CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He usually ___ tea, but today he ___ coffee.
A. drinks / is having
B. is drinking / has
C. drink / is having
D. drank / has
Correct Answer: A
Simple present expresses habit; present continuous expresses the temporary current situation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I ___ him twice this week.
A. saw
B. have seen
C. had seen
D. see
Correct Answer: B
With an unfinished time period such as 'this week', present perfect is often used.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ the report before the meeting began.
A. finishes
B. had finished
C. has finished
D. will finish
Correct Answer: B
The report was completed before another past event, so past perfect is appropriate.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The bus ___ by the time we get to the stop.
A. leaves
B. will have left
C. left
D. has left
Correct Answer: B
Future perfect describes an action completed before a future reference point.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ in Islamabad before he moved to Multan.
A. has lived
B. had lived
C. lives
D. will live
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect can mark an earlier past state before another past event.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I did not went there.
B. I did not go there.
C. I did not gone there.
D. I not did go there.
Correct Answer: B
After the auxiliary 'did', the base form of the verb is used.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
When she arrived, I ___ dinner for twenty minutes.
A. cooked
B. had been cooking
C. have cooked
D. was cook
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect continuous shows an action continuing before another past event.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By the end of this month, they ___ the project for a year.
A. will work on
B. will have been working on
C. worked on
D. have worked on
Correct Answer: B
Future perfect continuous expresses duration continuing up to a future point.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I am knowing the answer.
B. I know the answer.
C. I am know the answer.
D. I have knowing the answer.
Correct Answer: B
'Know' is normally a stative verb and is not used in the continuous form in this meaning.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Select the correct sentence: 'All of the water ___ leaked out.'
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
Correct Answer: B
With 'all of', the verb agrees with the noun that follows; 'water' is uncountable singular.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct completion: 'Neither of these explanations ___ convincing.'
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
Correct Answer: B
In formal exam grammar, 'neither' is treated as singular.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The United States have announced a new policy.
B. The United States has announced a new policy.
C. The United States are announced a new policy.
D. The United States were announce a new policy.
Correct Answer: B
The country name 'The United States' is singular in modern usage.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Select the correct sentence: 'Five hundred rupees ___ enough for the repair.'
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
An amount of money viewed as one total takes a singular verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The cattle is grazing in the field.
B. The cattle are grazing in the field.
C. The cattle has grazed in the field.
D. The cattle was grazing in the field.
Correct Answer: B
'Cattle' is treated as a plural noun.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct completion: 'A pair of scissors ___ on the desk.'
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
The head noun 'pair' is singular.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Select the correct sentence: 'Politics ___ sometimes a difficult subject to discuss.'
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
Correct Answer: B
When referring to the field of study, 'politics' is singular.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The Arabian Nights are an interesting book.
B. The Arabian Nights is an interesting book.
C. The Arabian Nights have an interesting book.
D. The Arabian Nights were an interesting books.
Correct Answer: B
A title of a single work is treated as singular even if it appears plural.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. One in ten applicants are selected.
B. One in ten applicants is selected.
C. One in ten applicant are selected.
D. One of ten applicants have selected.
Correct Answer: B
The grammatical head is 'one', so a singular verb is used.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct completion: 'The majority of the work ___ already finished.'
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Correct Answer: C
Here 'work' is uncountable and singular in meaning, so 'is' is correct.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct completion: 'The majority of the committee ___ in favor of the proposal.'
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Correct Answer: B
When 'majority' refers to individual members acting separately, a plural verb may be used.