Grammar Quiz

They're from Brazil, ________?

• isn't it

• aren't they

• are they

Answer explanation

The correct tag question for a positive statement like 'They're from Brazil' is 'aren't they'. This confirms the information and is the appropriate form for plural subjects, unlike 'isn't it' or 'are they'.

This book ________ in 2018.

• was written

• is written

• written

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'was written' because it indicates a completed action in the past, specifically in 2018. 'Is written' suggests a current action, and 'written' is incomplete without a verb.

It stopped ________ an hour ago.

• to rain

• rain

• raining

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'raining' because the phrase 'stopped raining' is the standard expression used to indicate that rain has ceased. 'To rain' and 'rain' do not fit grammatically in this context.

‘A: Why are you using that old mobile phone?’ ‘B: Because I dropped my other phone and it ________’.

• has repaired

• is being repaired

• is repairing

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'is being repaired' because it indicates that the phone is currently undergoing the repair process. 'Has repaired' suggests completion, and 'is repairing' implies the subject is doing the repairing, which is incorrect.

‘What were you doing when you heard the news?’ ‘B: I ________ work and I was driving home.’

• was finishing

• finished

• had finished

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'was finishing' because it indicates an ongoing action in the past when the news was heard. 'Finished' suggests completion, and 'had finished' implies a prior action, which doesn't fit the context.

‘We haven't met before, ________?’ ‘B: No, I don't think so.’

• have we

• are we

• did we

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'have we' because it forms a tag question. The speaker is confirming if they have not met before, and 'have' is the appropriate auxiliary verb for the present perfect tense used here.

They ________ 500 new houses in our town last year.

• built

• ’ve built

• had built

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'built' because it indicates a completed action in the past. The sentence refers to a specific time last year, making the simple past tense the appropriate form.

Louis drives ________ than I do.

• the fastest

• as fast

• faster

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'faster' because it compares Louis's driving speed to mine. 'Faster' is the comparative form of 'fast', indicating that Louis drives at a higher speed than I do.

This was ________ expensive mobile phone I could find anywhere.

• less

• the least

• the less

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'the least' because it indicates the lowest degree of expense. The phrase should read: 'This was the least expensive mobile phone I could find anywhere.' 'Less' and 'the less' are grammatically incorrect in this context.

They ________ be very happy. They never stop smiling.

• can

• must

• can't

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'must' because the statement implies a strong conclusion based on evidence. Their constant smiling suggests they are likely very happy, making 'must' the appropriate modal verb to express this certainty.