15 Grammar Interview Questions and Answers

Grammar is an important part of any language, and it’s no different when it comes to interviewing. Many employers will ask grammar-related questions in order to gauge your level of proficiency in the English language. While these questions may seem daunting at first, they can be easily conquered with a little bit of preparation.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common grammar interview questions and provide sample answers to help you ace your next interview.

1. What is grammar?

This question is a basic one that many interviewers ask to test your knowledge of grammar. They want to know if you understand the basics and can apply them in your work. Your answer should include a definition of grammar, examples of its use and how it relates to other fields.

Example: “Grammar is the set of rules for using language correctly. It includes spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage. Grammar helps us communicate clearly with others by ensuring we are understood. For example, if I were to say ‘I am going to the store,’ this would be correct grammar because it follows all the rules of English. However, if I said ‘I go to the store,’ this would not be correct grammar because it does not follow the rules of subject-verb agreement.”

2. Can you explain the difference between a sentence and a clause?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar and how it applies to writing. It also shows the interviewer that you can break down complex concepts into simple language for others to understand.

Example: “A sentence is a group of words with a subject and predicate, while a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and predicate but does not make sense on its own as a sentence. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence because it needs an independent clause to complete the thought.”

3. Why are there rules in language?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of grammar rules and how they apply to language. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you understand why these rules are important. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain what you believe the purpose of grammar rules is and how following them helps you communicate more effectively.

Example: “There are rules in language because they help us communicate clearly with one another. If we didn’t have any rules, then there would be no standardization for our language. This could make communication confusing or difficult. For example, if I said ‘I went to the store yesterday,’ but someone else said ‘I go to the store yesterday,’ it would be hard to know which person was talking about going to the store.”

4. What do you think is the best way to learn grammar?

This question can help an interviewer determine your approach to grammar and how you might teach it. If you have experience teaching grammar, share what methods you used that were most effective for students.

Example: “I think the best way to learn grammar is by using a variety of resources. I like to use grammar books, online quizzes and flashcards because they all reinforce different skills. For example, when I was in school, I would take practice quizzes on my phone during lunch or before class. Then, I would review my answers with flashcards at home. Finally, I would read through the grammar book to make sure I understood everything.”

5. What are some of the most common issues that native English speakers have with grammar?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your grammar skills by seeing what you consider to be common errors. You can use this opportunity to show that you have an understanding of how people commonly make mistakes and how to correct them.

Example: “The most common issues native English speakers have with grammar are subject-verb agreement, comma usage and apostrophes. For example, many people often forget whether they need to use ‘they’ or ‘them’ as a singular pronoun. Another common issue is when people don’t know when to use commas in their writing. I always tell my students to remember that if they’re not sure about where to put a comma, it’s best to leave it out rather than risk using it incorrectly.”

6. What’s your understanding of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections?

This question is a test of your grammar knowledge. It’s important to show that you understand the basics of grammar and can apply them in real-world situations.

Example: “Nouns are words that name people, places or things. Pronouns replace nouns when they’re already mentioned in a sentence. Verbs tell us what a person does. Adjectives describe a noun by telling us its color, size, shape, smell, etc. An adverb describes an adjective. Prepositions link nouns and pronouns to other parts of speech. Conjunctions connect two clauses together. Interjections express strong emotions.”

7. Can you explain the difference between phrases and clauses?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar and how it applies to writing. Phrases are groups of words that don’t have a subject or predicate, while clauses are groups of words that do have these elements. You can answer this question by defining phrases and clauses and explaining the difference between them.

Example: “A phrase is a group of words without a subject or predicate. A clause is a group of words with both a subject and predicate. For example, ‘The dog ran’ has a subject and predicate, so it’s a clause. However, ‘I love you’ doesn’t have a subject or predicate, so it’s a phrase.”

8. Can you give me examples of different types of sentences like declarative, exclamatory, imperative, or interrogative?

This question is a great way to test your grammar skills. You can answer this question by giving examples of each type of sentence and how they are used in everyday language.

Example: “Declarative sentences make statements, exclamatory sentences express strong emotions or feelings, imperative sentences give commands, interrogative sentences ask questions and command attention and finally, conditional sentences state conditions.”

9. Can you explain what subject-verb agreement means?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar rules and how to apply them. It also shows the interviewer that you can break down complex concepts into simple language. In your answer, define what subject-verb agreement is and give an example of when it’s used in a sentence.

Example: “Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must agree with the subject in number. For example, if I’m writing about ‘the dog,’ then the verb should be singular because the subject is singular. If I’m writing about ‘dogs,’ then the verb should be plural because the subject is plural.”

10. Can you explain how gender and number affect nouns and pronouns?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar rules and how they apply to different situations. Use examples from past experiences where you had to use gender and number in a sentence.

Example: “Gender and number affect nouns and pronouns because it changes the way we refer to them. For example, if I’m referring to a single person or thing, I would use ‘he’ or ‘she.’ If I’m referring to more than one person or thing, I would use ‘they,’ ‘them’ or ‘their.’ In my last job as an editor, I was editing a piece that referred to someone using ‘his’ when there were multiple people involved. I changed the pronoun to ‘their’ so it was accurate.”

11. How would you teach someone the difference between active and passive voice?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of grammar and how you can use it in the classroom. When answering, try to explain what active and passive voice are and give an example of when each would be appropriate to use.

Example: “Active voice is when the subject performs the action on the object. Passive voice is when the subject receives the action from the object. For example, ‘The dog ate my homework’ is in active voice because the dog is performing the action of eating the homework. In passive voice, we would say, ‘My homework was eaten by the dog.’ This is more formal but still gets the point across.”

12. Can you explain what an indirect object is?

This question tests your grammar knowledge and ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. You can answer this question by defining the term, explaining how it’s used and giving an example of its usage.

Example: “An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that receives the direct object. In my last role as a copy editor, I had to edit several documents with indirect objects. For instance, if someone wrote ‘I gave her the book,’ I would know that ‘her’ is the indirect object because she received the book.”

13. Can you explain what adverbs and adjectives are? How are they used?

This question is a great way to test your grammar knowledge. It also shows the interviewer how you apply that knowledge in real-world situations. Use examples from past experiences where you used adverbs and adjectives correctly.

Example: “Adverbs are words that describe verbs, while adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. For example, if I am describing an action verb like ‘run,’ then I would use an adverb such as ‘quickly’ to modify it. If I’m describing a noun, such as ‘dog,’ then I would use an adjective such as ‘black’ to modify it.”

14. Can you explain what it means for a verb to be transitive or intransitive?

This question tests your knowledge of grammar and how it applies to writing. It also shows the interviewer that you can break down complex concepts into simpler terms for others. In your answer, try to explain what transitive and intransitive verbs are and give an example of each type.

Example: “A verb is transitive when it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. For example, ‘I ate my dinner.’ The verb ‘ate’ needs the noun ‘dinner’ to make sense. An intransitive verb doesn’t need a direct object to be understood. For instance, ‘I slept well last night.’ There’s no noun needed after the verb ‘slept’ to understand what I did.”

15. Can you give me some examples of countable and uncountable nouns?

Countable and uncountable nouns are a part of grammar that many people struggle with. Interviewers may ask this question to see if you can use these terms correctly in your answers. In your answer, try to give examples of both types of nouns and explain what makes them countable or uncountable.

Example: “Countable nouns are things that we can count. For example, ‘table,’ ‘chair’ and ‘book.’ Uncountable nouns are things that we cannot count. These include ‘water,’ ‘money’ and ‘information.’ I find it helpful to remember the difference between these two by thinking about whether or not I could put an indefinite article before the word.”