ICSE Class 10 English grammar practice, with answers.
135 practice questions across everything English Language Paper 1 grades: tenses and error correction, the types of composition, formal letters, and unseen-passage comprehension. Attempt each one, then tap to reveal the answer — model letters are shown in the full CISCE-graded layout.
Last updated August 2026.
(Q4 & Q5)
composition (Q1)
letter (Q2)
comprehension (Q3)
That's the full 80 written marks. For the full paper structure see the English Paper 1 guide, and for the complete letter format rules the ICSE letter format guide.
Tenses & error correction
Fill in the correct tense, spot the error, state the rule — the exact skills Questions 4 and 5 of Paper 1 test for 30 marks.
Easy · 23 questions
1 She ___ in this office since 2019. (a) works(b) has been working(c) worked(d) will work
Answer: (b) has been working
2 He ___ to the market every Sunday. (a) goes(b) is going(c) went(d) has gone
Answer: (a) goes
3 The sun ___ in the east. (a) rise(b) rises(c) rose(d) is rising
Answer: (b) rises
4 I ___ my homework when the lights went out. (a) do(b) was doing(c) did(d) have done
Answer: (b) was doing
5 Fill in: "He ___ (live) here for five years."
Answer: has lived / has been living
6 Fill in: "I ___ (read) when he came."
Answer: was reading
7 Fill in: "She ___ (go) to school daily."
Answer: goes
8 Fill in: "They ___ (play) since morning."
Answer: have been playing
9 Fill in: "He ___ (leave) before I reached."
Answer: had left
10 Fill in: "I ___ (see) you tomorrow."
Answer: shall/will see
11 Fill in and explain: "I ___ (study) here since 2022."
Answer: have been studying / have studied — 'since' marks a point of time, and the Present Perfect (Continuous) shows the action continuing from the past to the present.
12 Fill in and explain: "He ___ (work) in this office for ten years before he retired."
Answer: had worked / had been working — the Past Perfect (Continuous) shows the earlier past, completed before his retirement.
13 Fill in: "She ___ (cook) when the guests arrived."
Answer: was cooking
14 Fill in: "By the time the doctor came, the patient ___ (die)."
Answer: had died
15 Fill in: "I ___ (finish) the work by tomorrow evening."
Answer: will have finished
16 Fill in: "The train ___ (start) at 6 a.m. daily."
Answer: starts
17 Which salutation and subscription are used when writing to the Editor of a newspaper?
Answer: Salutation: Sir; Subscription: Yours faithfully / Yours truly.
18 Fill in with the correct tense: "I ___ (wait) for the bus when I ___ (see) an accident. The driver of the car ___ (already run) away."
Answer: was waiting — action in progress; saw — shorter past action; had already run — the earlier past.
19 Correct: (i) He is knowing me well. (ii) I am having a car. (iii) She has went to school.
Answer: (i) He knows me well — 'know' is not used in the continuous. (ii) I have a car — possession takes the Simple Present. (iii) She has gone to school — the Present Perfect is 'has + gone'.
20 Fill in with the correct tense: (i) "If you ___ (work) hard, you will pass." (ii) "If I ___ (be) a bird, I would fly." (iii) "If he ___ (come) earlier, he would have met her."
Answer: (i) work — Simple Present in the conditional clause. (ii) were — Simple Past for an unreal present condition. (iii) had come — Past Perfect in the third conditional.
21 Fill in the blanks with the correct tense: "Every Sunday my father ___ (take) us to the park. Last Sunday we ___ (go) early and ___ (watch) the sunrise. At present he ___ (plan) a trip to the hills. He ___ (promise) that by next month he ___ (book) the tickets, and we ___ (wait) eagerly."
Answer: "Every Sunday my father takes us to the park (habitual action). Last Sunday we went early and watched the sunrise (completed past actions). At present he is planning a trip to the hills (action in progress now). He has promised that by next month he will have booked the tickets (completed action with present effect; Future Perfect for completion by a future time), and we are waiting eagerly (action in progress)."
22 Correct the errors and state the rule: (i) He has went to Delhi. (ii) I am knowing the answer. (iii) She is having two brothers. (iv) The train left before we reached the station. (v) I will call you when I will reach home.
Answer: "(i) He has gone to Delhi — the third form of 'go' is 'gone'. (ii) I know the answer — 'know' has no continuous form. (iii) She has two brothers — possession takes the Simple Present. (iv) The train had left before we reached the station — the earlier past takes the Past Perfect. (v) I will call you when I reach home — in time clauses, the Simple Present is used for future time."
23 Fill in the blanks in the passage with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets: "Last month our school ___ (organise) a trek to the hills. We ___ (start) at dawn and ___ (climb) for three hours when it ___ (begin) to drizzle. By the time we ___ (reach) the camp, all of us ___ (get) wet. Next year, the school ___ (arrange) a longer trek, and by June we ___ (complete) our training for it."
Answer: "Last month our school organised a trek to the hills (completed past action). We started at dawn and had been climbing for three hours when it began to drizzle (action in progress throughout a period, interrupted by a shorter past action). By the time we reached the camp, all of us had got wet (earlier past — Past Perfect). Next year, the school will arrange a longer trek (Simple Future), and by June we will have completed our training for it (Future Perfect — completion by a future time)."
Medium · 25 questions
1 If he ___ hard, he would succeed. (a) works(b) worked(c) has worked(d) will work
Answer: (b) worked
2 She ___ here since 2010. (a) lives(b) has been living(c) lived(d) is living
Answer: (b) has been living
3 By next year, I ___ in this city for ten years. (a) live(b) will have been living(c) lived(d) am living
Answer: (b) will have been living
4 While she ___ TV, the phone rang. (a) watches(b) was watching(c) watched(d) has watched
Answer: (b) was watching
5 He ___ English for five years. (a) teaches(b) has been teaching(c) taught(d) is teach
Answer: (b) has been teaching
6 The shop ___ before we reached. (a) closed(b) had closed(c) closes(d) has closed
Answer: (b) had closed
7 I ___ you at the station tomorrow. (a) meet(b) shall meet(c) met(d) have met
Answer: (b) shall meet
8 Fill in: "He ___ (be) here since morning."
Answer: has been
9 Fill in: "She ___ (leave) when I arrived."
Answer: had left
10 Fill in: "I ___ (visit) my grandmother next week."
Answer: shall/will visit
11 Fill in: "They ___ (build) the house since January."
Answer: have been building
12 Fill in: "The bell ___ (ring) before I entered the class."
Answer: had rung
13 Fill in: "He ___ (work) when the accident happened."
Answer: was working
14 Fill in and explain: "He ___ (sleep) when I entered his room."
Answer: was sleeping — the Past Continuous for an action in progress when another past action happened.
15 Fill in and explain: "I ___ (not see) him since Monday."
Answer: have not seen — 'since Monday' is a point of time, so the Present Perfect is used.
16 Fill in and explain: "The train ___ (leave) before we reached the station."
Answer: had left — the earlier of two past actions takes the Past Perfect.
17 Fill in and explain: "We ___ (live) here since 1990."
Answer: have been living / have lived — the Present Perfect (Continuous) with 'since' for an action continuing up to the present.
18 Fill in and explain: "She ___ (talk) on the phone when I came."
Answer: was talking — the Past Continuous for the action in progress when I came.
19 Fill in with the correct tense: "When the fire ___ (break) out, most of the residents ___ (sleep). The fire brigade ___ (arrive) within ten minutes."
Answer: broke — the shorter past action; were sleeping — action in progress; arrived — completed past action.
20 Correct with reasons: (i) "The sun rose when we started." (ii) "I am knowing him for ten years." (iii) "She will cook by the time the guests arrive."
Answer: (i) The sun had risen when we started — the earlier past takes the Past Perfect. (ii) I have known him for ten years — 'know' has no continuous form. (iii) She will have cooked by the time the guests arrive — completion by a future time takes the Future Perfect.
21 Rewrite as directed: (i) He plays cricket. (Begin: Cricket...) (ii) She is reading a novel. (Begin: A novel...) (iii) They have completed the work. (Begin: The work...)
Answer: (i) Cricket is played by him. (ii) A novel is being read by her. (iii) The work has been completed by them.
22 Fill in with the correct tense: (i) "The award ceremony ___ (hold) at Triumph Auditorium on 16th August." (ii) "We expect our teacher ___ (mark) our test by tomorrow." (iii) "I ___ (know) her to be a generous lady."
Answer: (i) will be held; (ii) will have marked; (iii) have known.
23 Fill in with the correct tense: "I ___ (meet) my old teacher yesterday. He ___ (retire) two years ago and now ___ (write) a book. He ___ (tell) me that he ___ (work) on it for three years and that by next March he ___ (finish) it."
Answer: "I met my old teacher yesterday (completed past action). He retired two years ago and now is writing a book (past with a definite time; present action in progress). He told me that he had been working on it for three years (action in progress throughout a period) and that by next March he would have finished it (completion by a future time, reported in the past)."
24 Correct the errors and state the rule: (i) He is having a new bicycle. (ii) She has returned home yesterday. (iii) When I reached the hall, the programme began. (iv) By next June, I will teach here for five years. (v) Unless he will work hard, he will not pass.
Answer: "(i) He has a new bicycle — possession takes the Simple Present. (ii) She returned home yesterday — definite past time takes the Simple Past. (iii) When I reached the hall, the programme had begun — the earlier past takes the Past Perfect. (iv) By next June, I will have been teaching here for five years — duration at a future moment takes the Future Perfect Continuous. (v) Unless he works hard, he will not pass — in conditional clauses, the Simple Present is used."
25 Fill in the blanks in the passage with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets: "When I ___ (open) the door, I ___ (find) my younger brother ___ (cry). He ___ (lose) his favourite toy and ___ (search) for it for an hour. I ___ (calm) him down and we ___ (find) it under the sofa. Since then he ___ (not misplace) his toys."
Answer: "When I opened the door, I found my younger brother crying (sequence of completed past actions; 'crying' shows the action in progress). He had lost his favourite toy and had been searching for it for an hour (the loss was the earlier past — Past Perfect; the searching had been in progress throughout the period — Past Perfect Continuous). I calmed him down and we found it under the sofa (completed past actions). Since then he has not misplaced his toys (action from a past point continuing to the present — Present Perfect)."
Hard · 22 questions
1 Choose the correct sentence: (a) He said he will come yesterday.(b) He said he would come the next day.(c) He said he would came the next day.(d) He said he will come the next day.
Answer: (b) He said he would come the next day.
2 Choose the correct sentence: (a) I have finished the work when he came.(b) I had finished the work when he came.(c) I finished the work when he had come.(d) I had finished the work when he has come.
Answer: (b) I had finished the work when he came.
3 Choose the correct sentence: (a) She has been singing since two hours.(b) She has been singing for two hours.(c) She is singing since two hours.(d) She has sung for two hours yesterday.
Answer: (b) She has been singing for two hours.
4 Choose the correct sentence: (a) If you worked hard, you will pass.(b) If you work hard, you will pass.(c) If you will work hard, you pass.(d) If you worked hard, you pass.
Answer: (b) If you work hard, you will pass.
5 Fill in: "By 2027, I ___ (complete) my graduation."
Answer: will have completed
6 Fill in: "Water ___ (freeze) at 0°C."
Answer: freezes
7 Fill in: "Look! It ___ (rain)."
Answer: is raining
8 Fill in: "He ___ (always, grumble) about his work."
Answer: is always grumbling
9 Fill in: "If it ___ (rain), we shall stay at home."
Answer: rains
10 Correct: "He is knowing the answer."
Answer: He knows the answer — verbs of mental state like 'know' are not used in the continuous form.
11 Correct: "I am having a car."
Answer: I have a car — possession takes the Simple Present.
12 Correct: "She has went to school."
Answer: She has gone to school — the third form of 'go' is 'gone'.
13 Correct: "The train left before we reached the station."
Answer: The train had left before we reached the station — the earlier of two past actions takes the Past Perfect.
14 Correct: "I will call you when I will reach home."
Answer: I will call you when I reach home — in time clauses the Simple Present is used for future time.
15 Correct: "He is having a new bicycle."
Answer: He has a new bicycle — possession takes the Simple Present.
16 Correct with reasons: (i) "He said that he will come yesterday." (ii) "I have finished the work when he came." (iii) "She is having two sisters."
Answer: (i) He said that he would come the previous day — in reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' becomes 'would' and 'yesterday' becomes 'the previous day'. (ii) I had finished the work when he came — the earlier past takes the Past Perfect. (iii) She has two sisters — possession/relationship takes the Simple Present.
17 Fill in with the correct tense: "The train ___ (already leave) when we ___ (reach) the station. We ___ (wait) for the next train when an old man ___ (offer) us tea."
Answer: had already left; reached; were waiting; offered — the Past Perfect for the earlier action, Simple Past for the others, and Past Continuous for the action in progress.
18 Frame one sentence for each: (i) the Simple Present in a time clause; (ii) the Past Perfect for an unfulfilled hope; (iii) the Future Perfect Continuous for duration at a definite future moment.
Answer: (i) I will stay here till you come back. (ii) I had hoped to attend the meeting, but I could not. (iii) By next May we shall have been living here for three years.
19 Correct the errors in the paragraph and state the rule for each: "Last week I am going to fair. When I reached there, the fair already begun. I am seeing my friend Ravi, who was buying books since morning. He has bought ten novels by the time I met him."
Answer: "Last week I went to fair (definite past time — Simple Past). When I reached there, the fair had already begun (the earlier past — Past Perfect). I saw my friend Ravi (completed past action; 'see' has no continuous form), who had been buying books since morning (action in progress throughout a period). He had bought ten novels by the time I met him (completion by a past point — Past Perfect)."
20 Rewrite the sentences as directed: (i) He is too weak to walk. (Use: so...that) (ii) She said to me, 'Please lend me your book.' (Begin: She requested...) (iii) He finished his work and went home. (Begin: Having...) (iv) The teacher punished the boy. He was late. (Join without and/but/so, using 'because')
Answer: "(i) He is so weak that he cannot walk. (ii) She requested me to lend her my book. (iii) Having finished his work, he went home. (iv) The teacher punished the boy because he was late."
21 Write a short paragraph explaining the difference between describing a character and describing a building, as per.
Answer: "A building is static — the writer describes its structure, colours and surroundings, moving from the outside to the inside, as a painter fills a canvas. A character, however, is dynamic — he has movement and behaviour, and so he cannot be described like an object. advises depicting characters in action: in writing about a friend, one must give an account of his appearance, habits and behaviour — what he does, how he speaks, how he moves — so the reader meets a living person, not a portrait."
22 Correct the errors in the following passage and state the rule for each correction: "Every morning I am getting up at five. I am doing yoga since two years. My father is having a small shop. Yesterday he is returning home early because the shop had close for the day. By next year, he will open a second shop and he will be run it for twenty years by then."
Answer: "Corrections: (i) 'Every morning I get up at five' — a habitual action takes the Simple Present, not the continuous. (ii) 'I have been doing yoga for two years' — a period of time takes 'for' (not 'since'), with the Present Perfect Continuous. (iii) 'My father has a small shop' — possession takes the Simple Present; 'is having' is wrong. (iv) 'Yesterday he returned home early because the shop had closed for the day' — definite past time takes the Simple Past, and the earlier action takes the Past Perfect. (v) 'By next year, he will open a second shop and he will have been running it for twenty years by then' — completion by a future point takes the Future Perfect, and duration up to a future moment takes the Future Perfect Continuous."
Types of composition
Narrative, descriptive, argumentative, expository — what each type demands, and how to pick the right one in the exam.
Easy · 5 questions
1 Writing skills for a composition are divided into two categories: ___ and imaginative. (a) fictional(b) factual (practical)(c) poetic(d) scientific
Answer: (b) factual (practical)
2 Name the four types of imaginative composition.
Answer: narrative, descriptive, argumentative, personal
3 What is the example of factual writing ?
Answer: How to mend a puncture in a bicycle tyre
4 Write a short paragraph classifying the topic 'Describe a building of historical importance' — state the type, its features and how you would treat it.
Answer: "This is a descriptive composition — the writer uses words to recreate a scene, just as a painter uses paint. I would begin with the first view of the building and its surroundings, then describe its architecture — the arches, domes, carvings and colours — moving from outside to inside. I would add its history in a line or two, and end with the atmosphere it creates at a particular hour, so that the reader feels he has walked through it."
5 For each of the four types of composition, write one topic and the opening sentence you would use, naming the type for each.
Answer: "Narrative — topic: 'An accident you witnessed.' Opening: 'The lorry came out of the fog like a grey monster, and in one second the morning turned into chaos.' The line plunges straight into the event. Descriptive — topic: 'Describe a building of historical importance.' Opening: 'The old fort stands on the hill like a sleeping lion, its red walls glowing crimson at sunset.' The line paints the scene, as a painter recreates it. Argumentative — topic: 'Capital punishment cannot be justified.' Opening: 'A state that kills a murderer has quietly become a murderer itself.' The line states the stand boldly with shock tactics. Personal — topic: 'The best years of your life.' Opening: 'If I had to relive one period of my life, I would choose my years in Class Eight.' The line is autobiographical and immediately personal."
Medium · 7 questions
1 What are the three important features of a good composition?
Answer: appropriate subject matter, logical arrangement of ideas, and effective expression
2 Which technique helps a writer arrange the ideas of a composition logically?
Answer: planning — writing down the ideas as they occur and arranging them before writing
3 Fill in and explain: "I ___ (write) the essay by evening."
Answer: will have written — the Future Perfect for an action to be completed by a particular future time.
4 State the difference between narrative and personal composition, with one topic of each.
Answer: Narrative relates an event — a wedding, a festival, an accident or a journey, real or imaginary (e.g., 'An accident you witnessed'). Personal composition is autobiographical — about an event or experience in one's own life (e.g., 'The best years of your life').
5 What does the argumentative type of composition ask the writer to do?
Answer: It asks the writer to argue for or against a particular point of view, supporting the stand with reasons and examples — e.g., 'Capital punishment cannot be justified.'
6 Explain the difference between factual and imaginative writing, with.
Answer: Factual (practical) writing is concerned with facts rather than thoughts and feelings, and is not abstract — e.g., 'How to mend a puncture in a bicycle tyre'. Imaginative writing calls for an original way of looking at things, creative ideas and forceful arguments — e.g., narrating a wedding or describing a building of historical importance.
7 Write a short paragraph on how you would plan and write a narrative composition on 'A wedding you attended'.
Answer: "I would first list the ideas as they occur — the invitation, the decorated house, the arrival of the baraat, the ceremonies, the feast, the farewell. Then I would arrange them in the order of happening, using the question frame Who, When, Where, Why and How to fill gaps. I would begin with an arresting line that plunges into the scene, keep the narrative moving from one incident to the next in paragraphs, and end with a short closing impression — tired but glad."
Hard · 4 questions
1 'Such a composition is concerned with facts rather than with thoughts and feelings' describes ___ writing. (a) imaginative(b) factual (practical)(c) poetic(d) reflective
Answer: (b) factual (practical)
2 What does 'imaginative writing' call for?
Answer: an imaginative response, an original way of looking at things, creative ideas and forceful arguments
3 Why must the characters in a descriptive composition be depicted in action?
Answer: because characters are dynamic — they have movement and behaviour, unlike objects and places
4 For the topic 'Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of written examinations', write the opening line taking a clear stand, and state the composition type.
Answer: Type: argumentative. Opening: 'Written examinations are far from perfect, yet no one has invented a fairer test of a student's years of work.' The line acknowledges both sides and states a clear stand to argue from.
Formal letters — questions and model letters
Salutations, subscriptions, and full model letters: to the Principal, the Editor, a bookseller, and more.
Easy · 16 questions
1 In a formal letter, the salutation 'Dear Sir' is matched with the subscription ___. (a) Yours sincerely(b) Yours lovingly(c) Yours faithfully(d) Best regards
Answer: (c) Yours faithfully
2 The business heading of a formal letter is written ___. (a) at the top right(b) in the middle of the writing space between the salutation and the first paragraph(c) at the bottom(d) nowhere
Answer: (b) in the middle of the writing space between the salutation and the first paragraph
3 In a formal letter, the name and address of the receiver are written ___. (a) after the sender's address and date, on the left-hand side(b) at the top right(c) after the signature(d) in the middle
Answer: (a) after the sender's address and date, on the left-hand side
4 Assertion: "In a formal letter addressed to a person in an official capacity, 'Yours faithfully' is the correct subscription." Reason: "Formal letters to people one does not know end with 'Yours faithfully' or 'Yours truly'. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (a) Both true; R explains A
5 Assertion: "'Yours' in the subscription of a letter begins with a capital Y." Reason: "'Faithfully' or 'truly' is written with a small initial letter. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (b) Both true; R does not explain A
6 Which salutation is used in a formal letter when you are not sure of the gender of the person addressed?
Answer: Dear Sir/Madam
7 With what must a formal letter writer sign — the first name or the name and surname?
Answer: the name (or initials) and surname, legibly written
8 What is a business heading in a formal letter and where is it written?
Answer: It is the subject of the letter, indicated in the middle of the writing space between the salutation and the first paragraph, and underlined. In modern usage it is optional.
9 When is 'Dear Sirs' used as the salutation of a formal letter?
Answer: When the letter is addressed to a company or a partnership firm.
10 How is the signature of a formal letter written, and what is done if it is not legible?
Answer: The name (or initials) and surname are written legibly under the subscription; if the signature is not legible, the full name in capital letters is written within brackets under the signature.
11 Write the opening sentence of a formal letter of application referring to an advertisement.
Answer: 'I wish to apply for the position of assistant advertised in The Times of India of 10 August 2026.' The opening sentence gives the reference to the advertisement at once, in a formal tone.
12 Write the layout of a formal letter in the correct order, naming all the parts.
Answer: (1) writer's address and date; (2) name and address of the receiver; (3) salutation; (4) business heading (optional, underlined); (5) opening sentence; (6) body of the letter in paragraphs; (7) concluding sentence; (8) subscription; (9) signature with name and surname.
13 Write the sender's address, the date, the receiver's address and the salutation of a letter to the Principal of a school.
Answer: 12, Rose Villa / Park Street / Pune - 411001 / 16 August 2026 / The Principal / Bishop Cotton Girls' School / St. Marks Road / Bengaluru - 560001 / Dear Sir,
14 What is the difference between 'Yours faithfully' and 'Yours sincerely'?
Answer: 'Yours faithfully' (or 'Yours truly') is used in formal letters to an official or an unknown person (Dear Sir/Madam). 'Yours sincerely' is used when the person is known or named, as in semi-formal correspondence.
15 Write a formal letter (60-100 words) to the Principal requesting a Transfer Certificate.
Model letter
12, Rose Villa
Park Street
Pune - 411001
16 August 2026
The Principal
St. Mary's School
Pune - 411002
Dear Sir, I am a student of Class X B of your school. My father has been transferred to Bengaluru, and my family is shifting there at the end of this month. Kindly issue me a Transfer Certificate and a character certificate so that I may seek admission in a school in Bengaluru. I should be grateful if the certificates could be ready by 25 August 2026. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Arjun Sharma (Class X B, Roll No. 14)
16 Write a formal letter (60-100 words) to a bookseller placing an order for books.
Model letter
24, Green Park
Kanpur - 208001
16 August 2026
Messrs. Gupta and Sons
C-14, Mall Road
Kanpur - 208001
Dear Sirs, Please send me the following books by V.P.P.: (i) an ICSE Class X English grammar workbook — 2 copies; (ii) an ICSE Class X Physics textbook — 2 copies; (iii) a student's atlas — 1 copy. Kindly pack them carefully and send them at the earliest, as the new session begins next month. The payment will be made on delivery. Yours faithfully, Rakesh Verma
Medium · 12 questions
1 He ___ the letter before the postman came. (a) writes(b) wrote(c) had written(d) has written
Answer: (c) had written
2 Assertion: "The business heading of a formal letter makes the subsequent filing of the letter easier." Reason: "The business heading is underlined and written in the middle of the writing space. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (b) Both true; R does not explain A
3 Assertion: "A female writer may write '(Mrs)' or '(Miss)' in brackets after her signature in a formal letter." Reason: "This enables the recipient to know to whom he should direct the reply. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (a) Both true; R explains A
4 What is the subscription of a formal letter to a company?
Answer: Yours faithfully / Yours truly
5 What is written immediately after the sender's address and date in a formal letter?
Answer: the name and address of the receiver
6 Write the salutation and subscription for a letter addressed to: (i) The Principal (ii) Messrs. Kumar and Sons.
Answer: (i) Dear Sir / Dear Madam — Yours faithfully. (ii) Dear Sirs — Yours faithfully / Yours truly.
7 Give one useful opening sentence of a formal letter as suggested in.
Answer: 'Thank you for your letter of 28th June, 20...' — the opening sentence responds to an earlier communication and refers to the topic of the letter at once.
8 Write the opening sentence for a letter of complaint about unpruned trees covering the street lights in your colony.
Answer: 'I wish to draw your attention to the branches of the trees lining the roads of our colony, which have not been pruned for over a year and now cover the street lights, rendering the roads dark and dangerous at night.'
9 What is the purpose of the concluding sentence in a formal letter? Give two examples from.
Answer: The concluding sentence closes the letter politely, and it varies according to the topic. Examples: 'I should be grateful if my application would be favourably considered.' 'We shall be expecting some positive response from your department.'
10 Write a formal letter to the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation complaining about the unpruned trees in your colony.
Model letter
24, Green Park
Kanpur - 208001
16 August 2026
The Commissioner
Municipal Corporation
Kanpur - 208001
Sir, I wish to draw your attention to the trees lining the roads of our colony. Their branches have not been pruned for over a year, and they now cover the street lights, rendering the roads dark and dangerous at night. We request that the trees be pruned at regular intervals. I hope the Corporation will take early action. Yours faithfully, Rakesh Verma (Resident, Green Park Colony)
11 Write a formal letter to the Editor of a newspaper about the need for a public library in your town.
Model letter
15, Gandhi Road
Mysuru - 570001
16 August 2026
The Editor
The Mysuru Times
Mysuru - 570002
Sir, Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw public attention to the absence of a public library in our town. Students and elderly readers alike have no quiet place to read, and many cannot afford books of their own. A public library would serve thousands of citizens. I request the authorities to consider this long-felt need of the town. Yours faithfully, Neha Iyer
12 Test Paper question asks: 'Write a letter to the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation complaining about unpruned trees covering the street lights in your colony and requesting that the trees be pruned at regular intervals.' Write the full letter, and then list the parts of the formal letter you used, in order.
Model letter
24, Green Park
Kanpur - 208001
16 August 2026
The Commissioner
Municipal Corporation
Kanpur - 208001
Sir, I wish to draw your attention to the trees lining the roads of our colony. The branches have not been pruned for over a year, and they now cover the street lights, rendering the roads dark and dangerous at night. Several residents, including schoolchildren returning late from tuition, have had narrow escapes from chain-snatchers and stray dogs. We request that the trees be pruned at regular intervals so that the lights remain unobstructed. We shall be expecting some positive response from your department. Yours faithfully, Rakesh Verma (Resident, Green Park Colony). Parts used, in order: (1) writer's address and date; (2) name and address of the receiver; (3) salutation (Sir,); (4) opening sentence drawing attention to the subject; (5) body with the complaint and the request; (6) concluding sentence expecting a positive response; (7) subscription (Yours faithfully); (8) signature with the name and surname.
Hard · 18 questions
1 The salutation in a formal letter is written ___. (a) with an indent(b) vertically in line with the address of the addressee(c) at the top right(d) after the subscription
Answer: (b) vertically in line with the address of the addressee
2 A comma after the salutation of a formal letter is ___. (a) optional(b) mandatory(c) wrong(d) used only in personal letters
Answer: (b) mandatory
3 Conventionally, a male writer signs a formal letter as ___. (a) Mr P. L. Gupta(b) P. L. Gupta(c) Gupta Sahib(d) P. L.
Answer: (b) P. L. Gupta
4 Assertion: "In the layout of a formal letter, the business heading is optional." Reason: "In modern usage the subject or business heading is not mandatory. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (a) Both true; R explains A
5 Assertion: "'This has reference to your letter dated 10th November' is a useful opening sentence of a formal letter." Reason: "The opening sentence should either respond to an earlier communication or refer to the topic of the letter. (a) Both true; R explains A(b) Both true; R does not explain A(c) A true, R false(d) A false, R true
Answer: (a) Both true; R explains A
6 Fill in: "She ___ (write) the letter before the postman came."
Answer: had written
7 What must be maintained in the body of a formal letter?
Answer: the official tone, keeping to the point
8 What should be written again under the signature of a formal letter if the signature is not legible?
Answer: the full name in capital letters, within brackets
9 What is the opening sentence of a formal letter supposed to do?
Answer: It should either be in response to an earlier communication or have a reference to the topic of the letter — e.g., 'Thank you for your letter of 28th June.'
10 Why is nothing in a formal letter allowed to be personal or intimate?
Answer: Formal letters are official letters written to people in their official capacity, or to firms; they deal with subjects like inquiry, orders, complaints and requests, so nothing in them should be personal or intimate.
11 Why is the business heading underlined in a formal letter?
Answer: It is underlined to stand out as the subject of the letter, and it makes the subsequent filing of the letter easier.
12 What does the concluding sentence of a formal letter do? Give one example.
Answer: It closes the letter politely, varying according to the topic — e.g., 'I am anxiously awaiting a favourable reply.'
13 Rewrite as directed: (i) He has read. (Begin:...) (ii) They are building a bridge. (Begin: A bridge...) (iii) She wrote a letter. (Begin: A letter...)
Answer: (i) has been read by him. (ii) A bridge is being built by them. (iii) A letter was written by her.
14 Identify and correct the three errors in this formal letter opening: 'Dear Sir, I want to complaint about the broken road in our colony and you must repair it immediately. Waiting for your reply, Your's faithfully.'
Answer: (i) 'I want to complaint' should be 'I wish to complain' — formal tone. (ii) 'you must repair it immediately' should be a polite request: 'I request that the road be repaired at the earliest' — the letter requests, it does not command. (iii) 'Your's faithfully' should be 'Yours faithfully' — no apostrophe in 'Yours'.
15 Write the salutation, business heading and subscription for a letter of complaint to the Municipal Commissioner about irregular garbage collection.
Answer: Salutation: Sir, / Business heading: Irregular Garbage Collection in Green Park Colony / Subscription: Yours faithfully, / (The business heading is underlined and written in the middle between the salutation and the first paragraph.)
16 Write a formal letter to the Principal of a school applying for the post of a clerk, in response to an advertisement.
Model letter
31, Rosewood Colony
Dehradun - 248001
16 August 2026
The Principal
St. Paul's School
Dehradun - 248002
Dear Sir, I wish to apply for the post of a clerk advertised in The Times of India of 12 August 2026. I am twenty-four years old and have passed the B.Com. examination with first class. I have two years' experience as a clerk in a chartered accountant's office, and I can type at forty words a minute. I enclose my testimonials and hope that my application will be favourably considered. Yours faithfully, Vikram Joshi
17 Write a formal letter to the Station Master complaining about the late running of trains at your station.
Model letter
15, Gandhi Road
Mysuru - 570001
16 August 2026
The Station Master
Mysuru Junction
Mysuru - 570020
Sir, I wish to bring to your notice the frequent late running of trains at our station. The morning passenger train has been running more than two hours late for the past month, causing great hardship to office-goers and students. I request you to look into the matter and arrange for the trains to run on time. We shall be expecting some positive response from your department. Yours faithfully, Neha Iyer
18 Write a full formal letter to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting him/her to send a team to your school's inter-school basketball tournament, and then state which parts of the formal-letter layout you have used, in order.
Model letter
16, Lake View Road
Pune - 411001
16 August 2026
The Principal
St. Mary's School
Pune - 411002
Dear Sir, Our school is hosting 'Hoop Stars', an inter-school basketball tournament, as part of our Diamond Jubilee celebrations. We would like to invite your school to send a team to participate. The tournament will be held on 30 August 2026 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the Sports Complex of Beacon School. Teams of Classes IX and X are eligible. We request you to send us the names of your players by 23 August 2026 as confirmation. We look forward to hosting the team from your school. Yours faithfully, Arjun Mehta (Sports Secretary). Parts used, in order: (1) writer's address and date; (2) name and address of the receiver, on the left; (3) salutation 'Dear Sir,' with a comma; (4) opening sentence referring to the event; (5) body with the invitation, date, time, venue and request for confirmation; (6) concluding sentence looking forward to the team; (7) subscription 'Yours faithfully,'; (8) signature with the name and surname." ## (File complete: 44 questions per difficulty × 3 = 132)
Unseen passage comprehension
Full comprehension sets in the exam's own shape — a passage, word-meaning MCQs, factual and inferential questions, and a 50-word summary question (Paper 1, Question 3, 20 marks).
Easy · 1 questions
1 Comprehension set. Read the passage below and answer the five questions that follow. "Old Manohar was the only cobbler in the village. Every morning he sat under the same banyan tree, with his box of tools, humming as he stitched. The village folk trusted him utterly; they left their shoes and slippers with him without asking for a receipt, and he returned each pair repaired and polished. One rainy July, a young collector offered him a huge sum for his rusted old tool box, which, the collector said, was a rare antique. Manohar refused politely. 'This box,' he said, 'has mended the feet of three generations. What would a stranger pay me for that?' The collector went away shaking his head, but the villagers understood. That evening the richest trader of the village came to Manohar and told him he had made a foolish mistake. Manohar only smiled and said, 'If I sold my box, whom would the children of this village run to with their broken shoes?' The trader had no answer." (i) For the word 'utterly' (line 3) choose the correct meaning: a) partially b) completely c) loudly d) rarely (ii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of 'repair'? a) polish b) mend c) break d) stitch (iii) Why did Manohar refuse the collector's offer? (iv) What did the trader call Manohar's decision, and what was Manohar's reply? (v) What does the passage tell you about Manohar's character? Answer in not more than 50 words.
Answer: (i) b (ii) c (iii) Manohar refused the offer because his tool box had mended the feet of three generations; its value to the village was not something a stranger could pay for. (iv) The trader called it a foolish mistake. Manohar replied that if he sold the box, the children of the village would have no one to run to with their broken shoes. (v) Manohar is honest, simple and devoted to his work and his village. He values service above money and understands that his craft is a trust placed in him by three generations of villagers, which no amount of money could replace.
Medium · 1 questions
1 Comprehension set. Read the passage below and answer the five questions that follow. "The library in our town was a small room above the post office, but to ten-year-old Ravi it was a palace. Every Saturday he climbed the creaking stairs, nodded to the old librarian, and disappeared among the shelves. He read about ships, stars and lost cities; he borrowed two books a week and read them by the light of a kerosene lamp. Years later, when he won a scholarship to a famous university, the whole town applauded. At the farewell meeting, Ravi held up a dog-eared atlas — the first book he had ever borrowed — and said, 'Everything I am begins in that little room above the post office.' The old librarian wiped his spectacles and smiled." (i) For the word 'dog-eared' (line 7) choose the correct meaning: a) torn and worn at the corners b) having ears like a dog c) chewed by a dog d) newly bound (ii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of 'famous'? a) little b) creaking c) unknown d) old (iii) How did the library help Ravi? (iv) What did Ravi do at the farewell meeting? (v) What do the last three lines of the passage suggest about the librarian's feelings? Answer in not more than 50 words.
Answer: (i) a (ii) c (iii) The library gave him books about ships, stars and lost cities, and his habit of borrowing two books a week and reading by a kerosene lamp built the learning that won him a scholarship to a famous university. (iv) Ravi held up a dog-eared atlas — the first book he had ever borrowed — and said that everything he was began in the little room above the post office. (v) The librarian felt proud and moved; his quiet years of service had shaped a boy who now publicly honoured the library. His smile shows quiet satisfaction that his work and his books had not been in vain.
Hard · 1 questions
1 Comprehension set. Read the passage below and answer the five questions that follow. "Mrs Rao ran the only tea stall at the hill station bus stand. She knew every regular traveller by name and remembered how each one took his tea — strong, light, with ginger or without. When a flood cut off the hill road one winter, the stranded passengers had nowhere to eat. Mrs Rao boiled vats of tea and shared her stock of biscuits with everyone, refusing all payment. A month later, a letter arrived from the district office offering her a permanent shop at a new bus terminus, 'in recognition of outstanding public service.' Mrs Rao framed the letter and hung it behind her old counter. 'The new shop can wait,' she said, 'the old customers cannot.' And she went on pouring tea for thirty more years." (i) For the word 'stranded' (line 3) choose the correct meaning: a) strengthened b) stranded means left helpless and unable to move on c) entertained d) rewarded (ii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of 'temporary'? a) old b) regular c) permanent d) plain (iii) How did Mrs Rao help the passengers during the flood? (iv) What honour did the district office offer Mrs Rao and why? (v) Why did Mrs Rao refuse to shift to the new shop immediately? Answer in not more than 50 words.
Answer: (i) b (ii) c (iii) She boiled vats of tea and shared her stock of biscuits with everyone, refusing all payment, so that the stranded passengers had something to eat. (iv) The district office offered her a permanent shop at the new bus terminus in recognition of her outstanding public service during the flood. (v) She valued her old customers more than the new shop; she felt the new shop could wait but the familiar travellers could not, showing her loyalty to the people she had served for years.
Frequently asked questions
Which grammar topics does ICSE Class 10 English Paper 1 test?
Questions 4 and 5 (30 marks combined) draw on tenses, subject-verb agreement, voice, direct and indirect speech, transformation of sentences, prepositions, and error correction. Tenses and error spotting are the most frequently examined, which is why this page drills them hardest.
How do I answer 'correct the sentence' questions in ICSE English?
Rewrite the full corrected sentence — don't just name the error. Where the question says 'state the rule', add one line naming it, e.g. "stative verbs like know and have are not used in the continuous". Most corrections at Class 10 level come down to a handful of rules: stative verbs, the past perfect for the earlier of two past actions, the simple present in time clauses, and unreal past conditions.
What are the types of composition in ICSE Class 10?
Narrative (tell a story), descriptive (build a picture of a person, place, or scene), argumentative (take a position and defend it), and expository or factual (explain a process or subject). The exam offers a choice of topics across these types — pick the one whose demands match what you can actually deliver in 300–350 words.
What is the correct format for a formal letter in ICSE?
Sender's address, date, receiver's designation and address, subject line, salutation (Dear Sir/Madam), body in short paragraphs, and the matching subscription — Yours faithfully with Dear Sir/Madam, Yours sincerely when you addressed the person by name. The model letters on this page show the full graded layout.
How many marks is grammar worth in ICSE Class 10 English?
30 of the 80 written marks, via Questions 4 and 5 — more than the composition (20) or the letter (10). It is the highest-yield revision area on the whole paper because grammar answers are either right or wrong: there is no examiner discretion to lose marks to.
EasyICSE generates full English Language tests chapter by chapter — thousands of graded questions across tenses, voice, speech, transformation and more — and marks your answers instantly. Grammar drills are also playable as games in Play with English.