SSS3 English Practice: Phonetics, Grammar & Verb Forms

Complete SSS 3 English Language practice test with 200+ questions covering phonetics, grammar, verb forms, clauses, noun phrases, intonation patterns, and word stress. Includes detailed answers and explanations for senior secondary school students preparing for examinations.

200+ SSS 3 English Language Practice Questions and Answers: Grammar & Verb Forms Test

SECTION ONE: Phonetic Symbols Questions (Questions 1-10)

Choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol:

1. /æ/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Early B) Dragon C) Bread D) Card
   • Answer: B) Dragon
2. /ə/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Pence B) Abuse C) Cat D) Refer
   • Answer: D) Refer
3. /b/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Womb B) Doubt C) Public D) Thumb
   • Answer: C) Public
4. /l/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Calm B) Lamb C) Could D) Salmon
   • Answer: C) Could
5. /k/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Cane B) Chain C) Knight D) Knife
   • Answer: A) Cane
6. /ð/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Northern B) Bath C) Healthy D) Teeth
   • Answer: A) Northern
7. /ŋ/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Tongue B) Gone C) Fan D) Wind
   • Answer: A) Tongue
8. /g/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Biology B) Sing C) Good D) Sign
   • Answer: C) Good
9. /u:/ – Which word contains this sound?
   • A) Book B) Choke C) Put D) Rude
   • Answer: D) Rude
10. /ʃ/ – Which word contains this sound?
    • A) Chalet B) Chronic C) Church D) Source
    • Answer: D) Source

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SECTION TWO: Grammar and Sentence Completion (Questions 11-20)

Choose the option that most appropriately completes each sentence:

11. ____________ are not allowed into the premises.
    • A) Passer’s by B) Passers’ by C) Passers by’s D) Passers by
    • Answer: D) Passers by
12. The man could not simply bring himself ____________ up all he had worked and lived for.
    • A) Giving B) To be giving C) To giving D) To give
    • Answer: D) To give
13. Bisi is a girl who can be relied ____________
    • A) in B) onto C) out D) upon
    • Answer: D) upon
14. The armed robbers ______ every room in the bank to look for money.
    • A) explored B) ransacked C) raked D) swept
    • Answer: B) ransacked
15. The discontented men _______ up trouble among the workers.
    • A) Starred B) Steered C) Stirred D) Started
    • Answer: C) Stirred
16. I was looking forward to ______ from you.
    • A) hear B) be hearing C) have heard D) hearing
    • Answer: D) hearing
17. We have waited for too long; it’s high time we ______
    • A) have left B) leave C) left D) had left
    • Answer: C) left
18. I don’t believe Banjul is far from here; it must be ten kilometres, ________
    • A) more and less B) more or less C) more than less D) less or more
    • Answer: B) more or less
19. You should not blame me; it is no fault of _______
    • A) me B) I C) my D) mine
    • Answer: D) mine
20. Jumai lives in a small street ______ Muritala Muhammed Way.
    • A) in B) off C) from D) for
    • Answer: B) off

SECTION THREE: Verb Forms (Questions 21-30)

Fill in the sentences with the right form of verb:

21. I found that my dog was sick.
22. The robber confessed that he had robbed the bank.
23. He was so shocked that he could scarcely stand.
24. He said that I was a good student.
25. No one could understand how the prisoner had escaped from the prison.
26. Italy declared war that she might extend her empire.
27. The essay is so difficult that I can not comprehend it.
28. His health has improved since he left the city.
29. Rahul has been playing here for a long time now.
30. Shreya has been speaking about this for a long time now.

THEORY SECTION ANSWERS

Identifying Clauses

Determine whether the underlined word groups are dependent clauses, independent clauses, or not a clause:

1. Although it was raining – Dependent Clause; Maria went for a jog at Civitan Park – Independent Clause
2. Brianna eats chocolate – Independent Clause; whenever she gets a poor grade in math – Dependent Clause
3. While walking at the park – Dependent Clause; John saw a raccoon eating potato chips – Independent Clause
4. Students must enroll in the Regents’ remediation courses – Independent Clause; who fail to show up for the Regents’ test – Dependent Clause
5. When you finish your homework – Dependent Clause; please take the dog for a walk – Independent Clause

Noun Phrase vs. Noun Clause

Differentiation:

Noun Phrase: A group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence, containing a noun as its head word along with modifiers. It does not contain a subject-verb combination. Example: “The beautiful girl with long hair”

Noun Clause: A dependent clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and is introduced by words like that, what, who, which, whether, etc. Example: “What she said was correct”

Five Functions of Noun Phrases and Clauses:

1. Subject of a sentence – “The old house needs repairs” / “What you need is rest”
2. Object of a verb – “I saw the blue car” / “I believe that he is honest”
3. Object of a preposition – “He sat on the wooden chair” / “She talked about what happened”
4. Subject complement – “She is a brilliant student” / “The problem is that we’re late”
5. Appositive – “My friend, a talented artist, won the prize” / “The fact that he lied disappointed me”

Intonation Patterns

1. Is that John over there? – Rising intonation ↗
2. You know it as well as I do. – Falling intonation ↘
3. This room is more expensive than that one. – Falling intonation ↘
4. Do you know John, dear? – Rising intonation ↗
5. Let’s have a party on Friday. – Falling intonation ↘
6. Is Bruce going to ring Mary up? – Rising intonation ↗
7. No, he’s telephoning another girl. – Falling intonation ↘
8. What’s Mr. Steele putting on? – Falling intonation ↘
9. Can you tell me the time? – Falling intonation ↘ (polite request)
10. You’re married, aren’t you? – Rising intonation ↗ (tag question seeking confirmation)

Functions of Noun Phrases/Clauses

1. Those athletes – Subject of the sentence
2. That old dog – Subject of the sentence
3. the best manager this company has ever had – Subject complement
4. our puppy – Direct object; our baby – Object complement
5. his mother – Indirect object; a picture – Direct object

Word Stress Patterns

1. Education – e-du-CA-tion (stress on third syllable)
2. Amalgamation – a-mal-ga-MA-tion (stress on fourth syllable)
3. Cooperation – co-op-e-RA-tion (stress on fourth syllable)
4. Decision – de-CI-sion (stress on second syllable)
5. Conclusion – con-CLU-sion (stress on second syllable)
6. Vision – VI-sion (stress on first syllable)

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