MDCAT English chapter 1: English · Grammar and usage MCQs with answers

By Team Megalecture · Updated 4 Nov 2026

66 exam-style questions on English · Grammar and usage, each with the answer and a short explanation. Ten of them are below to try. The chapter test draws ten fresh questions each time and is marked the moment you finish, with your score by topic.

66 questions · 3 topics · 10 per test

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What chapter 1 covers

Ten English · Grammar and usage questions with answers

Try each one, then open the answer. These ten stay the same; the test draws new ones every time.

1. Physics ____ my favourite subject at college.

  1. A
    are
  2. B
    were
  3. C
    have been
  4. D
    is
Show answer

Answer: D. Subjects ending in -ics, such as physics and economics, are singular nouns.

2. While I ____ for the exam last night, the power went out.

  1. A
    have been studying
  2. B
    was studying
  3. C
    am studying
  4. D
    will study
Show answer

Answer: B. A longer past action interrupted by a short one takes the past continuous. "Last night" rules out the present perfect.

3. The students ____ for two hours when the examiner finally allowed them a break.

  1. A
    have been writing
  2. B
    were written
  3. C
    are writing
  4. D
    had been writing
Show answer

Answer: D. Duration up to a past moment ("when the examiner allowed") takes the past perfect continuous. "Have been writing" runs up to now, which clashes with the past verb "allowed".

4. Ten kilometres ____ a long distance to walk in this heat.

  1. A
    are
  2. B
    were
  3. C
    is
  4. D
    have been
Show answer

Answer: C. An amount of distance, money or time treated as one quantity takes a singular verb.

5. Choose the correct reported speech: He said to me, "Where do you live?"

  1. A
    He asked me where did I live.
  2. B
    He asked me where do you live.
  3. C
    He asked me where I lived.
  4. D
    He asked me where I had lived.
Show answer

Answer: C. A reported question uses statement word order (no "did") and backshifts the tense: "do you live" becomes "I lived".

6. If I ____ you, I would see a doctor about that cough.

  1. A
    am
  2. B
    had been
  3. C
    will be
  4. D
    were
Show answer

Answer: D. An imaginary present situation takes the second conditional: "If I were you, I would ...". "Had been" would need "would have seen".

7. He insisted ____ paying for everyone's lunch.

  1. A
    on
  2. B
    for
  3. C
    at
  4. D
    to
Show answer

Answer: A. The verb "insist" takes "on" (or "upon") before a noun or -ing form.

8. Choose the correct reported speech: She said to me, "Will you help me?"

  1. A
    She asked me if I will help her.
  2. B
    She asked me will I help her.
  3. C
    She asked me if would I help her.
  4. D
    She asked me if I would help her.
Show answer

Answer: D. A yes/no question is reported with "if" or "whether", statement word order, and "will" changed to "would".

9. Choose the correct passive form: "They were cleaning the ward when the inspector arrived."

  1. A
    The ward was cleaned when the inspector arrived.
  2. B
    The ward was being cleaned when the inspector arrived.
  3. C
    The ward had been cleaned when the inspector arrived.
  4. D
    The ward is being cleaned when the inspector arrived.
Show answer

Answer: B. Past continuous active becomes "was/were being + past participle". "Had been cleaned" would mean the cleaning was already finished.

10. She ____ in the hostel since she joined the medical college in 2024.

  1. A
    lives
  2. B
    is living
  3. C
    has been living
  4. D
    was living
Show answer

Answer: C. "Since" plus a point in time, for an action continuing up to now, needs the present perfect (continuous). The simple and continuous present do not cover the period from 2024.

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Ways to practise this chapter

English · Grammar and usage: questions students ask

How many English · Grammar and usage MCQs are there?

66, each with the answer and a short explanation, across 3 topics: Tenses and verb forms, Agreement, articles and prepositions, Voice and reported speech. Every chapter test draws ten of them, so you can take it many times.

Is the MDCAT English chapter 1 test free?

Yes. The test, the answers and the explanations are free and need no sign-up. Sign in only if you want your scores kept across devices.

How is the chapter test marked?

The moment you press Finish: your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and the ones you got wrong saved in My mistakes to retry.

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