English Spelling Rules Questions and Answers

This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “English Spelling Rules”.

1. The words which end with ie, when added with ing changes the ie to y.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Consider the word ‘lie’ which ends with ie. When the suffix ing is added, the word becomes ‘lying’ as mentioned in the statement.

2. Identify the word with the correct spelling.
a) conciet
b) greive
c) achieve
d) concieve
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: ‘Achieve’ is the word with correct spelling among the options. ‘Conceit’, ‘grieve’ and ‘conceive’ are the correct spellings of the other options.

3. Choose the sentence in which the italicized word violates the spelling rules.
a) The lived happily ever after
b) His father was handicaped
c) It is truly remarkable
d) Krishna is courageous
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The word ‘handicap’ has two syllable and the last syllable is stressed. Thus, when a suffix is added to the word like ‘ed’, the consonant at the end of the word doubles. The correct word should be ‘handicapped’.
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4. From the options below, identify the wrong one.
a) beg + ed = beged
b) begin + ing = beginning
c) kidnap + er = kidnapper
d) skill + ful = skilful
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The word ‘beg’ has only one syllable and ends with a consonant ‘g’. The consonant doubles when a suffix with a vowel is added. Thus, ‘begged’ will be the correct word.

5. Select the option in which the word is spelled correctly.
a) receive
b) reciept
c) yeild
d) deciet
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: A thumb rule is that ‘e’ should come before ‘i’ after the letter ‘c’, like in the word ‘receive’. The correct spelling of other options are ‘receipt’, ‘yield’ and ‘deceit’.

6. Select the option with the wrong combination.
a) sad + est = saddest
b) rob + er = robber
c) whole + ly = wholly
d) hope + ful = hopful
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The word is ‘hope + ful = hopeful’. In such words, the letter ‘e’ remains as the suffix begins with a consonant.

7. Identify the sentence that violates the spelling rule regarding ‘ie/ei’ ?
a) You were supposed to be my friend
b) Tell me your weight in kg
c) There was a surfiet of food at the wedding
d) I don’t believe your story
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The correct word for the sentence is ‘surfeit’ and not ‘surfiet’. The meaning of the word ‘surfeit’ is ‘an excessive amount of something’.
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8. Which of the following option has the correct spelling?
a) payed
b) counterfeit
c) sieze
d) releive
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The word ‘counterfeit’ is the required answer. ‘Paid’, ‘seize’ and ‘relieve’ are the correct spelling for the other words.

9. The letter e is always dropped, when words ending with e are added to a suffix.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The statement might be true for some words like ‘live’ and ‘hope’. When the suffix ‘ing’ is added to them, those words change to ‘living’ and ‘hoping’ respectively. But, consider the word ‘notice’ which forms the word ‘noticeable’ when the suffix ‘able’ is attached to it.
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10. Which of the following options violates the spelling rules?
a) fear + ing = fearing
b) true + ly = truly
c) agree + ment = agrement
d) run + ing = running
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The words ending in ‘ee’ do not drop an ‘e’ when added to a suffix. Thus, the correct combination should be agree + ment = agreement.

11. Which of the sentences uses a word with the wrong spelling?
a) The change is noticeable
b) The police are still searching for the theives
c) Running is a good exercise
d) You are not permitted to leave
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The letters ‘ie’ are pronounced like ‘ee’ in the word ‘thieves’. Thus, here the letter ‘i’ should come before ‘e’.

12. Choose the option that does not follow the spelling rules.
a) say + ed = said
b) suffer + ing = sufferring
c) day + ly = daily
d) change + able = changeable
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The word ‘suffer’ has two syllables and ends with a consonant. But the last syllable is not stressed and thus, the consonant will not double itself when a suffix is added.

13. Choose the word with correct spelling among the options.
a) protien
b) decieve
c) benefited
d) feild
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: In the word ‘benefited’, the consonant ‘t’ is not doubled because the last syllable is not stressed. ‘Protein’, ‘deceive’ and ‘field’ are the correct spellings of other options.

14. In which of the following sentences, the italicized word violates the spelling rule?
a) The aftermath of a full-fledged nuclear war is inconcievable
b) The argument between the two friends led to a dispute
c) She was beautiful
d) He worshipped his mentor
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The sentence should be rephrased as ‘The aftermath of a full-fledged nuclear war is inconceivable’. The letter ‘e’ should come before ‘i’.

15. Identify the option that violates the spelling rules.
a) move + ed = moved
b) will + ful = willful
c) fear + ing = fearing
d) lay + ed = laid
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The second ‘l’ has to be dropped for words ending in ‘ll’, when being combined with the suffix ‘ful’. Thus, the correct word is wilful.

To practice all topics of English Grammar, here is complete set of 5000+ Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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