IOE entrance English · Chapter 1
Grammar I
Tap an option to check it. Wrong picks show the right answer and the hint; “Show answer” gives the worked solution.
61 questions in 3 syllabus topics · 16 are 2-mark questions.
1.1 Sequence of tense and concord
21 questions
1. It …… two weeks since he left the city.
IOE model question 2080Show hintHide hint
The time runs from the past up to now.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. has been
A period of time from a past point up to now takes the present perfect: “It has been two weeks since…”.
2. Choose the correct option: Neither the principal nor the teachers ____ present at the meeting yesterday.
Show hintHide hint
Look at the subject closest to the verb.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. were
With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Teachers' is plural and 'yesterday' needs past tense, so 'were' is correct.
3. Choose the correct option: Each of the winners ____ given a certificate.
Show hintHide hint
Who is the real subject: 'each' or 'winners'?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. was
'Each of + plural noun' takes a singular verb because the subject is 'each'. Hence 'was given'.
4. Choose the correct option: The news from the flood-hit villages ____ not very encouraging.
Show hintHide hint
Some nouns end in -s but are singular.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. is
'News' is an uncountable noun that looks plural but always takes a singular verb: 'The news is ...'.
5. Choose the correct option: The teacher told us that light ____ faster than sound.
Show hintHide hint
Is the statement a permanent truth?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. travels
A universal or scientific truth keeps the simple present even after a past reporting verb, so 'travels' is used.
6. Choose the correct option: Bread and butter ____ a common breakfast in many homes.
Show hintHide hint
Do the two nouns together name one thing?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. is
Two nouns joined by 'and' that express a single idea (one dish) take a singular verb.
7. Choose the correct option: The number of engineering colleges in Nepal ____ growing every year.
Show hintHide hint
Compare 'the number of' with 'a number of'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. is
'The number of' refers to the number itself and takes a singular verb; 'every year' suggests the present, so 'is growing'.
8. Choose the correct option: A number of passengers ____ injured in the accident last night.
Show hintHide hint
'A number of' = 'many'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. were
'A number of' means 'many' and takes a plural verb; 'last night' requires past tense, so 'were'.
9. Choose the correct option: Twenty kilometres ____ too long a distance to walk in an hour.
Show hintHide hint
Is the distance thought of as a single amount?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. is
A plural amount of distance, money or time treated as one total takes a singular verb: 'Twenty kilometres is ...'.
10. Choose the correct option: One of my cousins ____ in Biratnagar.
Show hintHide hint
Find the head word of the subject.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. lives
The subject is 'one', not 'cousins', so the verb is singular: 'lives'.
11. Choose the correct option: The captain, along with his players, ____ arrived at the stadium.
Show hintHide hint
Ignore the phrase between the commas.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. has
Words joined by 'along with', 'as well as', 'together with' do not change the number of the first subject. 'The captain' is singular, so 'has arrived'.
12. Choose the correct option: He worked day and night so that he ____ win the scholarship.
Show hintHide hint
Main clause is in the past tense.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. might
By the sequence of tenses, a past tense in the main clause ('worked') is followed by a past form in the subordinate clause: 'may' becomes 'might'.
13. Choose the correct option: Hardly had we reached the bus park when the bus ____.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Which action happened second?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. left
In 'Hardly had ... when ...', the first action is in the past perfect and the second, which follows immediately, is in the simple past: 'left'.
14. Choose the correct option: Many a student ____ failed to understand this chapter.
Show hintHide hint
Notice that 'student' is singular here.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. has
'Many a' is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb: 'Many a student has ...'.
15. Choose the correct option: The rich ____ not always happier than the poor.
Show hintHide hint
'The rich' means 'rich people'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. are
'The + adjective' (the rich, the poor) refers to a class of people and takes a plural verb.
16. Choose the correct option: Two-thirds of the project ____ already been completed.
Show hintHide hint
Check the noun after 'of'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. has
With fractions, the verb agrees with the noun after 'of'. 'The project' is singular, so 'has been completed'.
17. Choose the correct option: Rita told me that she ____ the documentary the previous evening.
Show hintHide hint
The watching happened before the telling.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. had watched
After a past reporting verb, an action earlier than the reporting is put in the past perfect: 'had watched'. 'The previous evening' confirms this.
18. Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error: 'The quality of the apples / sold in this market / were not / satisfactory.'
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Find the true subject of the verb.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. were not
The subject is 'the quality', which is singular; 'of the apples' is only a modifier. So 'were not' should be 'was not'.
19. Which one of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Pronouns like 'either', 'neither', 'each' are singular.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Either of the two roads leads to the hospital.
'Either of', 'neither of', 'each of' and 'every ... and every ...' all take singular verbs. Only the second sentence uses a singular verb correctly ('Either of the two roads leads ...'); the others should read 'Neither of the answers is', 'Every boy and every girl was', 'Each of the students has'.
20. Choose the correct option: The committee ____ divided in their opinions about the new rule.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Is the committee acting as one unit here, or as separate members?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. were
A collective noun takes a plural verb when its members act or think separately. 'Divided in their opinions' shows the members disagree individually, so 'were'.
21. Choose the correct option: It is high time the government ____ steps to control air pollution in the valley.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
This idiom uses a past form with a present meaning.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. took
'It is high time' is followed by a past-tense verb (subjunctive use) to show that the action is already overdue: 'took'.
1.2 Direct and indirect speech
20 questions
22. Change into indirect speech: Hari said, "I am very busy today."
Show hintHide hint
Change the tense, the pronoun and the time word.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. Hari said that he was very busy that day.
Past reporting verb: 'am' → 'was', 'I' → 'he', 'today' → 'that day'.
23. Change into indirect speech: She said to me, "Where do you live?"
Show hintHide hint
Reported questions do not keep question word order.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. She asked me where I lived.
A wh-question becomes a statement order (subject + verb) with 'asked'; 'do you live' → 'I lived'.
24. Change into indirect speech: The teacher said, "The earth revolves round the sun."
Show hintHide hint
Some statements stay true for all time.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. The teacher said that the earth revolves round the sun.
A universal truth does not change its tense in reported speech even when the reporting verb is past.
25. Change into indirect speech: He said to me, "Please lend me your pen."
Show hintHide hint
Imperatives become 'verb + object + to-infinitive'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. He requested me to lend him my pen.
A polite imperative with 'please' is reported with 'requested' + object + to-infinitive, and the pronouns change: 'me' → 'him', 'your' → 'my'.
26. Change into indirect speech: Sita said, "I will visit Lumbini tomorrow."
Show hintHide hint
Change both the modal and the time expression.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Sita said that she would visit Lumbini the next day.
'Will' → 'would' and 'tomorrow' → 'the next day' (or 'the following day') after a past reporting verb.
27. Change into indirect speech: The teacher said to the students, "Don't make a noise."
Show hintHide hint
Negative imperatives use 'not to'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. The teacher told the students not to make a noise.
A negative command becomes 'told/ordered + object + not to + verb'.
28. Change into indirect speech: Ram said, "I have finished my homework."
Show hintHide hint
Present perfect shifts one step back.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. Ram said that he had finished his homework.
Present perfect 'have finished' becomes past perfect 'had finished'; 'I' → 'he', 'my' → 'his'.
29. Change into indirect speech: He said to me, "Are you coming to the party?"
Show hintHide hint
Yes/no questions are introduced by 'if/whether'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. He asked me if I was coming to the party.
A yes/no question is reported with 'if' or 'whether' and statement word order; 'are you coming' → 'I was coming'.
30. Change into indirect speech: Mohan said, "Let's go for a walk."
Show hintHide hint
'Let's' here is a proposal.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. Mohan suggested that they should go for a walk.
'Let's' expressing a proposal is reported with 'suggested/proposed that ... should ...'.
31. Change into indirect speech: He said, "I can solve this problem."
Show hintHide hint
Modals and demonstratives both change.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. He said that he could solve that problem.
'Can' → 'could', 'I' → 'he' and 'this' → 'that' after a past reporting verb.
32. In indirect speech with a past reporting verb, the word 'ago' in the reported words normally changes to:
Show hintHide hint
Think of 'two days ago' told later.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. before
Time words shift back: 'ago' → 'before', just as 'now' → 'then' and 'yesterday' → 'the previous day'.
33. Change into indirect speech: She said to me, "Thank you."
Show hintHide hint
Use a single reporting verb that carries the meaning.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. She thanked me.
Formulas like 'Thank you' are reported by a suitable verb: 'She thanked me.'
34. Change into indirect speech: They said, "We are playing football."
Show hintHide hint
Present continuous becomes past continuous.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. They said that they were playing football.
Present continuous 'are playing' → past continuous 'were playing'; 'we' → 'they'.
35. Change into indirect speech: He says, "I am tired."
Show hintHide hint
Check the tense of the reporting verb.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. He says that he is tired.
When the reporting verb is in the present tense ('says'), the tense of the reported speech does not change; only the pronoun changes.
36. Change into indirect speech: The stranger said to me, "Can you show me the way to the station?"
Show hintHide hint
Change modal, pronouns and word order.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. The stranger asked me if I could show him the way to the station.
Yes/no question → 'asked ... if'; 'can' → 'could'; 'you' → 'I', 'me' → 'him'.
37. Change into indirect speech: He said, "I was ill yesterday."
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Two changes: tense and time word.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. He said that he had been ill the previous day.
Simple past 'was' → past perfect 'had been'; 'yesterday' → 'the previous day' (or 'the day before').
38. Change into indirect speech: Grandmother said, "May God bless you, my child!"
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Optative sentences are reported with 'prayed' or 'wished'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Grandmother prayed that God might bless her child.
A wish or prayer is reported with 'prayed/wished that'; 'may' → 'might', and 'you, my child' → 'her child'.
39. Change into indirect speech: He said, "Alas! I have lost my purse."
2 marksShow hintHide hint
The interjection is replaced by a phrase showing the feeling.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. He exclaimed with sorrow that he had lost his purse.
'Alas' shows sorrow, so it is reported as 'exclaimed with sorrow that'; 'have lost' → 'had lost', 'my' → 'his'.
40. Choose the correct direct speech of: She told me that she had been waiting for me for an hour.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Undo the backshift of tense and pronouns.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. She said to me, "I have been waiting for you for an hour."
Reverse the changes: past perfect continuous 'had been waiting' goes back to present perfect continuous 'have been waiting', 'she' → 'I', 'me' → 'you'.
41. Change into indirect speech: The doctor said to the patient, "You should give up smoking."
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Choose a reporting verb that shows advice.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. The doctor advised the patient to give up smoking.
Advice with 'should' is naturally reported as 'advised + object + to-infinitive': 'advised the patient to give up smoking'.
1.3 Kinds and transformation of sentences
20 questions
42. Choose the correct question tag: She can play the guitar, ____?
Show hintHide hint
Repeat the auxiliary, reverse the polarity.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. can't she
A positive statement takes a negative tag with the same auxiliary: 'can' → 'can't she?'.
43. Choose the correct question tag: Let's go to the library, ____?
Show hintHide hint
'Let's' includes the speaker.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. shall we
A suggestion beginning with 'Let's' takes the tag 'shall we?'.
44. Choose the correct question tag: Nobody came to the meeting, ____?
Show hintHide hint
'Nobody' is a negative word.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. did they
'Nobody' makes the sentence negative, so the tag is positive; indefinite pronouns for people take 'they' in the tag: 'did they?'.
45. Choose the correct question tag: I am the first to arrive, ____?
Show hintHide hint
This is a special form.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. aren't I
The standard negative tag for 'I am' is 'aren't I?'.
46. Choose the correct question tag: He hardly speaks to anyone, ____?
Show hintHide hint
'Hardly', 'scarcely', 'seldom' are negative in meaning.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. does he
'Hardly' is a negative adverb, so the sentence is treated as negative and takes a positive tag: 'does he?'.
47. Choose the correct question tag: Everyone enjoyed the concert, ____?
Show hintHide hint
Which pronoun refers back to 'everyone' in a tag?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. didn't they
'Everyone' takes 'they' in the tag; the statement is positive and in the simple past, so the tag is 'didn't they?'.
48. Transform into the comparative degree: Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
Show hintHide hint
Remember to exclude the thing being compared.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. Mount Everest is higher than any other peak in the world.
The superlative 'the highest' becomes 'higher than any other ...'. 'Any other' is needed so that Everest is not compared with itself.
49. Transform into the superlative degree: Very few rivers in Nepal are as long as the Karnali.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
'Very few' leaves room for others.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. The Karnali is one of the longest rivers in Nepal.
'Very few ... as ... as' means a small group, not a single one, so the superlative is 'one of the longest rivers'. 'The longest' would change the meaning.
50. Transform into the positive degree: Gold is more precious than silver.
Show hintHide hint
Swap the two nouns and use 'not so ... as'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. Silver is not so precious as gold.
In the positive degree we use 'not so/as ... as' with the subjects swapped: 'Silver is not so precious as gold.'
51. Change into the negative without changing the meaning: He is always punctual.
Show hintHide hint
Use an antonym together with a negative.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. He is never late.
'Always punctual' = 'never late'; using the opposite word with a negative keeps the meaning.
52. Change into the negative without changing the meaning: Only Rajesh can answer this question.
Show hintHide hint
'Only' → 'none but' / 'nothing but'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. None but Rajesh can answer this question.
'Only' + person is changed to 'None but' + person in the negative form.
53. Rewrite using 'No sooner ... than': As soon as the thief saw the police, he ran away.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Check the inversion and the correlative word.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A. No sooner did the thief see the police than he ran away.
'No sooner' at the beginning requires inversion with 'did' + base verb ('did ... see'), and it pairs with 'than', not 'when'.
54. Change into a compound sentence: In spite of being poor, he is honest.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
Compound = two main clauses + coordinating conjunction.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. He is poor, but he is honest.
A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction such as 'but'. 'Though ...' makes it complex; the others are simple.
55. Identify the kind of sentence: I know the girl who won the quiz contest.
Show hintHide hint
Look for a clause that cannot stand alone.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B. Complex
It has one main clause ('I know the girl') and one dependent relative clause ('who won the quiz contest'), so it is complex.
56. Change into a complex sentence: Being tired, he went to bed early.
Show hintHide hint
Use a subordinating conjunction of reason.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. As he was tired, he went to bed early.
The participle phrase 'Being tired' becomes an adverb clause of reason 'As he was tired'; this gives one main and one subordinate clause.
57. Rewrite using 'unless': If you do not work hard, you will fail.
Show hintHide hint
'Unless' = 'if ... not'.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Unless you work hard, you will fail.
'Unless' already means 'if not', so the negative 'do not' is dropped: 'Unless you work hard, you will fail.'
58. Remove 'too' without changing the meaning: The box is too heavy for me to lift.
2 marksShow hintHide hint
'Too ... to' has a negative meaning.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. The box is so heavy that I cannot lift it.
'Too ... to' becomes 'so ... that ... cannot'; the object 'it' must be added after 'lift' in the new clause.
59. Identify the kind of sentence: What a wonderful view of the Himalayas it is!
Show hintHide hint
What does the sentence express: a fact, a question, a command or a feeling?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Exclamatory
A sentence beginning with 'What a ...' and ending with '!' that expresses strong feeling is exclamatory.
60. Identify the kind of sentence: May you live long!
Show hintHide hint
It expresses a wish.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D. Optative
A sentence expressing a wish or prayer, usually beginning with 'May', is optative.
61. Change into an assertive sentence: Who does not love his motherland?
2 marksShow hintHide hint
A negative rhetorical question makes a positive assertion.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C. Everybody loves his motherland.
This is a rhetorical question: a negative question implies a positive statement. 'Who does not love ...?' means 'Everybody loves ...'.