Grammar Practice

Here are some English exercises to help you review for your approaching test or exam. There are sections on various parts of grammar with more coming in the future. Most of the sections include an easy level and a medium level. In our centre we have 3 to 4 levels to suit every student. Give these English exercises a try. Good luck!

Proofreading Practice

Each question has one mistake. Change, replace, add, or remove only one word to correct each sentence. You may need to change the form of a word to correct the sentence. Many of the mistakes are common grammar mistakes while others are Chinglish. Good luck! 

Easy Level

    Hong Kong has many people.

    We put the books into the cardboard box.

    I always have soup for lunch on Tuesdays.

    Please show me your new pencil case.

    I am going to make a sandwich for you.

    Sam is in big trouble for stealing the money.

    Please open the door for your mother.

    I broke my arm when I was only nine years old.

     This is the largest dog I have ever seen!

    I watched a great show on television last night.

    Ashley was born on the first day of the year.

    Amanda hurt her leg when she fell off her bike.

    I need to go to the toilet right now!

    Eating junk food is not a healthy diet.

    The family got into their car and drove to the park

Medium Level

    We should go home before it gets too dark.

I hope we can catch a fish for dinner today.

    I really enjoy going to the beach in the summer.

    My best friend moved to France last week.

    We will stay at a hotel for four days next week.

    Some mistakes are easier to spot than others.

    My dad saw a U.F.O. flying in the sky last night.

    I love eating pineapple, cherries, and watermelon.

    I don’t believe that she has stolen the money.

    I have already graduated from university.

    We have been working hard on this project.

    Have you ever been to Ocean Park before?

    Do you know what it will look like when it is done?

    You are always playing on your mobile phone.

    We are exited about our holiday next week!

Preposition Practice

Mastering prepositions is a real challenge for students learning English as a second language as there is often no logic to prepositional usage. This is why we put a lot of effort into helping students improve their prepositional usage accuracy. Reading is one of the best ways to improve your accuracy. For each question, choose the correct preposition out of the four choices. Good luck!

Easy Level

   We need to get onto the bus.

    I will make a cake for my dad.

    I’m looking for something to eat.

    There are many books in the bag.

    Please open your book to page ten

     We are talking to a little boy.

This pen was made in India.

    You must get ready for school.

    I have many friends in my class.

    We are at the bus stop.

    Don’t fall down the hill.

    I am at a party with my friend.

    The glass fell off the table.

    The kids are sitting at the table.

    There is a nice song on the radio.

    You can sit on the sofa.

Medium Level

    I feel very sorry for your loss.

    He slapped Chris in the face.

    I cheer on my favourite team.

    You should sit up straight.

    You cannot see well in the dark.

Jess and I live on the same street.

    She is in so much pain.

Students are under a lot of stress.

    Ted died of cancer.

    I am now in a meeting.

    Don’t fall out of the tree.

    Kill the germs on your hands.

    We finished ahead of time.

    We are just in time for lunch.

    Smoking is bad for your health.

    A wolf got caught in the trap.

Passive Voice Practice

In passive  voice the subject always appears after the verb, while in active voice the subject appears before the verb. Passive voice can only be used with 8 of the 12 main verb tenses. It is used when the focus is on the action, it is not important to know who or what did the action, or it is unknown who or what did the action. In active voice the focus is on who or what did the action. Try to change these active voice sentences into passive voice. Good luck!

Easy Level

The chocolate cake was baked by Sarah.

The floor is cleaned by Justin regularly.

The cars are smashed by the monster at night.

The sausages were eaten by the dog this morning.

Alec’s oven was fixed by him yesterday.

Katy’s house was painted by Dion last week.

The bike was stolen last night (by someone).

My sandwich was eaten by someone!

Bob’s robot was secretly broken by Patrick last night.

The picture will be drawn by James tomorrow.

My cookies are always eaten by Cindy.

The viola is being played by Frank.

The poster will be made by Zack tomorrow.

The broccoli will be eaten by the zombie at night.

These books were made by those girls last week.

Medium Level

Tim’s kite is being flown by Grace in the park.

The pigs were being raised by Jill until she sold them.

All of these games have been created by Alan.

Kelly’s vase had just been finished by her when it cracked.

The logo will be designed by Paul next week.

Many people have been saved by Ivan in his lifetime.

Many biscuits have been baked by Josie before.

The car will have been fixed (by Jim) by that time.

Betty’s project is being finished by her now.

The truck was being used by Calvin until he sold it.

The cat was being fed (by her) when it escaped.

The table had been cleaned by Jed, but it is dirty again.

All of the lessons have been prepared by Bonnie.

The pie will have been eaten by Pat by the time we get home.

The letter had been written by Kevin, but it went missing.

Sentence Inversion Practice

Sentence inversion is used to add emphasis to our sentences and variety to our writing. Using sentence inversion can help you bring your writing to the next level which can positively impact your exam scores. Try rewriting these statements using sentence inversion.  Good luck!

Easy Level

Were I you, I wouldn’t do it.

Seldom do I leave my house so early.

Seldom does Peter speak French in public.

Only now do I realize the stress he was under.

Never had Jenn stayed at such a fabulous hotel.

Seldom do I meet a person who impresses me.

Rarely have I failed to finish my homework on time.

Seldom have I seen anything more incredible!

Barely can I tolerate a liar and a thief.

Never have I been to such a wild party.

Had I been told, I would have helped.

Never before have I seen such a messy kitchen!

Only then can you regain your health.

Both my sister and I have cars.

Neither my friends nor I like sushi.

Medium Level

Nowhere before had they met such rude people.

In no way have I ever betrayed my friends.

Rarely do people appreciate this artist’s paintings.

No sooner had he eaten lunch than the fire started.

On no account should children go there at night.

It’s not a glass I need, it’s a tea cup.

Only after her death was I able to truly love her.

It’s not Katie who is a hockey player, Melody is.

Neither my sister nor I were hungry.

Hardly had she arrived, when the problems started.

Not until the fat lady sings have they won.

Not only did they give money, but also volunteered their time.

Seldom do I encounter a problem that I cannot solve.

It is Jack who thinks the question is challenging.

It wasn’t Mandy, but Sandy who broke the pan.

Reported Speech Practice

Convert these spoken sentences into indirect speech. Only one answer is given for each question, but there are often several correct answers. The suggested answers are Hong Kong secondary school model answers which often vary from what native English speakers use in daily life. These differences are explained in our education centre.

Easy Level

Mark said that he had a dog at home.

Kelly told me/said that she didn’t know how to do that homework.

Alice told Tom that her brother was older than his.

Vince told Jake that he didn’t want to go on the hike.

David said that he had never seen a better movie.

Gary told Tracy that he would be going to Kenya the following week.

Tony told me that he thought Ted would be returning the coming/that Friday

Amy told me that she would move to Egypt the/this coming February.

The dentist told me to brush my teeth twice per day.

The magician told the audience to watch his rabbit disappear.

The librarian informed me that I needed to be quiet in the library.

Kate said/told me that there had been a serious fire there the previous Friday/the Friday before.

Medium Level

Cindy told me that she needed to find out who had taken her chinchilla. 

The doctor informed Bill that he would need to examine his head again.

Kelvin told Kent that they could make money by the following/coming month. 

The farmer asked me if I would like to buy some fresh carrots.

The vet asked me if/whether any of my friends had a pet hamster.

Tammy asked Pam if/whether she knew how to read maps.

The barber told me that she/he could cut my hair a few minutes from now.

The painter said that he/she would finish painting my car by the following/coming Friday.

The stylist asked me how I would like her/him to cut my hair.

Alisa said that she needed to finish that dress for her mom by that night.

Ed told me that Tim had told him that Ed and I had been fighting the day before/the previous day.

Mac told me that Dan had told him that Mac and I had gone fishing the day before/the previous day.

Infinitives and Gerunds Practice

Using bare infinitives, to infinitives, and gerunds correctly can be challenging. There are some basic rules to using them, but you mostly have to memorize their usage through practice and reading. Your school text book should provide you with lists that you should memorize if you want to do well in/on your exam or test. (In British English ‘in’ a test/exam is used, and ‘on’ a test/exam is used in the U.S.A. and Canada.) Give these practice questions a try. 

Easy Level

    He may ( eat ) as much as he likes..

    I do not ( need ) a new pencil.

    It is impossible ( to tell ) if he is lying.

    We like ( to go ) swimming on Sunday.

    Steve hates ( going ) to parties.

    I am ready (to start ) my homework.

    ( Fighting ) is not allowed in school.

    We may ( go ) shopping today.

    Henry expects ( to find ) his wallet.

    It is hard ( to do ) so much work.

    She had ( to go ) to the library.

    It took me an hour ( to buy ) the tickets.

    I should stop (eating ) so much candy.

    ( Seeing ) he was hurt, I called for help.

    ( Washing ) dishes can be fun!

    It is so hard ( to use ) this machine.

Medium Level

Having ( talked ) with Tim I now understand.

Needing ( to talk ) with Fred I was looking for him.

Nelly regretted ( telling ) Vivian the news, yesterday.

I need ( to inform ) you that the exam has been moved to Friday.

He isn’t accustomed (to living ) in Paris.

Being hungry, they stopped ( to eat ) some pizza.

The project will involve ( working ) long hours.

I prefer ( to go ) to the store at nine o’clock tonight.

I used ( to get ) up early, but now I get up late.

Jack and Jill stopped ( eating ) when they were full.

We are used ( to getting ) up early as we have been doing so for years.