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UPSC CDS English Grammar Questions
Practise english grammar (english) for the Combined Defence Services Examination: 10 multiple-choice questions, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Click an option to check it, or “New questions” for another set.
English Grammar practice
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Q1.Choose the correct option: Let’s discuss ___ the matter tomorrow.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A — no preposition
“Discuss” is transitive: we discuss the matter (no “about”).
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Q2.Choose the correct option: He prefers tea ___ coffee.
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Answer: A — to
“Prefer X to Y” is the correct pattern.
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Q3.Choose the correct option: I look forward to ___ from you.
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Answer: B — hearing
In “look forward to”, “to” is a preposition, so it takes a gerund: “hearing”.
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Q4.Identify the error: “One of my friend is a doctor.”
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Answer: B — my friend
After “one of” use a plural noun: “one of my friends”.
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Q5.Choose the correct option: He insisted ___ paying the bill.
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Answer: A — on
“Insist” takes the preposition “on” + gerund.
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Q6.Choose the correct option: She has been working here ___ 2019.
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Answer: A — since
Use “since” with a point in time (2019) and “for” with a duration.
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Q7.Choose the correct option: There is no ___ in crying over spilt milk.
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Answer: B — use
Fixed expression: “There is no use (in) doing something”.
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Q8.Choose the correct option: This is the best book I ___.
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Answer: D — have ever read
A superlative + experience up to now uses the present perfect: “have ever read”.
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Q9.Choose the correct comparative: This road is ___ than that one.
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Answer: B — narrower
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -ow usually take -er: “narrower”.
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Q10.Choose the correct option: The committee ___ divided in their opinions.
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Answer: B — were
When members of a collective noun act individually (divided opinions), a plural verb is used: “were”.
How to approach english grammar questions
Find the subject first and make the verb agree with it, ignoring phrases in between. Watch fixed prepositions (good at, insist on, prefer to) and tense sequence in reported speech.
About UPSC CDS
Combined Defence Services Examination — conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Selects officers for the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.
Original practice questions written for this site in the style and difficulty of each exam’s syllabus. They are not past papers and the site is not affiliated with any exam body. Exam patterns, marking schemes and syllabi change — always check the latest official notification.
UPSC CDS practice topics
| Topic | Section | Question source |
|---|---|---|
| English Grammar | English | Question bank |
| Vocabulary & Idioms | English | Question bank |
| Indian Polity, History & Geography | General awareness | Question bank |
| Physics | Science | Calculated + question bank |
| Percentages | Quantitative aptitude | Calculated (new numbers every set) |
| Geometry & Mensuration | Mathematics | Calculated (new numbers every set) |