verb regardless of any intervening plural noun phrase.
The sentence has 'Each' as its grammatical head subject. Distributive indefinite pronouns like 'Each' are strictly singular and require singular verbs. Therefore, 'is' provides the proper subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject of the sentence.
The subject head is the indefinite pronoun 'Each'. The phrase 'of the newly appointed directors' is a prepositional modifier.
Prepositional phrases following indefinite pronouns do not change the grammatical number of the head subject.
2
Apply the subject-verb concord rule for indefinite pronouns.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'every', and 'everyone' are grammatically singular and require a singular verb.
Singular subjects demand singular verb agreement in standard English grammar.
3
Select the correct singular verb form.
The present singular auxiliary verb 'is' completes the sentence correctly.
'is' is singular, matching 'Each', while 'are', 'were', and 'have' are plural forms.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord
Question 298Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct auxiliary verb required to complete the past perfect tense in the inverted sentence structure.

Fill in the blanks below

Scarcely the presiding judge pronounced the verdict when a sudden commotion broke out in the gallery.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had
The correct auxiliary verb is 'had' because fronting the restrictive adverb 'Scarcely' mandates subject-auxiliary inversion in the past perfect aspect. When combined with the past participle 'pronounced' and followed by a 'when' clause in the simple past ('broke out'), 'had' completes the standard inverted past perfect sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and initial adverbial placement.
The sentence begins with the restrictive negative adverb 'Scarcely', which requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
In formal English grammar, placing restrictive adverbs such as 'scarcely', 'hardly', or 'no sooner' at the beginning of a sentence shifts the auxiliary verb before the subject.
2
Determine the correct tense and main verb form.
The main verb 'pronounced' is in its past participle form, and the time clause uses the simple past tense 'broke out'.
The fixed correlative structure 'Scarcely + had + subject + past participle ... when + simple past' expresses an action that was completed immediately before another past event occurred.

Key Concept

Inverted Past Perfect Aspect with Restrictive Adverbs
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 299Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the most grammatically appropriate verb form.

Fill in the blanks below

Had the diplomatic envoy not intervened so promptly, the regional border dispute into an outright military conflict long before peaceful negotiations could resume.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

would have escalated
The sentence utilizes an inverted third conditional structure ('Had the diplomatic envoy not intervened...'), expressing a counterfactual or unfulfilled past condition. The main clause requires the perfect conditional construction 'would have escalated' to represent what hypothetically would have occurred in the past had the condition not been met.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the conditional clause structure at the beginning of the sentence.
The clause 'Had the diplomatic envoy not intervened so promptly' represents an inverted third conditional structure, equivalent to 'If the diplomatic envoy had not intervened...'
Inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb 'had' removes the subordinator 'if' while retaining the unreal/unfulfilled past conditional meaning.
2
Determine the appropriate verb form and aspect for the main (consequence) clause.
The main clause must take the perfect conditional form: 'would have' + past participle ('escalated').
An unfulfilled past condition requiring the past perfect in the dependent clause must strictly pair with the modal perfect aspect in the main clause to express hypothetical past results.

Key Concept

Inverted Third Conditional and Unfulfilled Past Aspect
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 300Question →

Consider the sentence below:

"Not only the lead prosecutor but also three-quarters of the evidence presented by the forensic investigators _______ that neither of the prime suspects _______ an alibi for the night of the crime."

Which of the following pairs of verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: indicates / has

Answer

The correct pair of verb forms is 'indicates / has'.
When subjects are connected by 'Not only... but also...', proximity rule mandates agreement with the closer subject phrase, 'three-quarters of the evidence'. Fractions governing uncountable head nouns require singular verbs, making 'indicates' correct for the first blank. For the second blank, the indefinite pronoun 'neither' is singular in standard English concord and requires a singular verb ('has'), regardless of the plural object 'prime suspects'. Therefore, the pair stating 'indicates / has' is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the correlated conjunction structure and identify the governing head noun for the first blank.
In sentences using 'Not only... but also...', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the element following 'but also'). Here, that subject is 'three-quarters of the evidence'.
Fractional expressions take their agreement from the noun following 'of'. Since 'evidence' is an uncountable (mass) noun, it requires a singular verb ('indicates'). The plural noun 'investigators' is inside a prepositional modifier and cannot act as the subject.
2
Identify the grammatical head and rule for the second blank.
The subject is 'neither of the prime suspects'. The head word is the indefinite pronoun 'neither', which takes the singular verb 'has'.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'neither', 'either', and 'each' are grammatically singular in standard formal concord, even when followed by a plural prepositional phrase like 'of the prime suspects'.

Key Concept

Correlated Conjunction Agreement, Fractional Concord, and Indefinite Pronoun Concord
PreviousPage 15 / 46Next
Grammatical Structure Practice Questions — JAMB UTME — Page 15 | Examkin