Diagnostic Grammar Test - Section One

The purpose of this English Language test is to enable you to spot your weak points as well as your strong points and remedy or practise any language points, where necessary. At the end of each test section you can total your score and get feedback. 

There are 50 questions in 3 sections.  Choose the correct answer from the drop down boxes or fill in the gaps. 

Section 1:

  1. The sun in the East.
  2. In Siberia cold all the time.
  3. The British often talk about because it's so changeable.
  4. English people carry umbrellas them dry.
  5. In the monsoon season almost every day.
  6. In the Gobi desert there isn't grass.
  7. Places near the Equator have climate all year round.
  8. In Northern Europe season is usually from December to February.
  9. people don't have the opportunity to live outside their own country.
  10. Very people can study abroad.
  11. Hong Kong to China in 1997.
  12. After  she the "Miss Universe" title she got a lot of lucrative offers.
  13. Madonna's agent change her name at the start of her career.
  14. If the world on 1st January 2000, some people wouldn't have been surprised.
  15. Warsaw is famous as the capital of Poland and as a tourist destination.
  16. He is becoming well known the world.
  17. Many  people that Nigel Kennedy is England's greatest violinist.
  18. Getting to be the greatest violinist the world is not easy.
  19. Like any top musician, he practice long and hard.
  20. Even though Lady Diana is dead, people  remember her as a 'fairytale princess'.

Click here to check the answers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feedback for Section 1

When you have finished reading the feedback, click here to make the page white again.

Section1 Q1: The correct answer is: The sun rises in the East.

Your answer was:   The sun in the East. .

The present simple tense is used with permanent situations; e.g. 'China is in Asia', generally accepted facts; e.g. 'London is a cosmopolitan city', and scientific laws; e.g. 'Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade'.

For a more detailed explanation of the present simple tense, see Michael Swan, Practical English Usage #444 p458 &/or Raymond Murphy,  English Grammar in Use, Units 2-4.

 

Section1 Q2: The correct answer is:  In Siberia it's cold all the time.

Your answer was:     In Siberia cold all the time.

'It' here is a pronoun for 'the weather' or 'the temperature'.

 

Section1 Q3: The correct answer is: The British often talk about the weather because it's so changeable. 

Your answer was:   The British often talk about because it's so changeable.

The definite article is used because everyone knows which weather (the weather we're having!)

For a more detailed explanation of the definite article, see Michael Swan, Practical English Usage #62-65 p54 &/or Raymond Murphy,  English Grammar in Use, Units 72-77.

 

Section1 Q4: The correct answer is: English people carry umbrellas to keep them dry.

Your answer was: English people carry umbrellas them dry.

For a more detailed explanation of when to use the infinitive and when to use the 'ing' form, see Michael Swan, Practical English Usage #275-288 p259, #290-297 p277 &/or Raymond Murphy,  English Grammar in Use, Units 55-57.

 

Section1 Q5: The correct answer is In the monsoon season it rains almost every day. 

Your answer was: In the monsoon season almost every day.

'It' here is a pronoun for 'the weather'

For a more detailed explanation of the present simple tense, see Michael Swan, Practical English Usage #444 p458 &/or Raymond Murphy,  English Grammar in Use, Units 2-4.

 

Section1 Q6: The correct answer is:  In the Gobi desert there isn't any grass.

'Some' is used for affirmative sentences, 'any' for negatives and questions and 'isn't no..' = double negative and so is ungrammatical.

For a more detailed explanation of some,any, no & none, see Michael Swan, Practical English Usage #522 p548 &/or Raymond Murphy,  English Grammar in Use, Units 84-85.