English Language

Sentence Transformation

558 Questions

Sentence transformation questions evaluate grammatical accuracy in converting sentences between active and passive voice, as well as direct and indirect speech. The focus lies on altering sentence structures without changing the original meaning while maintaining correct tense and verb forms. This is a highly weighted English language topic in SSC and banking exams.

Active and passive voiceDirect and indirect speechNarration changeTense consistencyVerb form transformation

Sentence Transformation Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Convert the given statement into indirect speech.

He said, “I came here long time ago.”

  1. He said that he came here long time ago.

  2. He said that he had come there long time before.

  3. He said that he had come there long time ago.

  4. He said that he came here long time before.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence in simple past changes into past perfect tense as the reporting verb is also in simple past. The pronoun of the sentence changes into third person as the speaker is third person. The timing word ‘ago’ changes into ‘before’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice from active to passive and select the correct option.

The hunter aimed at the bird.

  1. The bird was aimed at by the hunter.

  2. The bird is aimed at by the hunter.

  3. The bird was aimed by the hunter.

  4. The bird was being aimed at by the hunter.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Case of past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice from active to passive and select the correct option.

I saw him leaving the house.

  1. He had been seen leaving the house.

  2. He was seen to be leaving the house.

  3. Leaving the house he was seen by him.

  4. He was seen leaving the house by me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Case of past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice from active to passive and select the correct option.

The law does not compel me to say 'Please'.

  1. I was not compelled by law to say 'Please'.

  2. I am not compelled by the law to say 'Please'.

  3. The law is not compelled by me to say 'Please'.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. In such cases, we use 'is/am/are' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct form.

They said, “We are enjoying the rain.”

  1. They said that we are enjoying the rain.

  2. They said that they are enjoying the rain.

  3. They said that they were enjoying the rain.

  4. They said that we were enjoying the rain.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A direct sentence in present continuous is changed to past continuous in reported speech. Thus, the correct option is ‘They said that they were enjoying the rain'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice from active to passive and select the correct option.

Please help me.

  1. You were requested to help me.

  2. You are being requested to help me.

  3. You are requested to help me.

  4. You have been requested to help me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Case of past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'is/are' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct form.

Modi said, “I met Obama last week”.

  1. Modi said that he had met Obama last week.

  2. Modi said that he had met Obama the previous week.

  3. Modi said that I had met Obama last week.

  4. Modi said that I had met Obama the previous week.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The adverbs of nearness are put into those of distance. Thus, ‘last week’ becomes ‘the previous week’. The pronoun also changes and ‘I’ becomes ‘he’. Thus, the correct answer is, ‘Modi said that he had met Obama the previous week'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice from active to passive and select the correct option.

A stone struck me on the head.

  1. I was struck by a stone on the head.

  2. My head was struck by a stone.

  3. I had been struck by a stone on the head.

  4. I was struck on the head by a stone.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. It is a case of past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct form.

Rohan said, “I am going to school.”

  1. Rohan said that he was going to school.

  2. Rohan said that he would be going to school.

  3. Rohan said that he will be going to school.

  4. Rohan said that I was going to school.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Third person changes from ‘I’ to ‘he/she’. Thus, the correct answer is, ‘Rohan said that he was going to school'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose an appropriate passive sentence for the given sentence.

Never waste your time.

  1. You are advised never to waste your time.

  2. You are requested never to waste your time.

  3. You are prohibited never waste your time.

  4. Your time can never be wasted.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In this case, the subject 'you' is missing, and we are supposed to introduce it. This is not a case of an 'order' or a 'request', rather it is a 'piece of advise'. So, option 1.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose an appropriate passive sentence for the given sentence.

Did you know this man?

  1. Did this man is known to you?

  2. Was this man known to you?

  3. Was this man known by you?

  4. Was this man known with you?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The subject of active voice becomes the object in passive voice and vice-versa. Moreover, the subject and the object interchange thier placements in the sentence in active and passive voices. In passive voice 'did' is replaced by 'was' (in such cases'. So, option 1 is eliminated. Option 3 & 4 have prepositional error. Hence, option 2.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose an appropriate passive sentence for the given sentence.

They are not favouring me.

  1. I was not favoured by them.

  2. I was not being favoured.

  3. I was not being favoured by them.

  4. I am not being favoured by them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The subject of active voice becomes the object in passive voice and vice-versa. Moreover, the subject and the object interchange thier placements in the sentence in active and passive voices. Case of present indefinite. Subject 'I' takes auxilary 'am' in present tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose an appropriate passive sentence for the given sentence.

The rose smells sweet.

  1. Sweet smells the rose.

  2. The rose was sweet when smelt.

  3. Smell is sweet by the rose.

  4. The rose is sweet when smelt.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The subject of active voice becomes the object in passive voice and vice-versa. Moreover, the subject and the object interchange thier placements in the sentence in active and passive voices. Case of present indefinite. In such cases, we use auxilary 'is/are' + 'third form of the verb'. Hence, option 4.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose an appropriate passive sentence for the given sentence.

We hear he had won a match.

  1. It is heard that he won a match.

  2. It is heard that he had won a match.

  3. It is heard a match had been won by him.

  4. We hear that a match has been won by him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The subject of active voice becomes an object in the passive voice case. Moreover, the passive of past perfect is past perfect continuous. Hence, option 3.