CBSE 10th English Grammar: Rules and Practice for 20 Board Exam Questions
Grammar carries 4 marks in the CBSE Class 10 English Board Exam (Section B: Writing and Grammar). These 4 marks are “easy marks” if you know the rules, but can be lost completely if concepts are unclear. Here is a complete guide with 20 practice questions.
CBSE English Grammar Pattern (2026)
Section B: Writing and Grammar (20 marks total)
| Component | Marks | Question Format |
|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 8 marks | 1 topic (choose 1 from 2), 150-200 words |
| Letter Writing | 8 marks | 1 topic (choose 1 from 2), 120-150 words |
| Grammar | 4 marks | 8 questions, 0.5 marks each (approximately) |
Grammar covers 8 questions for 4 marks - approximately 0.5 marks per question. Since these are “attempt all” questions, accuracy is key.
1. Tenses (Expected: 2-3 questions, 1 mark each)
Rule Overview:
| Tense | Formula | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Subject + V1 (s/es) + Object | Habitual actions, general truths |
| Present Continuous | Subject + am/is/are + V1+ing | happening now, temporary situations |
| Present Perfect | Subject + have/has + V3 | Action completed before now |
| Past Simple | Subject + V2 + Object | Completed action in past time |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + V1+ing | happening at a specific time in past |
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + V3 | Action completed before another past action |
| Future Simple | Subject + will + V1 | Future action, prediction |
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + V1+ing | happening at a specific time in future |
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + V3 | Action completed by future time |
Practice Question 1:
Convert into Past Perfect Tense: The train has left the station before we reach the platform.
Practice Question 2:
Convert into Future Continuous Tense: I will meet you at the airport tomorrow.
Practice Question 3:
Identify the tense: The boy has been playing cricket since 4 PM.
Practice Question 4:
Complete the sentence with correct tense: By next year, I ______ (complete) my degree.
Practice Question 5:
Identify the error and correct: She don’t like apples. (Correct: doesn’t)
2. Clauses (Expected: 1-2 questions, 0.5-1 mark each)
Types of Clauses:
| Clause Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun Clause | that + clause | I know that he is coming. |
| Adjective Clause | who, which, whom, whose | The boy who won the prize is my friend. |
| Adverb Clause | because, although, if, when | I stayed home because it was raining. |
Practice Question 6:
Join the sentences using a noun clause: He is ill. I cannot go to school.
Practice Question 7:
Begin the sentence with the word given: The teacher is here. (who) ________________________
Practice Question 8:
Rewrite using “if”: You will fail if you do not study.
Practice Question 9:
Begin the sentence with the word given: He is honest. (whom) ________________________
3. Reported Speech (Expected: 1-2 questions, 0.5-1 mark each)
Rule Overview (Backshifting of Tenses):
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| “I am busy,” he said. | He said (that) he was busy. |
| “I am going” | He said (that) he was going. |
| “I have done” | He said (that) he had done. |
| “I was” | He said (that) he had been. |
| “I will come” | He said (that) he would come. |
| “I have been working” | He said (that) he had been working. |
Practice Question 10:
Convert into Reported Speech: He said, “I am unwell.”
Practice Question 11:
Convert into Reported Speech: She said, “I have finished my work.”
Practice Question 12:
Convert into Reported Speech: He said, “I will submit the project tomorrow.”
Practice Question 13:
Convert into Reported Speech: Mother said, “Do not go out.” (Order/Request)
4. Active/Passive Voice (Expected: 1 question, 0.5 mark)
Rule Overview:
| Active Voice | Passive Voice (Present) | Passive Voice (Past) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject + V1 + Object | Object + am/is/are + V3 + by Subject | Object + was/were + V3 + by Subject |
Examples:
| Active | Passive (Present) | Passive (Past) |
|---|---|---|
| Rama loves Sita. | Sita is loved by Rama. | Sita was loved by Rama. |
| The teacher teaches us. | We are taught by the teacher. | We were taught by the teacher. |
| The painter is painting the wall. | The wall is being painted by the painter. | The wall was being painted by the painter. |
Practice Question 14:
Convert into Passive Voice (Present): The police have caught the thief.
Practice Question 15:
Convert into Passive Voice (Past): The builder had constructed the house.
5. Modals (Expected: 1-2 questions, 0.5-1 mark each)
Modal Verbs and Their Uses:
| Modal | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | Ability, permission | I can swim. (Ability) You can go. (Permission) |
| could | Past ability, possibility | I could run fast when I was young. |
| may | Permission, possibility | You may leave now. |
| must | Necessity, obligation | You must finish homework. |
| should | Advice, recommendation | You should study regularly. |
| might | Lesser possibility | It might rain tomorrow. |
| ought to | Moral obligation | You ought to help others. |
Practice Question 14:
Fill in the blank with correct modal: You ______ (must/might) switch off the lights while leaving the room.
Practice Question 15:
Fill in the blank with correct modal: You ______ (should/ought to) respect your elders.
6. Subject-Verb Agreement (Expected: 1 question, 0.5 mark)
Rule Overview:
| Subject Type | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Subject | Verb takes s/es | The boy plays cricket. |
| Plural Subject | Verb base form | The boys play cricket. |
| ‘Either/or’/‘Neither/nor’ | Verb agrees with the closer subject | Either the manager or the workers are on strike. |
| ‘The sum/difference of’ | Verb is singular | The sum of two numbers is 10. |
| Collective nouns | Verb can be singular or plural | The team is winning. / The team are arguing. |
Practice Question 16:
Choose the correct verb: The list of items is/are on the table.
Practice Question 17:
Choose the correct verb: Neither the manager nor the assistants is/are available.
Practice Question 18:
Choose the correct verb: The committee has/have made their decision.
7. Prepositions (Expected: 1 question, 0.5 mark)
Common Preposition Rules:
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | Months, years, seasons, inside | in January, in 2024, in summer |
| on | Days, dates, surfaces | on Monday, on 1st January, on the table |
| at | Clock time, specific points | at 5 PM, at the bus stop |
| for | Duration | for 2 hours, for a long time |
| since | Starting point (past) | since 2022, since morning |
| of | Possession, part of | of my friend, of the class |
| to | Direction, infinitive | to school, to read |
| with | Accompaniment, instrument | with friends, with a pen |
| about | Topic, concern | about the issue, about music |
Practice Question 19:
Fill in the blank with correct preposition: He is fond of music.
Practice Question 20:
Fill in the blank with correct preposition: She has been here since morning.
Scholar Academy’s Grammar Support
What We Offer:
✅ Daily grammar practice (10 questions, all topics covered) ✅ Grammar test every Saturday (8 questions, 4 marks, with analysis) ✅ Rule sheets (one-page summary of each grammar topic) ✅ 200+ practice questions (topic-wise, with answers and explanations) ✅ Common error log (recurring mistakes tracked and remediated) ✅ Exam-focused preparation (focus on frequently asked question types)
Grammar Practice Schedule:
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Learn 1 grammar rule + 5 practice questions | 30 minutes |
| Tuesday | 5 practice questions + review | 30 minutes |
| Wednesday | 5 practice questions + review | 30 minutes |
| Thursday | Mixed practice (all topics) | 40 minutes |
| Friday | Grammar test (8 questions, 4 marks) | 20 minutes |
| Saturday | Test analysis + weak area remediation | 20 minutes |
Grammar Scoring Strategy:
- Attempt all 8 questions - even if unsure, write something (partial marking)
- Know the top 5 topics: Tenses (2-3 questions), Clauses (1-2), Modals (1-2) - these 5 cover ~4-5 marks
- Subject-verb agreement is often 1 full mark - easy if basics are clear
- Prepositions often 1 mark - memorize the 10 most common uses
- If running out of time: Answer the 0.5-mark questions first (easier, quicker)
Grammar is scoring - 4 marks can be the difference between 88% and 92%. Regular practice of these 20 questions will ensure you don’t lose these easy marks in the board exam.
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