This comprehensive guide provides English Lexis and Structure questions, correct answers and detailed explanations to help students improve their vocabulary, grammar and examination performance. The questions cover important topics such as synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, collocations, concord, tenses, prepositions, conjunctions, sentence completion and error identification.
Each section introduces a particular aspect of English Lexis and Structure before presenting practice questions. The answers are explained to help learners understand the grammatical or vocabulary principle being tested.
1. Understanding English Lexis and Structure
English Lexis and Structure consists of two related areas of language study: vocabulary and grammar.
What is English Lexis?
Lexis refers to the vocabulary of a language. It includes individual words, expressions, idioms and phrases that speakers use to communicate meaning.
For example:
-
Enormous means extremely large.
-
Tiny means very small.
-
Generous describes someone who is willing to give or share.
-
Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant to do something.
In examinations, lexis questions may ask students to identify synonyms, antonyms, meanings of words in context, appropriate expressions and idiomatic meanings.
What is English Structure?
Structure refers to the grammatical rules that govern how words are arranged to form meaningful sentences.
It covers areas such as:
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Subject-verb agreement.
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Tenses.
-
Pronouns.
-
Prepositions.
-
Conjunctions.
-
Articles.
-
Sentence construction.
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Clauses and phrases.
-
Conditional sentences.
-
Question tags.
For example:
Incorrect: She go to school every day.
Correct: She goes to school every day.
The second sentence is correct because the singular subject she takes the verb goes in the simple present tense.
Difference Between Lexis and Structure
| English Lexis | English Structure |
|---|---|
| Focuses on vocabulary and expressions. | Focuses on grammatical arrangement. |
| Tests word meanings. | Tests grammatical rules. |
| Includes synonyms and antonyms. | Includes concord and tenses. |
| Includes idioms and phrasal verbs. | Includes prepositions and conjunctions. |
| Helps learners choose appropriate words. | Helps learners construct correct sentences. |
Both areas work together to make communication clear, accurate and meaningful.
2. Synonyms: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
For example:
-
Happy: Glad.
-
Begin: Commence.
-
Difficult: Challenging.
-
Intelligent: Clever.
-
Rapid: Fast.
In examination questions, candidates are usually asked to choose the option nearest in meaning to a given word. The correct answer must fit the context in which the word is used.
Practice Questions
Instruction: Choose the option nearest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
1. The principal praised the students for their EXEMPLARY behaviour.
A. Poor
B. Commendable
C. Ordinary
D. Careless
2. The witness gave a CANDID account of what happened.
A. Honest
B. Confusing
C. Lengthy
D. Unnecessary
3. The manager was RELUCTANT to approve the request.
A. Eager
B. Unwilling
C. Excited
D. Prepared
4. The new policy will ALLEVIATE the suffering of the affected families.
A. Increase
B. Ignore
C. Reduce
D. Encourage
5. The politician delivered a BRIEF speech.
A. Short
B. Boring
C. Complicated
D. Loud
6. The old building was eventually DEMOLISHED.
A. Repaired
B. Destroyed
C. Painted
D. Renovated
7. The teacher asked the students to be DILIGENT in their studies.
A. Careless
B. Hardworking
C. Impatient
D. Noisy
8. His explanation was AMBIGUOUS.
A. Clear
B. Uncertain
C. Lengthy
D. Accurate
9. The chairman commended the secretary for her METICULOUS work.
A. Careless
B. Thorough
C. Hasty
D. Unnecessary
10. The family decided to ABANDON the project.
A. Continue
B. Support
C. Give up
D. Complete
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B. Commendable | Exemplary means serving as an excellent example or deserving praise. |
| 2 | A. Honest | Candid means truthful, frank or straightforward. |
| 3 | B. Unwilling | Reluctant describes someone who is hesitant or unwilling to do something. |
| 4 | C. Reduce | Alleviate means to make something less severe or painful. |
| 5 | A. Short | Brief means lasting for a short time or using few words. |
| 6 | B. Destroyed | Demolished means deliberately pulled down or destroyed. |
| 7 | B. Hardworking | Diligent describes someone who works carefully and consistently. |
| 8 | B. Uncertain | Ambiguous means having more than one possible interpretation or being unclear. |
| 9 | B. Thorough | Meticulous means extremely careful and attentive to details. |
| 10 | C. Give up | Abandon means to leave something behind or stop doing it. |
Examination tip: Do not choose a synonym simply because it looks familiar. Read the entire sentence and consider the meaning of the target word in context.
3. Antonyms: Questions, Answers and Explanations
An antonym is a word that has the opposite or nearly opposite meaning of another word.
Examples include:
-
Ancient: Modern.
-
Accept: Reject.
-
Expand: Contract.
-
Victory: Defeat.
-
Generous: Stingy.
Antonym questions test whether candidates understand the meanings of words and can identify their opposites.
Practice Questions
Instruction: Choose the option opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.
11. The chairman was praised for his GENEROUS donation.
A. Kind
B. Selfish
C. Wealthy
D. Friendly
12. The instructions were COMPLICATED.
A. Difficult
B. Confusing
C. Simple
D. Detailed
13. The witness gave a CREDIBLE account of the incident.
A. Reliable
B. Believable
C. Doubtful
D. Convincing
14. The company’s profits continued to INCREASE.
A. Rise
B. Expand
C. Decline
D. Improve
15. The soldiers remained COURAGEOUS during the battle.
A. Brave
B. Fearful
C. Strong
D. Determined
16. The teacher described the student’s answer as ACCURATE.
A. Correct
B. Precise
C. Incorrect
D. Detailed
17. The meeting was postponed because of an UNFORESEEN circumstance.
A. Unexpected
B. Anticipated
C. Sudden
D. Unusual
18. The government decided to PERMIT the demonstration.
A. Allow
B. Encourage
C. Forbid
D. Organise
19. The road became NARROW near the village.
A. Thin
B. Wide
C. Short
D. Rough
20. The manager rejected the PROPOSAL.
A. Suggestion
B. Plan
C. Acceptance
D. Recommendation
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | B. Selfish | Generous means willing to give; selfish describes someone unwilling to share. |
| 12 | C. Simple | Complicated means difficult to understand, while simple means easy to understand. |
| 13 | C. Doubtful | Credible means believable or trustworthy. Doubtful expresses the opposite idea. |
| 14 | C. Decline | Increase means to become greater; decline means to become smaller or lower. |
| 15 | B. Fearful | Courageous means brave, while fearful means afraid. |
| 16 | C. Incorrect | Accurate means correct or free from errors. |
| 17 | B. Anticipated | Unforeseen means not expected; anticipated means expected. |
| 18 | C. Forbid | Permit means allow, while forbid means prohibit. |
| 19 | B. Wide | Narrow describes something with little width; wide describes something with considerable width. |
| 20 | C. Acceptance | Reject means refuse to accept. Acceptance expresses the opposite action. |
4. Meaning of Words in Context
Some English words have several meanings. Their correct interpretation depends on how they are used in a sentence.
For example:
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The bank approved the loan. Here, bank means a financial institution.
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They sat on the bank of the river. Here, bank means the land beside a river.
This is why examination candidates must pay attention to the surrounding words instead of relying on memorised definitions alone.
Practice Questions
Instruction: Choose the option that best explains the word in capital letters as used in each sentence.
21. The principal decided to SANCTION the students who violated the school rules.
A. Reward
B. Punish
C. Employ
D. Encourage
22. The farmer cultivated a vast tract of LAND.
A. A large area of ground
B. A small garden
C. A building
D. A river
23. The chairman made a SOUND decision.
A. Noisy
B. Sensible
C. Musical
D. Weak
24. The soldiers were ordered to WITHDRAW from the battlefield.
A. Advance
B. Retreat
C. Attack
D. Remain
25. The chairman asked the members to TABLE the proposal.
A. Discuss or formally present the proposal
B. Destroy the proposal
C. Hide the proposal
D. Reject the proposal immediately
26. The student was charged with STEALING.
A. Buying goods
B. Taking something dishonestly
C. Borrowing money
D. Selling property
27. The company experienced a SHARP decline in sales.
A. Gradual
B. Sudden and significant
C. Unimportant
D. Uncertain
28. The speaker addressed the audience in a TONE of authority.
A. Manner or quality of expression
B. Musical instrument
C. Physical appearance
D. Written document
29. The judge found the accused guilty of a GRAVE offence.
A. Serious
B. Funny
C. Minor
D. Unusual
30. The committee reached a COMPROMISE after several hours of discussion.
A. Agreement involving mutual concessions
B. Complete disagreement
C. Immediate resignation
D. Refusal to negotiate
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | B. Punish | In this sentence, sanction means to impose a penalty. It can also mean to authorise, depending on context. |
| 22 | A. A large area of ground | A tract of land is an area or stretch of ground. |
| 23 | B. Sensible | Sound means reasonable or wise in this context. |
| 24 | B. Retreat | Withdraw means to move back or leave a particular place. |
| 25 | A. Discuss or formally present the proposal | In parliamentary usage, to table a proposal means to formally present it for consideration in some systems. The meaning varies by national convention. |
| 26 | B. Taking something dishonestly | Stealing means taking another person’s property without permission and with dishonest intent. |
| 27 | B. Sudden and significant | Sharp describes a rapid or substantial change in this context. |
| 28 | A. Manner or quality of expression | Tone refers to the manner in which someone speaks or writes. |
| 29 | A. Serious | Grave means serious or important, especially when describing an offence. |
| 30 | A. Agreement involving mutual concessions | A compromise is an agreement in which each side gives up something to reach a settlement. |
5. Idiomatic Expressions: Questions, Answers and Explanations
An idiom is an expression whose meaning cannot always be understood by interpreting the individual words literally.
For example, to spill the beans does not mean physically pouring beans onto the ground. It means revealing a secret.
Idioms frequently appear in English examinations because they test a candidate’s understanding of natural expressions.
Common Idioms and Their Meanings
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Spill the beans | Reveal a secret |
| Hit the nail on the head | Say or identify exactly the right thing |
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely |
| A blessing in disguise | Something that initially seems bad but turns out to be beneficial |
| Break the ice | Make people feel more comfortable in a social situation |
| Beat about the bush | Avoid speaking directly |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Be extremely expensive |
| Under the weather | Feel slightly ill |
| Burn the midnight oil | Work or study late into the night |
| A piece of cake | Something very easy |
Practice Questions
Instruction: Choose the option that best explains the idiomatic expression in each sentence.
31. The examination was A PIECE OF CAKE for the brilliant student.
A. Very difficult
B. Very easy
C. Very expensive
D. Very confusing
32. The politician was advised not to BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH during the interview.
A. Speak directly
B. Avoid speaking directly
C. Tell a secret
D. Change the subject
33. My uncle visits us ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.
A. Every day
B. Very frequently
C. Very rarely
D. Every weekend
34. The new employee tried to BREAK THE ICE during the meeting.
A. Start an argument
B. Make people feel comfortable
C. End the meeting
D. Reveal confidential information
35. The secret was finally SPILLED THE BEANS by one of the workers.
A. Concealed
B. Revealed
C. Forgotten
D. Destroyed
36. The student had to BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL to prepare for the examination.
A. Sleep early
B. Study late into the night
C. Waste time
D. Avoid studying
37. The unexpected scholarship was A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
A. A problem that became worse
B. Something that seemed bad but turned out well
C. A punishment
D. A disappointing experience
38. The new car COST AN ARM AND A LEG.
A. Was very cheap
B. Was extremely expensive
C. Was damaged
D. Was free
39. The witness HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD when describing the cause of the accident.
A. Made an irrelevant statement
B. Gave an accurate explanation
C. Told a lie
D. Avoided the question
40. I have been FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER since yesterday.
A. Feeling excited
B. Feeling slightly ill
C. Feeling wealthy
D. Feeling confused
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | B. Very easy | A piece of cake describes something that requires little effort. |
| 32 | B. Avoid speaking directly | To beat about the bush means to avoid addressing the main point. |
| 33 | C. Very rarely | Once in a blue moon describes something that happens infrequently. |
| 34 | B. Make people feel comfortable | Breaking the ice means reducing awkwardness and encouraging conversation. |
| 35 | B. Revealed | To spill the beans means to disclose information that was supposed to remain secret. |
| 36 | B. Study late into the night | Burning the midnight oil means working or studying late. |
| 37 | B. Something that seemed bad but turned out well | A blessing in disguise is an apparently unfortunate event that produces a good result. |
| 38 | B. Was extremely expensive | Cost an arm and a leg describes something very costly. |
| 39 | B. Gave an accurate explanation | To hit the nail on the head means to identify the exact point. |
| 40 | B. Feeling slightly ill | Under the weather means feeling unwell. |
6. Phrasal Verbs: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles, usually an adverb or preposition, that together produce a particular meaning.
Examples:
-
Give up: Stop trying.
-
Look after: Take care of.
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Put off: Postpone.
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Bring up: Mention a subject or raise a child.
-
Call off: Cancel.
The meaning of a phrasal verb is not always predictable from the individual words. Candidates should therefore learn common phrasal verbs and practise using them in sentences.
Practice Questions
41. The meeting was CALLED OFF because of the heavy rainfall.
A. Continued
B. Cancelled
C. Postponed
D. Extended
42. The nurse LOOKED AFTER the patient throughout the night.
A. Ignored
B. Took care of
C. Examined briefly
D. Dismissed
43. The students were asked to GIVE IN their assignments before Friday.
A. Submit
B. Destroy
C. Rewrite
D. Collect
44. The manager PUT OFF the meeting until Monday.
A. Started
B. Postponed
C. Cancelled permanently
D. Attended
45. The police promised to LOOK INTO the matter.
A. Ignore
B. Investigate
C. Conceal
D. Announce
46. The boy finally GAVE UP smoking.
A. Continued
B. Stopped
C. Started
D. Encouraged
47. The teacher BROUGHT UP an important issue during the lesson.
A. Introduced or mentioned
B. Removed
C. Concealed
D. Rejected
48. The plane TOOK OFF at exactly 8 a.m.
A. Landed
B. Departed from the ground
C. Stopped
D. Changed direction
49. The company will CARRY OUT the new policy next month.
A. Reject
B. Implement
C. Forget
D. Discuss only
50. The student came ACROSS an old photograph while cleaning the room.
A. Destroyed
B. Found unexpectedly
C. Purchased
D. Borrowed
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | B. Cancelled | To call off means to cancel an event or arrangement. |
| 42 | B. Took care of | To look after someone means to care for that person. |
| 43 | A. Submit | To give in can mean to surrender or yield. However, in the context of assignments, the intended expression is hand in, meaning submit. This question is therefore not well constructed as written. |
| 44 | B. Postponed | To put off means to delay something until a later time. |
| 45 | B. Investigate | To look into a matter means to examine or investigate it. |
| 46 | B. Stopped | To give up an activity means to stop doing it. |
| 47 | A. Introduced or mentioned | To bring up an issue means to introduce it for discussion. |
| 48 | B. Departed from the ground | To take off means to leave the ground when referring to an aircraft. |
| 49 | B. Implement | To carry out means to perform or put a plan into action. |
| 50 | B. Found unexpectedly | To come across something means to find or encounter it by chance. |
Important examination note: The expression give in usually means surrender or yield. The correct phrasal verb for submitting an assignment is hand in. Pay attention to the exact expression used in a question.
7. Collocations: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A collocation is a combination of words that naturally occur together in a language. Although some combinations may be grammatically possible, they may not sound natural to fluent speakers.
For example:
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Make a decision, not usually do a decision.
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Heavy rain, not usually strong rain.
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Pay attention, not give attention in the same standard expression.
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Take a photograph, not usually make a photograph.
Learning collocations helps students use English naturally and accurately.
Practice Questions
51. The committee will ______ a decision tomorrow.
A. Do
B. Make
C. Give
D. Take
52. The students were advised to pay ______ to the teacher.
A. Interest
B. Attention
C. Care
D. Notice
53. The region experienced ______ rainfall last night.
A. Strong
B. Heavy
C. Hard
D. Powerful
54. The principal asked the students to ______ a promise.
A. Make
B. Do
C. Take
D. Give
55. The suspect was asked to ______ responsibility for his actions.
A. Make
B. Take
C. Do
D. Give
56. The young woman decided to ______ an opportunity to study abroad.
A. Catch
B. Seize
C. Hold
D. Pick
57. The company intends to ______ business with foreign investors.
A. Do
B. Make
C. Take
D. Give
58. The children were warned not to ______ a noise during the examination.
A. Make
B. Do
C. Take
D. Give
59. The speaker delivered a ______ speech at the ceremony.
A. Powerful
B. Heavy
C. Strongly
D. Hard
60. The students must ______ an effort to improve their performance.
A. Make
B. Do
C. Take
D. Put
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | B. Make | The standard collocation is make a decision. |
| 52 | B. Attention | The established expression is pay attention. |
| 53 | B. Heavy | Heavy rain or heavy rainfall is the natural combination. |
| 54 | A. Make | The standard expression is make a promise. |
| 55 | B. Take | We say take responsibility for an action. |
| 56 | B. Seize | Seize an opportunity means to take advantage of an opportunity. |
| 57 | A. Do | The expression do business means to engage in commercial activities. |
| 58 | A. Make | The correct expression is make a noise. |
| 59 | A. Powerful | A powerful speech is one that has a strong effect on listeners. |
| 60 | A. Make | The established expression is make an effort. |
8. Concord: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Concord is the grammatical agreement between different parts of a sentence. In English, it most commonly refers to the agreement between a subject and its verb.
For example:
-
The boy plays football.
-
The boys play football.
The first sentence has a singular subject and a singular verb form. The second has a plural subject and a plural verb form.
Important Rules of Concord
Rule 1: A singular subject takes a singular verb.
Example: The girl sings beautifully.
Rule 2: A plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example: The girls sing beautifully.
Rule 3: Two subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb.
Example: John and Peter are friends.
Rule 4: When subjects are joined by either…or or neither…nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Example: Neither the teacher nor the students are present.
Rule 5: Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, somebody, anyone and each generally take singular verbs.
Example: Everyone is expected to attend.
Rule 6: Collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is considered as one unit or as individual members.
Example: The committee has reached its decision.
Practice Questions
61. Neither the teacher nor the students ______ present at the meeting.
A. Was
B. Were
C. Is
D. Has
62. Each of the candidates ______ expected to submit an application.
A. Are
B. Were
C. Is
D. Have
63. The principal, together with the teachers, ______ attending the ceremony.
A. Are
B. Were
C. Is
D. Have
64. Neither John nor his brothers ______ interested in the competition.
A. Is
B. Was
C. Are
D. Has
65. Mathematics ______ one of the subjects offered in the school.
A. Are
B. Is
C. Were
D. Have
66. The news ______ quite encouraging.
A. Are
B. Were
C. Is
D. Have
67. A number of students ______ absent from school yesterday.
A. Was
B. Is
C. Were
D. Has
68. The number of applicants ______ increasing every year.
A. Are
B. Were
C. Is
D. Have
69. Everybody in the classroom ______ required to participate.
A. Are
B. Is
C. Were
D. Have
70. The captain and coach of the team ______ arrived.
A. Have
B. Has
C. Are
D. Were
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | B. Were | With neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Students is plural. |
| 62 | C. Is | Each is singular and takes a singular verb. |
| 63 | C. Is | The main subject is principal. The phrase together with the teachers does not make the subject plural. |
| 64 | C. Are | The nearer subject, brothers, is plural. |
| 65 | B. Is | Mathematics is treated as a singular subject when referring to the academic discipline. |
| 66 | C. Is | News is grammatically singular despite ending in s. |
| 67 | C. Were | A number of students takes a plural verb. |
| 68 | C. Is | The number of applicants takes a singular verb because the subject is number. |
| 69 | B. Is | Everybody is a singular indefinite pronoun. |
| 70 | B. Has | The captain and coach refer to one person holding two positions in this sentence. If they refer to two different people, have would be correct. |
9. Tenses: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Tense indicates the time of an action or situation. English has different tense forms that help speakers communicate whether something happens in the present, happened in the past or will happen in the future.
Common English Tenses
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Simple present | She writes every day. |
| Present continuous | She is writing now. |
| Present perfect | She has written the letter. |
| Present perfect continuous | She has been writing for two hours. |
| Simple past | She wrote yesterday. |
| Past continuous | She was writing when I arrived. |
| Past perfect | She had written before I arrived. |
| Past perfect continuous | She had been writing for two hours. |
| Simple future | She will write tomorrow. |
| Future continuous | She will be writing tomorrow. |
| Future perfect | She will have written by noon. |
Practice Questions
71. By the time we arrived, the programme ______.
A. Begins
B. Has begun
C. Had begun
D. Will begin
72. She ______ in Lagos since 2020.
A. Lives
B. Lived
C. Has lived
D. Is living yesterday
73. The students ______ when the teacher entered the classroom.
A. Were reading
B. Have read
C. Read tomorrow
D. Had read tomorrow
74. I ______ my assignment before the deadline yesterday.
A. Submit
B. Submitted
C. Have submitted
D. Will submit
75. He usually ______ to work by bus.
A. Go
B. Goes
C. Going
D. Gone
76. Listen! Someone ______ at the door.
A. Knocks
B. Knocked
C. Is knocking
D. Has knocked yesterday
77. By next year, they ______ their studies.
A. Complete
B. Completed
C. Will have completed
D. Have completed yesterday
78. The children ______ football when it started raining.
A. Play
B. Were playing
C. Have played
D. Will play
79. I ______ her for more than ten years.
A. Know
B. Knew
C. Have known
D. Am knowing
80. When the visitor arrived, we ______ dinner.
A. Had
B. Were having
C. Have
D. Will have
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | C. Had begun | The programme began before the past action of arriving. The past perfect expresses the earlier event. |
| 72 | C. Has lived | The present perfect describes a situation that began in the past and continues into the present. |
| 73 | A. Were reading | The past continuous describes an action in progress when another past action occurred. |
| 74 | B. Submitted | The word yesterday indicates a completed past action. |
| 75 | B. Goes | The simple present describes a regular habit. |
| 76 | C. Is knocking | The present continuous describes an action happening now. |
| 77 | C. Will have completed | The future perfect describes an action expected to be completed before a future time. |
| 78 | B. Were playing | The action was in progress when the rain started. |
| 79 | C. Have known | The present perfect is appropriate for a state that began in the past and continues now. |
| 80 | B. Were having | Dinner was in progress when the visitor arrived. |
10. Prepositions: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence.
Prepositions can express:
-
Time: at, on, in, before, after.
-
Place: under, above, beside, behind.
-
Direction: into, towards, through.
-
Relationship: with, about, of, for.
Common Preposition Expressions
| Expression | Correct Example |
|---|---|
| Interested in | She is interested in science. |
| Afraid of | He is afraid of snakes. |
| Good at | She is good at mathematics. |
| Depend on | Success depends on hard work. |
| Listen to | The students listened to the teacher. |
| Consist of | The committee consists of five members. |
| Married to | She is married to a doctor. |
| Responsible for | He is responsible for the project. |
| Prefer to | I prefer tea to coffee. |
| Apologise for | He apologised for his mistake. |
Practice Questions
81. The students are interested ______ learning English.
A. On
B. In
C. At
D. For
82. My brother is good ______ mathematics.
A. In
B. On
C. At
D. With
83. The success of the project depends ______ proper planning.
A. In
B. On
C. At
D. For
84. She has been married ______ a businessman for five years.
A. With
B. By
C. To
D. From
85. The teacher congratulated the students ______ their success.
A. For
B. On
C. At
D. With
86. The meeting will begin ______ 10 a.m.
A. In
B. On
C. At
D. By
87. We usually travel to our village ______ December.
A. At
B. On
C. In
D. By
88. The book is lying ______ the table.
A. At
B. On
C. Into
D. Between
89. He apologised ______ arriving late.
A. Of
B. For
C. With
D. At
90. The students listened carefully ______ the instructions.
A. At
B. For
C. To
D. On
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | B. In | The correct expression is interested in. |
| 82 | C. At | We say someone is good at a subject or activity. |
| 83 | B. On | The standard expression is depend on. |
| 84 | C. To | The correct expression is married to. |
| 85 | B. On | The correct expression is congratulate someone on something. |
| 86 | C. At | At is used for a specific clock time. |
| 87 | C. In | In is used with months. |
| 88 | B. On | On the table indicates that the book is resting on its surface. |
| 89 | B. For | We apologise for an action or mistake. |
| 90 | C. To | The correct expression is listen to. |
11. Conjunctions: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases or clauses.
Common conjunctions include:
-
And.
-
But.
-
Or.
-
Because.
-
Although.
-
Unless.
-
While.
-
Since.
-
Neither…nor.
-
Either…or.
Practice Questions
91. She studied very hard ______ she passed the examination.
A. But
B. So
C. Although
D. Unless
92. ______ he was tired, he continued working.
A. Because
B. Although
C. Unless
D. Since
93. You will not succeed ______ you work hard.
A. If
B. Unless
C. Because
D. Although
94. Neither the principal ______ the teachers were available.
A. Or
B. And
C. Nor
D. But
95. I will visit you ______ I finish my assignment.
A. After
B. Unless
C. Although
D. Because
96. She wanted to attend the programme, ______ she was unable to obtain permission.
A. And
B. But
C. Because
D. So
97. You may choose ______ rice or yam for lunch.
A. Neither
B. Either
C. Both
D. Although
98. He remained at home ______ he was feeling unwell.
A. Because
B. But
C. Although
D. Unless
99. The students were quiet ______ the teacher was speaking.
A. While
B. Unless
C. Because of
D. Despite
100. Work hard, ______ you may regret your decision later.
A. Or
B. And
C. Because
D. Although
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | B. So | So introduces the result of studying hard. |
| 92 | B. Although | Although introduces a contrast between tiredness and continuing to work. |
| 93 | B. Unless | Unless means if not. |
| 94 | C. Nor | The correct paired conjunction is neither…nor. |
| 95 | A. After | After introduces the time when the visit will occur. |
| 96 | B. But | But expresses contrast between wanting to attend and being unable to do so. |
| 97 | B. Either | The correct construction is either…or. |
| 98 | A. Because | Because introduces the reason he remained at home. |
| 99 | A. While | While indicates that two situations occurred at the same time. |
| 100 | A. Or | Or introduces a possible consequence or alternative warning. |
12. Articles: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Articles are words used before nouns to indicate whether the nouns refer to specific or nonspecific people, places, things or ideas.
There are three main articles in English:
-
A: Used before a singular countable noun beginning with a consonant sound.
-
An: Used before a singular countable noun beginning with a vowel sound.
-
The: Used when referring to a particular or identifiable person or thing.
Examples:
-
A university.
-
An umbrella.
-
The principal.
Notice that university takes a because it begins with a consonant sound, /j/, despite beginning with the letter u.
Practice Questions
101. She bought ______ umbrella yesterday.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
102. He is ______ honest man.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
103. My father works in ______ hospital.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
104. ______ sun rises in the east.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
105. She wants to study at ______ university.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
106. I saw ______ elephant at the zoo.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
107. He is ______ European citizen.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
108. We visited ______ National Museum yesterday.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
109. She plays ______ piano very well.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
110. ______ water is essential for life.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | B. An | Umbrella begins with a vowel sound. |
| 102 | B. An | Honest begins with a vowel sound because the initial h is silent. |
| 103 | A. A | A is appropriate when referring to a nonspecific hospital. |
| 104 | C. The | The sun is a unique object in our ordinary reference to the solar system. |
| 105 | A. A | University begins with a consonant sound. |
| 106 | B. An | Elephant begins with a vowel sound. |
| 107 | A. A | European begins with the consonant sound /j/. |
| 108 | C. The | The sentence refers to a particular named museum. |
| 109 | C. The | The is traditionally used before musical instruments in this construction. |
| 110 | D. No article | Water is an uncountable noun used generally here. |
13. Pronouns: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun to avoid unnecessary repetition.
Examples:
-
John is a student. He is intelligent.
-
Mary has a book. She reads it every day.
-
The children are playing. They are happy.
Common types include personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns and relative pronouns.
Practice Questions
111. Mary and ______ went to the market.
A. Me
B. I
C. Mine
D. Myself
112. The teacher gave the books to John and ______.
A. I
B. Me
C. Mine
D. Myself
113. Each student must bring ______ own notebook.
A. Their
B. His or her
C. Them
D. Theirs
114. The boy blamed ______ for the mistake.
A. Himself
B. Him
C. His
D. He
115. This is the woman ______ helped me yesterday.
A. Which
B. Whom
C. Who
D. Whose
116. The house ______ roof was damaged belongs to my uncle.
A. Who
B. Whom
C. Whose
D. Which
117. The children enjoyed ______ at the party.
A. Them
B. Their
C. Themselves
D. They
118. Neither of the two boys brought ______ book.
A. Their
B. His
C. Them
D. They
119. This pen belongs to me. It is ______.
A. My
B. Mine
C. Me
D. Myself
120. The man to ______ I spoke was very helpful.
A. Who
B. Whom
C. Which
D. Whose
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | B. I | I is the subject pronoun in the compound subject Mary and I. |
| 112 | B. Me | Me is the object pronoun following the preposition to. |
| 113 | B. His or her | This is the traditional singular agreement expected in many grammar examinations. Singular their is also widely accepted in contemporary English. |
| 114 | A. Himself | A reflexive pronoun is needed because the boy performs and receives the action. |
| 115 | C. Who | Who is the subject of the relative clause. |
| 116 | C. Whose | Whose indicates possession. |
| 117 | C. Themselves | The reflexive pronoun agrees with the plural subject children. |
| 118 | B. His | In traditional examination grammar, neither is singular. |
| 119 | B. Mine | Mine is a possessive pronoun that stands independently. |
| 120 | B. Whom | Whom is the object of the preposition to. |
14. Question Tags: Questions, Answers and Explanations
A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement. It is commonly used to seek confirmation or agreement.
Examples:
-
She is a teacher, isn’t she?
-
They are coming, aren’t they?
-
He does not like football, does he?
A common rule is that a positive statement takes a negative tag, while a negative statement takes a positive tag.
Practice Questions
121. She is your sister, ______?
A. Is she
B. Isn’t she
C. Does she
D. Was she
122. They have completed the assignment, ______?
A. Haven’t they
B. Have they
C. Don’t they
D. Didn’t they
123. He does not speak French, ______?
A. Doesn’t he
B. Does he
C. Is he
D. Did he
124. You went to school yesterday, ______?
A. Do you
B. Didn’t you
C. Don’t you
D. Haven’t you
125. Let’s go home, ______?
A. Will we
B. Shall we
C. Do we
D. Are we
126. Nobody came to the meeting, ______?
A. Did they
B. Didn’t they
C. Did he
D. Were they
127. She can swim very well, ______?
A. Can she
B. Can’t she
C. Does she
D. Isn’t she
128. Open the door, ______?
A. Do you
B. Will you
C. Shall we
D. Are you
129. I am late, ______?
A. Am I
B. Aren’t I
C. Isn’t I
D. Don’t I
130. He rarely visits us, ______?
A. Doesn’t he
B. Does he
C. Is he
D. Did he
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | B. Isn’t she | A positive statement takes a negative question tag. |
| 122 | A. Haven’t they | The main statement uses have completed, so the tag uses haven’t. |
| 123 | B. Does he | A negative statement takes a positive tag. |
| 124 | B. Didn’t you | The simple past went requires didn’t in the tag. |
| 125 | B. Shall we | The conventional tag after Let’s is shall we? |
| 126 | A. Did they | Nobody is negative in meaning, so the tag is positive. They is commonly used in the tag. |
| 127 | B. Can’t she | The positive statement takes the negative tag can’t she? |
| 128 | B. Will you | Will you? is a common tag after an imperative. |
| 129 | B. Aren’t I | The conventional tag for I am is aren’t I? |
| 130 | B. Does he | Rarely has negative force in this sentence, so the tag is positive. |
15. Conditional Sentences: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Conditional sentences express a situation and its possible result. They commonly contain an if-clause and a main clause.
There are four major types.
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Zero conditional | If + simple present, simple present | If water reaches 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure, it boils. |
| First conditional | If + simple present, will + base verb | If you study, you will improve. |
| Second conditional | If + simple past, would + base verb | If I were rich, I would travel. |
| Third conditional | If + past perfect, would have + past participle | If she had studied, she would have passed. |
Practice Questions
131. If you heat ice, it ______.
A. Melt
B. Melts
C. Melted
D. Will melted
132. If she studies hard, she ______ the examination.
A. Pass
B. Passed
C. Will pass
D. Would passed
133. If I were the principal, I ______ the school library.
A. Improve
B. Will improve
C. Would improve
D. Improved
134. If they had arrived earlier, they ______ the train.
A. Would catch
B. Will catch
C. Would have caught
D. Caught
135. If you do not hurry, you ______ the bus.
A. Missed
B. Will miss
C. Would miss
D. Have missed
136. If he ______ more carefully, he would not make so many mistakes.
A. Works
B. Worked
C. Had worked
D. Will work
137. If I had known about the meeting, I ______ attended.
A. Will have
B. Would have
C. Would
D. Had
138. If water ______ below 0°C under ordinary atmospheric pressure, it freezes.
A. Fall
B. Falls
C. Fell
D. Will fall
139. If she were here, she ______ us what happened.
A. Tells
B. Told
C. Would tell
D. Will tell
140. If you had listened to the instructions, you ______ the error.
A. Would avoid
B. Will avoid
C. Would have avoided
D. Avoided
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 131 | B. Melts | The zero conditional uses the simple present in both clauses to express general truths. |
| 132 | C. Will pass | The first conditional describes a possible future result. |
| 133 | C. Would improve | The second conditional expresses an imaginary or unlikely situation. |
| 134 | C. Would have caught | The third conditional describes an unreal past situation and its imagined result. |
| 135 | B. Will miss | The first conditional describes a likely future consequence. |
| 136 | B. Worked | The second conditional uses the simple past in the if-clause. |
| 137 | B. Would have | The third conditional requires would have followed by a past participle. |
| 138 | B. Falls | The zero conditional expresses a general scientific fact. |
| 139 | C. Would tell | The second conditional expresses an imaginary present situation. |
| 140 | C. Would have avoided | The third conditional describes a possible past result that did not happen. |
16. Sentence Completion: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Sentence completion questions test a candidate’s ability to select words or expressions that make a sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
To answer these questions successfully, candidates should examine the entire sentence, identify the relationship between its parts and determine what kind of word or expression is missing.
Practice Questions
141. The students were advised to ______ their assignments before the deadline.
A. Submit
B. Submits
C. Submitted
D. Submitting
142. The woman is looking forward to ______ her daughter.
A. See
B. Seeing
C. Saw
D. Seen
143. Neither of the two candidates ______ qualified for the position.
A. Are
B. Were
C. Is
D. Have
144. The teacher insisted that every student ______ present.
A. Is
B. Be
C. Was
D. Are
145. The more you practise, ______ you become.
A. The good
B. The better
C. Better
D. Best
146. Hardly had the teacher entered the classroom ______ the students became quiet.
A. Than
B. When
C. Then
D. While
147. No sooner had the meeting started ______ the electricity went off.
A. When
B. Than
C. Then
D. While
148. She prefers reading novels ______ watching television.
A. Than
B. From
C. To
D. With
149. The man denied ______ the money.
A. Steal
B. To steal
C. Stealing
D. Stole
150. It is high time we ______ home.
A. Go
B. Went
C. Going
D. Gone
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | A. Submit | The infinitive structure after advised to requires the base form of the verb. |
| 142 | B. Seeing | The expression look forward to is followed by a noun or gerund, not an infinitive. |
| 143 | C. Is | Neither is singular in traditional examination grammar. |
| 144 | B. Be | After insisted that in this mandative construction, the base form be is used. |
| 145 | B. The better | The comparative structure is the more…, the better… |
| 146 | B. When | The standard construction is hardly…when. |
| 147 | B. Than | The standard construction is no sooner…than. |
| 148 | C. To | The correct expression is prefer A to B. |
| 149 | C. Stealing | Deny is followed by a gerund. |
| 150 | B. Went | It is high time is commonly followed by a past-tense form to express that something should happen now. |
17. Error Identification: Questions, Answers and Explanations
Error identification questions require candidates to locate the grammatically incorrect part of a sentence.
These questions commonly test concord, tense consistency, pronoun agreement, prepositions and sentence construction.
Practice Questions
Instruction: Identify the part of each sentence that contains an error. Choose D if there is no error.
151. Neither of the boys / were present / at the meeting / yesterday.
A. Neither of the boys
B. Were present
C. At the meeting
D. No error
152. She has been working / in this company / since five years / without a break.
A. She has been working
B. In this company
C. Since five years
D. Without a break
153. The teacher / asked me / where was I going / after school.
A. The teacher
B. Asked me
C. Where was I going
D. After school
154. Each of the students / have submitted / their assignments / on time.
A. Each of the students
B. Have submitted
C. Their assignments
D. On time
155. He is / senior than / his younger brother / in the organisation.
A. He is
B. Senior than
C. His younger brother
D. In the organisation
156. The information / given by the officer / were incorrect / according to the report.
A. The information
B. Given by the officer
C. Were incorrect
D. According to the report
157. My father / has gone to work / an hour ago / and will return soon.
A. My father
B. Has gone to work
C. An hour ago
D. And will return soon
158. She / is one of the girls / who works hard / in our class.
A. She
B. Is one of the girls
C. Who works hard
D. In our class
159. The news / are very encouraging / to the members / of the organisation.
A. The news
B. Are very encouraging
C. To the members
D. Of the organisation
160. He insisted / on paying / for the meal / despite our objections.
A. He insisted
B. On paying
C. For the meal
D. No error
Answers and Explanations
| No. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 151 | B. Were present | Neither is singular in this construction. The sentence should read Neither of the boys was present. |
| 152 | C. Since five years | For five years is correct because for expresses a duration. |
| 153 | C. Where was I going | An indirect question uses statement word order: where I was going. |
| 154 | B. Have submitted | Each takes a singular verb. The correct form is has submitted. |
| 155 | B. Senior than | Senior takes to, not than. The correct phrase is senior to. |
| 156 | C. Were incorrect | Information is uncountable and grammatically singular. Use was incorrect. |
| 157 | B. Has gone to work | The expression an hour ago requires the simple past: went to work. |
| 158 | C. Who works hard | The relative pronoun refers to girls, so the verb should be work. |
| 159 | B. Are very encouraging | News is grammatically singular. Use is very encouraging. |
| 160 | D. No error | Insist on is correctly followed by the gerund paying. |
18. Common Mistakes in English Lexis and Structure
Students sometimes lose marks because they confuse words with similar meanings, apply grammatical rules incorrectly or select expressions that do not fit the context.
The following examples highlight common mistakes.
| Incorrect Expression | Correct Expression | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Discuss about the matter | Discuss the matter | Discuss does not normally require about before its direct object. |
| Return back | Return | Return already expresses the idea of going back. |
| More better | Better | Better is already the comparative form of good. |
| He don’t know | He doesn’t know | A third-person singular subject takes doesn’t. |
| She is married with him | She is married to him | The standard expression is married to. |
| I prefer rice than yam | I prefer rice to yam | The standard construction is prefer A to B. |
| Despite of the rain | Despite the rain | Despite is not followed by of. |
| One of the student | One of the students | One of is followed by a plural noun. |
| I am looking forward to see you | I am looking forward to seeing you | The expression is followed by a gerund. |
| He is good in football | He is good at football | The standard collocation is good at. |
Understanding these mistakes will help students improve both their written and spoken English.
19. How to Prepare for English Lexis and Structure Examinations
Good preparation requires regular practice, a clear understanding of grammatical rules and a deliberate effort to improve vocabulary.
1. Build Your Vocabulary Every Day
Learn new words regularly. Do not memorise only their dictionary meanings. Study their pronunciation, grammatical forms, synonyms, antonyms and usage in sentences.
For example:
-
Word: Reluctant.
-
Meaning: Unwilling or hesitant.
-
Synonym: Unwilling.
-
Antonym: Eager.
-
Example: The student was reluctant to answer the question.
2. Read English Materials Regularly
Reading books, newspapers, educational articles and other reliable English materials exposes students to correct sentence structures and natural vocabulary.
Pay attention to how writers use words and connect ideas.
3. Study Grammar Rules
Understand the basic rules governing concord, tenses, prepositions, articles, pronouns and conjunctions. Do not rely entirely on guessing answers.
4. Practise Multiple-Choice Questions
Practise questions regularly under examination conditions. This helps you become familiar with common question patterns and improves your ability to select answers within a limited time.
5. Understand Your Mistakes
Whenever you answer a question incorrectly, identify the reason. Read the explanation and revise the relevant topic.
For example, if you repeatedly confuse for and since, study how they express duration and starting points.
6. Learn Idioms and Phrasal Verbs in Context
Do not memorise idiomatic expressions without understanding how they are used. Read example sentences and practise identifying their meanings in different situations.
7. Improve Your Time Management
During an examination, avoid spending too much time on one difficult question. Read it carefully, eliminate clearly incorrect options and choose the best remaining answer. Return to difficult questions if time permits.
20. Frequently Asked Questions About English Lexis and Structure
What is English Lexis and Structure in JAMB?
English Lexis and Structure is an area of English Language assessment that tests vocabulary knowledge and grammatical accuracy. It includes questions on word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrasal verbs, concord, tenses, prepositions and sentence construction.
What topics should I study for English Lexis and Structure in WAEC?
Students should study synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, collocations, concord, tenses, prepositions, conjunctions, articles, pronouns, question tags, conditional sentences and error identification.
How can I answer Lexis and Structure questions correctly?
Read the complete sentence, identify what the question tests and examine the relationship between the words. For vocabulary questions, use context to determine meaning. For grammar questions, identify the relevant grammatical rule before selecting an answer.
Are synonyms and antonyms part of English Lexis and Structure?
Yes. Synonyms and antonyms are important vocabulary topics. Synonyms test words with similar meanings, while antonyms test words with opposite meanings.
Why are explanations important when practising English questions?
Explanations help students understand why an answer is correct. They also make it easier to recognise similar grammatical and vocabulary patterns in future examination questions.
Can I prepare for JAMB, WAEC and NECO using practice questions?
Yes. Practice questions can help you become familiar with common examination formats and identify areas that need improvement. However, you should combine practice with proper study of the English Language syllabus and recommended learning materials.
Conclusion
English Lexis and Structure is an essential part of developing strong English Language skills and preparing for examinations such as JAMB, WAEC and NECO. It tests a student’s ability to understand vocabulary, interpret expressions, recognise grammatical relationships and construct meaningful sentences.
The 160 practice questions in this guide cover important areas of vocabulary and grammar, including synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrasal verbs, collocations, concord, tenses, prepositions, conjunctions, articles, pronouns, question tags, conditional sentences, sentence completion and error identification.
Students should not approach these questions as exercises in memorisation alone. The most effective way to improve is to understand the explanations, revise the rules behind incorrect answers and practise regularly. With consistent effort, learners can develop stronger vocabulary, improve grammatical accuracy and become more confident when answering English Lexis and Structure questions.
