English Grammar Made Easy for CBSE 10th Class: 20 Solved MCQs for 2026

 

English Grammar Made Easy for CBSE 10th Class: 20 Solved MCQs for 2026

Grammar often feels like a minefield of "exceptions to the rule," but for the 2026 boards, the secret is simpler than you think. English grammar made easy for CBSE 10th class isn't about memorizing a thick textbook; it’s about understanding the logic of how we speak and write. Whether it’s choosing between 'has' and 'have' or shifting a dialogue into reported speech, the goal is to show the examiner you understand the context.

In Section B, you only need to get 10 questions right out of 12, but why settle for just passing when you can aim for a perfect 10/10? Let’s break down the essentials.


The Big 4: Your Grammar Foundation

1. Tenses: The Timeline of Life

Most errors happen because students mix up the "time" of the sentence. If a sentence starts in the past, it usually stays in the past.

  • Past Perfect: Use this for the earlier of two past actions. (e.g., The train had left before I reached.)

2. Reported Speech: The "Backshift" Rule

When reporting what someone said, you are basically stepping back in time.

  • Is/Am/Are becomes Was/Were.

  • Can becomes Could.

  • Will becomes Would.

3. Subject-Verb Concord: The Agreement

The verb must always agree with its real subject. Don't be fooled by "extra" words.

  • The box of chocolates is (not are) empty. (The subject is the 'box', not the chocolates).

4. Modals: Expressing Mood

Modals tell us the "flavor" of the action.

  • Must: 100% Necessity.

  • Should: Advice.

  • May/Might: Possibility.


Practice Zone: 20 High-Probability MCQs

Test your skills with these board-standard questions.

1. The committee _______ decided to postpone the meeting until next week. (a) have (b) has (c) were (d) are

2. I _______ (read) this book since morning and I’m still on page 50. (a) read (b) was reading (c) have been reading (d) am reading

3. "Where is your house?" asked the stranger. (Report this) (a) The stranger asked where was my house. (b) The stranger asked where my house was. (c) The stranger asked that where my house is. (d) The stranger told me where my house was.

4. You _______ smoke in the hospital premises; it is strictly prohibited. (a) couldn't (b) shouldn't (c) mustn't (d) needn't

5. Neither the captain nor the players _______ satisfied with the umpire's decision. (a) was (b) were (c) is (d) has been

6. By the time we get to the cinema, the movie _______. (a) will start (b) will have started (c) starts (d) started

7. If I _______ you, I would accept the offer immediately. (a) am (b) was (c) were (d) be

8. Identification of error: "The news are very disturbing today." (a) news (b) are (c) disturbing (d) today

9. He is _______ MP from our local constituency. (a) a (b) an (c) the (d) any

10. "Please bring me a glass of water," said the old man. (Report this) (a) The old man said to bring him water. (b) The old man requested to bring him a glass of water. (c) The old man ordered for a glass of water. (d) The old man asked if I can bring water.

11. There is _______ hope of his recovery after the major accident. (a) many (b) few (c) little (d) a few

12. Mathematics _______ always been a challenging subject for Rahul. (a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were

13. We _______ follow the traffic rules to ensure everyone's safety. (a) can (b) might (c) must (d) could

14. I _______ my homework before the power went out. (a) finish (b) have finished (c) had finished (d) was finishing

15. "I will call you tomorrow," promised Ritu. (Report this) (a) Ritu promised that she will call me tomorrow. (b) Ritu promised that she would call me the next day. (c) Ritu promised she would call me tomorrow. (d) Ritu promised that I will be called.

16. Each of the students _______ given a library card yesterday. (a) were (b) was (c) are (d) have been

17. How _______ sugar do you want in your tea? (a) much (b) many (c) few (d) some

18. Identify the error: "One of my teacher is very kind." (a) One (b) teacher (c) is (d) kind

19. You _______ hurry; we have plenty of time before the train arrives. (a) mustn't (b) shouldn't (c) needn't (d) can't

20. The principal _______ to meet you in the office right now. (a) wants (b) want (c) is wanting (d) has wanted


✅ Answer Key & Explanations

  1. (b) has (Committee is acting as a single unit here).

  2. (c) have been reading (Action started in past and continuing).

  3. (b) The stranger asked where my house was. (Direct question becomes a statement in reported speech).

  4. (c) mustn't (Strong legal or moral prohibition).

  5. (b) were (When using 'neither/nor', verb agrees with the closer subject 'players').

  6. (b) will have started (Future perfect for an action completed by a specific time).

  7. (c) were (Subjunctive mood for imaginary conditions).

  8. (b) are (News is always singular; correction is 'is').

  9. (b) an (MP starts with a vowel sound 'em').

  10. (b) The old man requested... ('Please' indicates a request).

  11. (c) little (Uncountable and used in a negative sense—meaning almost no hope).

  12. (b) has (Subject names ending in 's' are singular).

  13. (c) must (Compulsion/Duty).

  14. (c) had finished (Action completed before another past action).

  15. (b) Ritu promised that she would call me the next day. ('Will' becomes 'would' and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day').

  16. (b) was ('Each' is always singular).

  17. (a) much (Uncountable noun).

  18. (b) teacher (Correction: teachers. 'One of' always takes a plural noun).

  19. (c) needn't (Lack of necessity).

  20. (a) wants (Stative verbs like 'want' are generally not used in the continuous '-ing' form).

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