23 Grammar & Spelling Practice Questions & Answers
Every Grammar & Spelling practice question from the Civil Service Clerical Exam Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. Which word is spelled correctly?
- A.accomodate
- B.accommodate✓ Answer
- C.accommadate
- D.acommodate
The correct spelling is 'accommodate,' which has a double 'c' and a double 'm.' It is one of the most commonly misspelled English words because writers often drop one of the doubled consonants.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — spelling of 'accommodate'Report a problem with this question
2. Choose the correct verb: 'Each of the employees ___ responsible for a workstation.'
- A.have been
- B.were
- C.are
- D.is✓ Answer
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'each,' which is always singular and takes a singular verb, so 'is' is correct. The plural noun 'employees' inside the prepositional phrase does not control the verb.
Source: Subject-verb agreement rule — indefinite pronoun 'each' takes a singular verbReport a problem with this question
3. Which sentence is written correctly?
- A.The company lost its' contract.
- B.The company lost it's contract.
- C.The company lost its's contract.
- D.The company lost its contract.✓ Answer
The possessive form of 'it' is 'its,' with no apostrophe. 'It's' with an apostrophe is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has,' which does not fit here.
Source: Possessive pronoun rule — 'its' (possessive) vs. 'it's' (contraction)Report a problem with this question
4. Which word is the best synonym for 'diligent'?
- A.hardworking✓ Answer
- B.wealthy
- C.careless
- D.cheerful
'Diligent' means showing careful and persistent effort in work, so 'hardworking' is the closest synonym. 'Careless' is actually its opposite.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — definition of 'diligent'Report a problem with this question
5. Which word is the best antonym for 'scarce'?
- A.rare
- B.limited
- C.abundant✓ Answer
- D.hidden
'Scarce' means available in insufficient quantity, so its antonym is 'abundant,' meaning plentiful. 'Rare' and 'limited' are near-synonyms of 'scarce,' not opposites.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — 'scarce' and its antonym 'abundant'Report a problem with this question
6. Choose the correct word: 'The clerks placed ___ files on the shelf before leaving.'
- A.there
- B.there's
- C.they're
- D.their✓ Answer
'Their' is the possessive form showing the files belong to the clerks. 'There' refers to a place, and 'they're' is a contraction of 'they are.'
Source: Usage rule — 'their' (possessive) vs. 'there' (place) vs. 'they're' (contraction)Report a problem with this question
7. Choose the correct word: 'To ___ should I address this complaint?'
- A.who's
- B.whom✓ Answer
- C.whose
- D.who
'Whom' is correct because it is the object of the preposition 'to.' 'Who' is used only as a subject, while 'whom' functions as an object.
Source: Pronoun case rule — 'whom' as the object of a prepositionReport a problem with this question
8. Choose the correct word: 'There were ___ errors in this month's report than last month's.'
- A.least
- B.less
- C.lesser
- D.fewer✓ Answer
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'errors,' while 'less' is used with uncountable quantities such as water or time. Because errors can be counted, 'fewer' is correct.
Source: Usage rule — 'fewer' with countable nouns, 'less' with uncountable nounsReport a problem with this question
9. Which word is the best synonym for 'concise'?
- A.vague
- B.brief✓ Answer
- C.lengthy
- D.loud
'Concise' means expressing much in few words, so 'brief' is the best synonym. 'Lengthy' is its opposite, and 'vague' refers to a lack of clarity rather than length.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — definition of 'concise'Report a problem with this question
10. Choose the correct word: 'The new policy will ___ how overtime is calculated.'
- A.affect✓ Answer
- B.effects
- C.affects
- D.effect
'Affect' is a verb meaning to influence or change, which fits after 'will.' 'Effect' is normally a noun meaning a result, so it does not fit this verb slot.
Source: Usage rule — 'affect' (verb, to influence) vs. 'effect' (noun, a result)Report a problem with this question
11. Which word is the best antonym for 'obsolete'?
- A.current✓ Answer
- B.outdated
- C.broken
- D.ancient
'Obsolete' means no longer in use or out of date, so its antonym is 'current,' meaning up to date and in use. 'Outdated' and 'ancient' are near-synonyms, not opposites.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — 'obsolete' and its antonym 'current'Report a problem with this question
12. Which word is the best synonym for 'prompt' (as in prompt payment)?
- A.reluctant
- B.delayed
- C.timely✓ Answer
- D.careless
As an adjective, 'prompt' means done without delay, so 'timely' is the best synonym. 'Delayed' is its direct opposite.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — definition of 'prompt' (adjective)Report a problem with this question
13. Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- A.The two clerks desk's were cleared.
- B.The two clerk's desks were cleared.
- C.The two clerks's desks were cleared.
- D.The two clerks' desks were cleared.✓ Answer
For a plural noun that already ends in 's,' the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the 's.' Since two clerks own the desks, 'clerks'' is the correct plural possessive.
Source: Punctuation rule — plural possessive of nouns ending in 's' takes an apostrophe onlyReport a problem with this question
14. Choose the correctly spelled word: 'Please file these documents in ___ folders.'
- A.seperete
- B.separrate
- C.separate✓ Answer
- D.seperate
The correct spelling is 'separate,' which contains the sequence 'par' and an 'a' in the middle, not an 'e.' It is frequently misspelled as 'seperate' because the middle vowel is unstressed and sounds like a schwa.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — spelling of 'separate'Report a problem with this question
15. Choose the correct verb: 'Neither the supervisor nor the clerks ___ available for the meeting.'
- A.was
- B.is
- C.are✓ Answer
- D.has been
In a 'neither...nor' construction, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. Because 'clerks' is plural and stands closest to the verb, the plural form 'are' is correct.
Source: Subject-verb agreement rule — proximity rule for 'neither...nor' subjectsReport a problem with this question
16. Choose the correct word: 'The board announced ___ decision to the staff.'
- A.they're
- B.their
- C.it's
- D.its✓ Answer
In American English a collective noun like 'board' is treated as a single unit and takes the singular possessive pronoun 'its.' 'Their' would incorrectly treat the board as plural, and 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is.'
Source: Pronoun-antecedent agreement rule — collective nouns take singular 'its' in American EnglishReport a problem with this question
17. Choose the correct word: 'Please make sure ___ workstation is locked before you leave.'
- A.you're
- B.your✓ Answer
- C.your's
- D.yours
'Your' is the possessive determiner that must come before a noun like 'workstation.' 'You're' is a contraction of 'you are,' 'yours' stands alone without a following noun, and 'your's' is never correct.
Source: Usage rule — 'your' (possessive determiner) vs. 'you're' (contraction of 'you are')Report a problem with this question
18. Choose the correct word: 'The updated procedure is faster ___ the previous one.'
- A.that
- B.then
- C.than✓ Answer
- D.thin
'Than' is a conjunction used to introduce the second element in a comparison, which is required after the comparative 'faster.' 'Then' refers to time or sequence and cannot signal a comparison.
Source: Usage rule — 'than' (comparison) vs. 'then' (time or sequence)Report a problem with this question
19. Which word is the best synonym for 'sufficient'?
- A.adequate✓ Answer
- B.excessive
- C.optional
- D.insufficient
'Sufficient' means enough to meet a need, so 'adequate' is the closest synonym. 'Excessive' means too much and 'insufficient' means not enough, so both differ in meaning.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — definition of 'sufficient'Report a problem with this question
20. Which word is the best antonym for 'prohibit'?
- A.forbid
- B.permit✓ Answer
- C.ban
- D.restrict
'Prohibit' means to formally forbid an action, so its antonym is 'permit,' meaning to allow. 'Forbid,' 'ban,' and 'restrict' are near-synonyms of 'prohibit,' not opposites.
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary — 'prohibit' and its antonym 'permit'Report a problem with this question
21. Choose the correct word: 'The ___ signature is required on each form.' (referring to one supervisor)
- A.supervisor's✓ Answer
- B.supervisor
- C.supervisors'
- D.supervisors
To show that the signature belongs to one supervisor, the singular possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe plus 's': 'supervisor's.' 'Supervisors'' would indicate more than one supervisor, and the forms without an apostrophe are not possessive.
Source: Punctuation rule — singular possessive is formed by adding apostrophe + 's'Report a problem with this question
22. Choose the correct word: 'The office ordered new ___ for printing letters and envelopes.'
- A.stationnery
- B.stationarry
- C.stationery✓ Answer
- D.stationary
'Stationery,' spelled with an 'e,' means writing paper and related supplies, which fits letters and envelopes. 'Stationary,' spelled with an 'a,' means not moving; the other two options are misspellings.
Source: Usage rule — 'stationery' (writing paper) vs. 'stationary' (not moving)Report a problem with this question
23. Choose the correct word: 'The supervisor will ___ the new clerks on office procedures.'
- A.adviced
- B.advices
- C.advise✓ Answer
- D.advice
'Advise' is the verb meaning to give guidance, and a verb is required after 'will.' 'Advice' is a noun meaning the guidance itself, and 'advices'/'adviced' are not standard forms.
Source: Usage rule — 'advise' (verb) vs. 'advice' (noun)Report a problem with this question
Practice questions modeled on the common domains of civil service clerical-ability exams (grammar/spelling, math, filing, clerical accuracy). Not affiliated with or endorsed by any civil-service commission or testing vendor. Jurisdictions use different exams — check your announcement for its specific format. USAJOBS →