11+ Grammar Questions: Practice Questions & Answers
Preparing for the 11+ English exam involves more than learning vocabulary and reading comprehension; children also need a solid understanding of grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Practising 11 plus grammar questions helps children recognise word classes, use verb tenses correctly and identify common grammatical errors.
This guide includes 20 practice questions with answers and explanations, covering essential grammar rules and more challenging concepts to help your child build confidence. For broader preparation, explore our 11+ English syllabus and 11+ English Revision Guide. You can also use BBC Bitesize to reinforce grammar skills through additional learning resources.
Page Contents
What Do 11+ Grammar Questions Test?
11+ grammar questions assess how well children understand and apply the rules of written English. Depending on the assessment, children may be asked to identify a word class, complete a sentence, select the grammatically correct option or recognise an error.
Common grammar topics include:
| Topic | What children need to understand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nouns | Words that name people, places, things or ideas | The teacher smiled. |
| Verbs | Words that express actions or states | The children played outside. |
| Adjectives | Words that describe nouns | It was a stormy evening. |
| Adverbs | Words that modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs | She spoke quietly. |
| Pronouns | Words used in place of nouns or noun phrases | They arrived early. |
| Tenses | How verbs express time | She walked home. |
| Subject–verb agreement | Matching a verb to its subject | The dog runs. |
| Sentence structure | How words and clauses form sentences | Although it rained, we went out. |
| Punctuation | Marks that make meaning clear | The girl’s coat was blue. |
| Apostrophes | Indicating possession or omitted letters | The children’s books were missing. |
Children should learn the rules and practise applying them in context. Simply memorising definitions is not enough if they cannot recognise the correct form in a sentence.
20 11+ Grammar Questions With Answers
Try answering the questions before looking at the answer key. Encourage your child to explain why an answer is correct, as this helps develop understanding rather than guesswork.
Section 1: Word Classes
Question 1: Nouns
Which word is the noun in the sentence below?
The gardener watered the plants.
A. Watered
B. Gardener
C. The
D. The word “the” is the noun
Question 2: Adjectives
Which word is the adjective in this sentence?
The enormous castle stood on the hill.
A. Stood
B. Hill
C. Enormous
D. On
Question 3: Adverbs
Choose the adverb in the sentence below.
The athlete ran swiftly towards the finish line.
A. Athlete
B. Ran
C. Swiftly
D. Finish
Question 4: Pronouns
Which word is the pronoun in this sentence?
Amelia said that she would help.
A. Amelia
B. Said
C. Help
D. She
Section 2: Verbs and Tenses
Question 5: Past tense
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
Yesterday, Tom ______ his grandmother.
A. Visits
B. Visited
C. Visiting
D. Will visit
Question 6: Subject–verb agreement
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. The dogs runs across the field.
B. The dogs run across the field.
C. The dogs is running across the field.
D. The dogs was running across the field.
Question 7: Present perfect tense
Choose the correct completion.
She ______ her homework already.
A. Has finished
B. Have finished
C. Had finish
D. Finishing
Question 8: Irregular verbs
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
Yesterday, the children ______ to the museum.
A. Goed
B. Goes
C. Went
D. Going
Section 3: Sentence Structure and Grammar Rules
Question 9: Correct sentence
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A. Neither of the boys were ready.
B. Neither of the boys was ready.
C. Neither of the boys are ready yesterday.
D. Neither of the boys be ready.
Question 10: Conjunctions
Choose the best conjunction to complete the sentence.
We stayed indoors ______ it was raining heavily.
A. Because
B. Unless
C. Although
D. Or
Question 11: Prepositions
Choose the correct preposition.
The cat jumped ______ the wall.
A. Across
B. Under
C. Over
D. Between
Question 12: Comparative adjectives
Choose the correct word.
This puzzle is ______ than the previous one.
A. Difficult
B. More difficult
C. Most difficult
D. More difficultest
Section 4: Punctuation and Apostrophes
Question 13: Apostrophes for possession
Which sentence correctly shows that the coat belongs to one girl?
A. The girls coat was red.
B. The girl’s coat was red.
C. The girls’ coat was red.
D. The girl’s’ coat was red.
Question 14: Direct speech
Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?
A. “Where are you going”? asked Ben.
B. “Where are you going?” asked Ben.
C. Where are you going? “asked Ben.”
D. “Where are you going, asked Ben?”
Question 15: Commas
Which sentence uses the comma correctly?
A. After lunch we, went to the park.
B. After, lunch we went to the park.
C. After lunch, we went to the park.
D. After lunch we went, to the park.
Question 16: Apostrophes for contractions
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
I ______ know the answer.
A. Dont
B. Don’t
C. Dont’
D. Do’nt
Section 5: More Challenging Grammar Questions
Question 17: Relative pronouns
Choose the correct word.
The girl ______ won the competition received a medal.
A. Which
B. Who
C. Where
D. When
Question 18: Sentence fragments
Which option is a complete sentence?
A. Because the weather was cold.
B. Walking through the garden.
C. The children played outside until sunset.
D. Although she was tired.
Question 19: Active and passive voice
Which sentence is written in the passive voice?
A. The chef prepared the meal.
B. The meal was prepared by the chef.
C. The chef is preparing the meal.
D. The chef will prepare the meal.
Question 20: Identify the grammatical error
Which sentence contains a subject–verb agreement error?
A. The class begins at nine o’clock.
B. My friends enjoy reading.
C. The list of items are on the desk.
D. The children were excited.
Answers and Explanations
Use this answer key to review each question and identify any topics that need more practice.
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B — Gardener | “Gardener” names a person, so it is a noun. “Plants” is also a noun in the sentence. |
| 2 | C — Enormous | “Enormous” describes the size of the castle, so it is an adjective. |
| 3 | C — Swiftly | “Swiftly” describes how the athlete ran, so it functions as an adverb. |
| 4 | D — She | “She” is a pronoun referring to Amelia. |
| 5 | B — Visited | “Yesterday” indicates the past, so the past-tense verb “visited” is correct. |
| 6 | B — The dogs run across the field. | The plural subject “dogs” takes “run”, not “runs” or “is”. |
| 7 | A — Has finished | “She” takes “has” in the present perfect tense. |
| 8 | C — Went | “Went” is the past tense of the irregular verb “go”. |
| 9 | B — Neither of the boys was ready. | In standard formal English, “neither” is singular here and takes “was”. |
| 10 | A — Because | “Because” explains why the group stayed indoors. |
| 11 | C — Over | “Over the wall” describes the cat jumping from one side to the other. |
| 12 | B — More difficult | “More difficult” is the correct comparative form in this sentence. |
| 13 | B — The girl’s coat was red. | The apostrophe before the “s” indicates possession by one girl. |
| 14 | B — “Where are you going?” asked Ben. | The question mark belongs inside the quotation marks because it punctuates the spoken question. |
| 15 | C — After lunch, we went to the park. | A comma can separate an introductory phrase from the main clause. |
| 16 | B — Don’t | “Don’t” is the contraction of “do not”. |
| 17 | B — Who | “Who” refers to a person in this relative clause. |
| 18 | C — The children played outside until sunset. | This is a complete sentence with a subject and a main verb. |
| 19 | B — The meal was prepared by the chef. | The subject receives the action in the passive construction. |
| 20 | C — The list of items are on the desk. | The main subject is singular (“list”), so the verb should be “is”. |
Suggested score guide: This is an informal practice set, not an official 11+ grading scale.
- 17–20 correct: Good performance on these questions; try more challenging mixed-topic practice.
- 13–16 correct: Review the topics behind incorrect answers, then practise again.
- 9–12 correct: Focus on the foundational rules before moving to harder questions.
- 0–8 correct: Work through one grammar topic at a time and build confidence gradually.
A score is only a starting point. The most useful next step is to understand why each incorrect answer was wrong.
How to Improve 11+ Grammar Skills
1. Focus on one topic at a time
If your child struggles with apostrophes, spend a session distinguishing possession from contractions. If verb tenses are difficult, practise choosing the correct form in different sentences before combining topics.
2. Explain the rule behind each answer
Instead of simply correcting a response, ask your child to explain the grammar rule. For example, in “The list of items is on the desk”, the main subject is “list”, not “items”. Recognising the subject helps children choose the correct verb.
3. Practise in short, regular sessions
Short sessions focused on a particular skill can make grammar easier to manage. Revisit previously learned topics so that children remember and apply the rules over time.
4. Move from individual questions to mixed practice
Once your child understands the main rules, combine word classes, tenses, sentence structure and punctuation in the same practice session. This helps them identify which rule applies without being told the topic in advance.
5. Introduce timed practice gradually
Speed matters in some assessments, but accuracy and understanding should come first. Introduce time limits once your child is comfortable with the question types and check that the practice reflects the target school’s test format.
For more structured preparation, read our 11+ English Revision Guide and 11+ English Practice Guide.
Where to Find More 11+ Grammar Practice
Use a combination of targeted grammar questions, wider English practice and reading to develop a balanced preparation routine.
- Grammar questions: Revisit this page and repeat questions that caused difficulty.
- English practice questions: Use our 11+ English Practice Questions for wider practice.
- Vocabulary: Build word knowledge with our 11+ Vocabulary List.
- Full exam preparation: Follow our 11+ English Complete Guide.
- Official familiarisation materials: Check GL Assessment’s free 11+ materials if your child is preparing for a GL Assessment test. The appropriate materials and format depend on the target school or admissions authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grammar topics are tested in the 11+?
Depending on the school and test provider, English assessments may include word classes, verb tenses, sentence structure, subject–verb agreement, punctuation, apostrophes and other language skills. Check the requirements for your target school rather than assuming every assessment is identical.
How can I practise 11+ grammar questions at home?
Start with short, topic-based questions and review the answers together. Once your child understands the rules, introduce mixed questions and gradually add timed practice where appropriate.
Are 11+ grammar questions multiple choice?
Some assessments use multiple-choice questions, while formats can vary between schools and test providers. Practise the format your child is likely to encounter and check official guidance for the target assessment.
How many grammar questions should my child practise each day?
There is no fixed daily number that suits every child. A manageable set of questions with careful feedback is a useful starting point. Adjust the amount based on your child’s confidence, schoolwork and the time remaining before the assessment.
Are grammar questions enough to prepare for 11+ English?
No. Grammar is one part of English preparation. Children may also need to develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling and other skills depending on the assessment.
Final Thoughts
Regular practice with 11+ grammar questions helps children strengthen their understanding of word classes, verb forms, sentence structure and punctuation. The aim is not simply to memorise answers but to recognise the rules and apply them accurately in unfamiliar sentences.
Start with the questions your child finds manageable, review mistakes carefully and gradually introduce more challenging practice. Combine grammar with vocabulary, comprehension and the relevant exam-style materials to build a balanced approach to 11+ English.
