SS1 English Language Phonetics: Grammar & Syntax Practice Questions with Answers

Boost SS1 English Language skills with phonetics, grammar & syntax practice questions + answers. Improve exam prep & language mastery with targeted exercises.

SECTION ONE: Phonetic Symbols and Sound Identification

Question 1: /æ/

A) Early
B) Dragon
C) Bread
D) Card

Answer: B) Dragon

Question 2: /ə/

A) Pence
B) Abuse
C) Cat
D) Refer

Answer: B) Abuse

Question 3: /b/

A) Womb
B) Doubt
C) Public
D) Thumb

Answer: C) Public

Question 4: /l/

A) Calm
B) Lamb
C) Could
D) Salmon

Answer: C) Could

Question 5: /k/

A) Cane
B) Chain
C) Knight
D) Knife

Answer: A) Cane

Question 6: /ð/

A) Northern
B) Bath
C) Healthy
D) Teeth

Answer: A) Northern

Question 7: /ŋ/

A) Tongue
B) Gone
C) Fan
D) Wind

Answer: A) Tongue

Question 8: /g/

A) Biology
B) Sing
C) Good
D) Sign

Answer: C) Good

Question 9: /u:/

A) Book
B) Choke
C) Put
D) Rude

Answer: D) Rude

Question 10: /S/

A) Chalet
B) Chronic
C) Church
D) Source

Answer: D) Source

Read ALSO: SSS3 Mock English Past Questions and Answers & Complete Exam Guide with Solutions

SECTION TWO: Grammar and Sentence Completion

Question 1

____________ are not allowed into the premises.

A) Passer’s by
B) Passers’ by
C) Passers by’s
D) Passers by

Answer: D) Passers by

Question 2

The man could not simply bring himself ____________ up all he had worked and lived for.

A) Giving
B) To be giving
C) To giving
E) To give

Answer: E) To give

Question 3

Bisi is a girl who can be relied ____________

A) in
B) onto
C) out
D) upon

Answer: D) upon

Question 4

The armed robbers ______ every room in the bank to look for money.

A) explored
B) ransacked
C) raked
D) swept

Answer: B) ransacked

Question 5

The discontented men _______ up trouble among the workers.

A) Starred
B) Steered
C) Stirred
D) Started

Answer: C) Stirred

Question 6

I was looking forward to ______ from you.

A) hear
B) be hearing
C) have heard
D) hearing

Answer: D) hearing

Question 7

We have waited for too long; it’s high time we ______

A) have left
B) leave
C) left
D) had left

Answer: C) left

Question 8

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

Question 9

You should not blame me; it is no fault of _______

A) me
B) I
C) my
D) mine

Answer: D) mine

Question 10

Jumai lives in a small street ______ Muritala Muhammed Way.

A) in
B) off
C) from
D) for

Answer: B) off

SECTION THREE: Verb Forms and Tenses

Question 1

I found that my dog…………………… sick.

Answer: was

Question 2

The robber confessed that he …………………………. (rob) the bank.

Answer: had robbed

Question 3

He was so shocked that he ……………………….. scarcely stand.

Answer: could

Question 4

He said that I …………………………… a good student.

Answer: was

Question 5

No one could understand how the prisoner ………………………….. (escape) from the prison.

Answer: had escaped

Question 6

Italy declared war that she ……………………….. (extend) her empire.

Answer: would extend / might extend

Question 7

The essay is so difficult that I ……………………… not comprehend it.

Answer: can

Question 8

His health________ (improve) since he left the city.

Answer: has improved

Question 9

Rahul (play)__________________ here for a long time now.

Answer: has been playing

Question 10

Shreya (spoke)_____________about this for a long time now.

Answer: has been speaking

THEORY SECTION

Question 1: Clause Identification

1. Although it was raining, Maria went for a jog at Civitan Park.

• “Although it was raining” – Dependent clause
• “Maria went for a jog at Civitan Park” – Independent clause

2. Brianna eats chocolate whenever she gets a poor grade in math.

• “Brianna eats chocolate” – Independent clause
• “whenever she gets a poor grade in math” – Dependent clause

3. While walking at the park, John saw a raccoon eating potato chips.

• “While walking at the park” – Dependent clause (reduced adverbial clause)
• “John saw a raccoon eating potato chips” – Independent clause

4. Students who fail to show up for the Regents’ test must enroll in the Regents’ remediation courses.

• “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, please take the dog for a walk.

• “When you finish your homework” – Dependent clause
• “please take the dog for a walk” – Independent clause

Question 2: Noun Phrase vs Noun Clause

2a) Differentiation:

Noun Phrase: A group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence, with a noun or pronoun as its head, along with modifiers. It does not contain a subject-verb combination.

Example: The big brown dog barked loudly.

Noun Clause: A dependent clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and is introduced by subordinators like that, what, who, whether, etc.

Example: What you said surprised me.

2b) Five Functions of Noun Phrases and Clauses:

1. Subject of a sentence – The girl is smart. / What he said is true.
2. Object of a verb – I saw the cat. / I know that she is coming.
3. Object of a preposition – She talked about her trip. / He’s interested in what you think.
4. Subject complement – She is a doctor. / The problem is that we’re late.
5. Appositive – My friend, the engineer, helped me. / The fact that he lied hurt me.

Question 3: Intonation Patterns

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

Question 4: Functions of Underlined Noun Phrases/Clauses

1. Those athletes are my source of inspiration.
   • “Those athletes” – Subject
2. That old dog barked all night.
   • “That old dog” – Subject
3. She is the best manager this company has ever had.
   • “the best manager this company has ever had” – Subject complement
4. We consider our puppy our baby.
   • “our puppy” – Direct object
   • “our baby” – Object complement
5. The child drew his mother a picture.
   • “his mother” – Indirect object
   • “a picture” – Direct object

Question 5: 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)