2026 Updated · SPSC & STS Aligned

Parts of Speech MCQs with Answers & Explanation (2026 Updated)

Master English Parts of Speech MCQs for Sukkur IBA STS BPS 05–15, SPSC & FPSC. Nouns, gerunds, relative pronouns, conjunctions & modal verbs explained.

Parts of Speech & Grammatical Traps Cheat Sheet

In Pakistani competitive exams conducted by Sukkur IBA STS and SPSC, English tests focus heavily on tricky edge cases: distinguishing a Gerund (verb+ing acting as a noun) from a Present Participle (verb+ing acting as an adjective), identifying subordinating conjunctions, and spotting pronoun-antecedent agreement errors.

High-Frequency Grammar Edge Cases in STS & SPSC Exams
Grammar FormStructureFunction in SentenceExam Example
GerundVerb + -ingFunctions as a Noun (Subject, Object, Complement)Swimming is good exercise. (Subject Noun)
Present ParticipleVerb + -ingFunctions as an Adjective or in continuous verb tenseLook at the swimming duck. (Adjective modifying duck)
InfinitiveTo + Base VerbCan function as Noun, Adjective, or AdverbTo err is human. (Subject Noun)
Relative PronounWho, Whom, Whose, Which, ThatConnects dependent clause to antecedent nounThe candidate who scored 95 marks passed.

Key Exam Takeaways:

  • Nouns following expressions like 'One of the...' must be plural, but the following verb must be singular: 'One of the candidates IS selected.'
  • A gerund must be preceded by a possessive adjective, not an objective pronoun: 'I appreciated HIS (not him) helping me.'
  • Correlative conjunctions must be paired strictly: 'Neither... nor', 'Either... or', 'Not only... but also'.

Practice Questions with Step-by-Step Rationales (3 MCQs)

Q1 STS BPS 05–15 Intermediate 2023

In the sentence 'Running in the morning keeps him physically fit', the underlined word 'Running' functions grammatically as a/an:

  1. Present Participle
  2. Gerund ✓ (Correct Answer)
  3. Transitive Verb
  4. Abstract Adjective
Show Verified Explanation

Correct Option: Option B (Gerund)

'Running' is a verb ending in -ing that occupies the grammatical Subject position of the sentence, making it a Gerund (verbal noun).

Q2 SPSC CCE English 2024

Choose the grammatically correct sentence adhering to standard pronoun agreement:

  1. One of the candidates have forgotten their admit card.
  2. One of the candidates has forgotten his or her admit card. ✓ (Correct Answer)
  3. One of the candidate has forgotten their admit card.
  4. One of the candidates have forgotten his admit card.
Show Verified Explanation

Correct Option: Option B (One of the candidates has forgotten his or her admit card.)

The phrase 'One of the candidates' takes a plural noun ('candidates') but has the singular subject 'One', requiring the singular verb 'has' and singular possessive pronoun.

Q3 STS BPS 05–15 Matric 2023

Identify the part of speech of the word 'fast' in the following sentence: 'He ran fast to catch the Karachi Express.'

  1. Adjective
  2. Adverb ✓ (Correct Answer)
  3. Noun
  4. Conjunction
Show Verified Explanation

Correct Option: Option B (Adverb)

'Fast' modifies the action verb 'ran', answering the question 'how did he run?', which makes it an Adverb of manner.

Examiner Trap / Distractor: In 'He is a fast runner', fast is an adjective. Here it modifies a verb, so it is an adverb.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you differentiate a Gerund from a Present Participle?

A Gerund functions strictly as a Noun (e.g., 'Smoking is injurious to health'), whereas a Present Participle functions as an Adjective modifying a noun (e.g., 'a barking dog') or part of a continuous verb phrase.

What is the correct case of pronoun preceding a Gerund?

In formal standard English tested by STS and FPSC, a possessive form must precede a gerund (e.g., 'We objected to his arriving late', not 'him arriving late').