NABTEB English Language
Past Questions
22+ verified English Language past questions for NABTEB. Step-by-step worked answers in 5 Nigerian languages.
English Language topics (3)
Sample English Language past questions
1. Synonym of COMMENCE.
- A. End
- B. Begin
- C. Hide
- D. Wait
Answer: B
2. Antonym of EARLY.
- A. Soon
- B. Late
- C. Quick
- D. Fast
Answer: B
3. Synonym of RAPID.
- A. Slow
- B. Fast
- C. Late
- D. Heavy
Answer: B
4. Choose the correct sentence.
- A. She go to school.
- B. She goes to school.
- C. She going school.
- D. She gone school.
Answer: B
AI Explanation
**The reasoning** This tests **subject-verb agreement** in the simple present tense. When your subject is a singular third-person pronoun (he, she, it), you must add **-s** or **-es** to the base verb. The formula: **She/He/It + verb + s/es** - Base verb = *go* - With "she" = *go* + *es* = **goes** So: "She **goes** to school" is correct. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **A) "She go"** — This works for *I/You/We/They* go, but not for third-person singular. Missing the "-es" is the #1 mistake students make. - **C) "She going"** — This feels like present continuous, but it's incomplete. You'd need "is": "She **is going** to school." - **D) "She gone"** — "Gone" is past participle, and you'd need "has": "She **has gone** to school." **Quick takeaway** **Remember: She/He/It always takes an 's'** — if you see these pronouns in simple present tense, add that suffix to the verb. It's your grammar signature!
5. Antonym of OPEN.
- A. Shut
- B. Wide
- C. Free
- D. Clear
Answer: A
6. Synonym of ASSIST.
- A. Help
- B. Hurt
- C. Stop
- D. Block
Answer: A
7. Choose correct spelling.
- A. Maintainance
- B. Maintenance
- C. Maintenence
- D. Maintainence
Answer: B
8. Antonym of TIGHT.
- A. Firm
- B. Loose
- C. Strong
- D. Hard
Answer: B
9. Choose the synonym of 'reliable':
- A. unstable
- B. trustworthy
- C. rude
- D. lazy
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Reliable = consistently trustworthy.
10. What is the past tense of 'go'?
- A. goed
- B. went
- C. gone
- D. going
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Go → went (past) → gone (past participle). Irregular verb.
11. Choose the correct sentence:
- A. He don't know.
- B. He doesn't knows.
- C. He doesn't know.
- D. He no know.
Answer: C
AI Explanation
Third-person negative: doesn't + base verb.
12. Identify the adjective: 'The tall man arrived.'
- A. The
- B. tall
- C. man
- D. arrived
Answer: B
AI Explanation
'Tall' describes the noun 'man' → adjective.
13. What is the plural of 'leaf'?
- A. leafs
- B. leaves
- C. leafes
- D. lieves
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Words ending in -f often change to -ves: leaf → leaves.
14. Choose the correct preposition: 'She arrived ___ school early.'
- A. in
- B. on
- C. at
- D. by
Answer: C
AI Explanation
'At' is used with specific points/places (at school, at home, at the bus stop).
15. Identify the verb: 'The bird flies high.'
- A. bird
- B. flies
- C. high
- D. the
Answer: B
AI Explanation
'Flies' is the action — verb.
16. Antonym of 'fast':
- A. quick
- B. slow
- C. rapid
- D. speedy
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Antonym = opposite. Fast ↔ slow.
17. Choose the correct article: '___ apple a day keeps the doctor away.'
- A. A
- B. An
- C. The
- D. No article
Answer: B
AI Explanation
'Apple' starts with vowel sound, so 'an'.
18. What is a noun?
- A. an action word
- B. a naming word
- C. a describing word
- D. a connecting word
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Nouns name people, places, things or ideas.
19. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
- A. where is my book
- B. Where is my book.
- C. Where is my book?
- D. Where; is my book?
Answer: C
AI Explanation
Direct question ends with a question mark.
20. Pronouns include:
- A. he, she, it, they
- B. run, jump, walk
- C. tall, blue, big
- D. and, but, or
Answer: A
AI Explanation
Pronouns replace nouns. He/she/it/they are personal pronouns.
21. If I ___ time, I would visit you.
- A. have
- B. had
- C. having
- D. has
Answer: B
AI Explanation
Second conditional: if + past simple, would + base. 'If I had time, I would visit'.
22. The boy ___ wrote the letter is my friend.
- A. who
- B. which
- C. what
- D. whose
Answer: A
AI Explanation
'Who' is the relative pronoun for people. 'Which' is for things.
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