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: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence in indirect narration.

I said to my friend, “Good morning, how are you?”

  1. I said to my friend good morning and how is he

  2. I asked to my friend how was he and say good morning

  3. I wished my friend good morning and asked how he was

  4. I said to my friend good morning and asked that how he was
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When a sentence contains both a greeting and a question, both must be reported separately. 'Good morning' is reported with 'wished', and the question 'how are you' is reported with 'asked' while shifting the tense to 'how he was'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence in indirect narration.

The clerks said to their boss, “Let us see the match on T.V.” The clerks :

  1. asked their boss to let them see the match on T.V

  2. said their boss that they should be allowed to see the match on T.V

  3. requested their boss that they should be allowed to see the match on T.V

  4. suggest their boss that they would see the match on T.V
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When 'let us' is used to seek permission from an authority figure like a boss, it is often reported as a request. The phrase 'should be allowed to' correctly conveys the sense of seeking permission in indirect speech.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence in indirect narration.

The beggar said, “I am very thirsty. I want only a glass of water.” The beggar :

  1. requested that he was very thirsty and want only a glass of water

  2. said that he was very thirsty and he wanted only a glass of water

  3. exclaimed with sorrow that he was very thirsty and want only a glass of water

  4. told that he was very thirsty and want only a glass of water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Assertive sentences are reported using 'said that'. The first person pronouns 'I' change to 'he' to match the subject, and the present tense verbs 'am' and 'want' change to 'was' and 'wanted' respectively.

Multiple choice

Directions: Pick out the correct alternative that completes the sentence after change of narration.

Her father said to her mother, “Excuse the daughter”. Her father

  1. requested her mother to excuse the daughter.

  2. asked her mother to excuse the daughter.

  3. asked her mother to have excused the daughter.

  4. asked her mother to have been excused.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Second option is correct. The tense of the sentence changes into 'past' tense because the reporting verb in direct voice (said) is in past tense. As the reporting speech is in imperative, the word 'said' changes to 'asked'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

We were not attending the class.

  1. The class was not being attended by us.

  2. The class is not being attended by us.

  3. The class is not attended by us.

  4. The class was not attended by us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

First form of verb + ing is given (attending). We make use of “being” + 3rd form of the verb and the tense remains the same.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

They did not approve of our action.

  1. Our action is not approved of.

  2. Our action has not been approved of.

  3. Our action was not approved of.

  4. Our action is not being approved of.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

As active voice is in simple past, we have to make use of 'was' accordingly+ 3rd form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

They had not insulted the teacher.

  1. The teacher has not been insulted by them.

  2. The teacher had not been insulted by them.

  3. The teacher have not been insulted by them.

  4. The teacher was not insulted by them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Had' is given in the statement. 'Been' is used + 3rd form of the verb and object becomes subject and vice-versa.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

The aunt looks after the child very well.

  1. The child is looked after very well by the aunt.

  2. The child was looked after very well by the aunt.

  3. The child is looked by the aunt after very well.

  4. The child is being looked after by the aunt very well.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

First form of the verb is given in active voice. While changing into passive, is/ am/ are is used + 3rd form of the verb and object becomes subject.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this question, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive form. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Active/Passive voice.

The box contains medicines.

  1. Medicines were contained in the box.

  2. Medicines are contained in the box.

  3. Medicines are being contained in the box.

  4. Medicines have been contained in the box.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When first form of the verb is given, 'is/ am/ are' is used + 3rd form of the verb. Subject becomes object and vice-versa.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this 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 Direct/Indirect form.

The stranger said to him, “Don’t you know me?”

  1. The stranger asked him that he did not know him.

  2. The stranger asked him whether he did not know him.

  3. The stranger told him whether he does not know him.

  4. The stranger asked him whether he is not known to him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Whether' is used in case of yes/no form of direct speech. Also, reported speech given in simple present tense is changed into simple past tense. So, it is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this 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 Direct/Indirect form.

Our teacher said, “I am going to my native village tomorrow.”

  1. Our teacher said that he is going to his native village the next day.

  2. Our teacher said that I was going to my native village tomorrow.

  3. Our teacher said that he will be going to his native village the next day.

  4. Our teacher said that he was going to his native village the next day.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Present continuous is changed into past continuous. 'I' is changed into 'he' or 'she', 'my' into 'his' and 'tomorrow' into 'the next day'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this 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 Direct/Indirect form.

He said, “I went to see a movie last night.”

  1. He said that he went to see a movie last night.

  2. He said that he has gone to see a movie last night.

  3. He said that he had gone to see a movie the previous night.

  4. He said that he went to see a movie the previous night.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Reported speech given in simple past tense is changed into past perfect tense and ‘last night’ is changed into 'the previous night'.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this 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 Direct/Indirect form.

They said, “What an ugly creature a toad is!”

  1. They exclaimed with sorrow that a toad was a very ugly creature.

  2. They exclaimed with wonder that a toad is a very ugly creature.

  3. They exclaimed with disgust that a toad has been a very ugly creature.

  4. They exclaimed with disgust that a toad was a very ugly creature.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, reported speech given in simple present is changed into simple past tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: In this 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 Direct/Indirect form.

My uncle said to us, “Which mall will you like to visit?”

  1. My uncle asked us which mall we would like to visit.

  2. My uncle asked us that which mall we would like to visit.

  3. My uncle told us that which mall we would like to visit.

  4. My uncle asked us which mall we will like to visit.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Direct speech is given in question form. 'Said to' is changed into 'asked' and 'will' is changed into 'would'.