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: 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.

You must take this medicine.

  1. This medicine was taken by you.

  2. This medicine must be taken by you.

  3. Medicine should be taken.

  4. This medicine must been taken by you.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “must be + past participle” will be used in the passive voice. Hence, this is incorrect. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 3: This is incorrect as “must be and past participle” is required in the passive voice as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 4: “been” will be replaced by “be” in the passive voice.

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.

I can write a book on grammar.

  1. A book on grammar can be written by me.

  2. A book on grammar could be written by me.

  3. A book on grammar is written by me.

  4. A book on grammar can written by me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 2: “could be” should be replaced by “can be” here. Explanation for option 3: This is incorrect as “can” in the “active voice” changes into “can be + past participle” in the passive voice. Explanation for option 4:  “Can” in the “active voice” changes into “can be + past participle” in the passive voice.

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 have taken the initiative.

  1. The initiative have been taken by us.

  2. The initiative has been taken by us.

  3. The initiative is taken by us.

  4. The initiative was taken by us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “have” will be replaced by “has” as “the initiative” denotes singular noun. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of Active/Passive voice. Explanation for option 3: As “active voice” contains “present perfect” tense, so it will be changed into “has been + past participle” in the passive voice. Hence, this is not correct. Explanation for option 4: As “active voice” contains “present perfect” tense, so it will be changed into “has been + past participle” in the passive voice. Hence, this is incorrect.

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.

Did he write a letter to his sister?

  1. Was a letter wrote to his sister by him?

  2. Was a letter written by him?

  3. Was a letter to his sister written by him?

  4. Is a letter to his sister written by him?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Past participle” is used in the “Passive Voice” hence “wrote” will be changed into “written”. Explanation for option 2: “Was a letter to his sister” will be correct. Explanation for option 3: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 4: As the “active voice” is in past tense, so “Was/Were and past participle“ will come in the passive voice.

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 to me, ”Why did you insult me?”

  1. He asked me why you insulted me?

  2. He asked me why I had insulted him.

  3. He asked me why I had insulted him?

  4. He asked me why did you insult me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “had + past participle”. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: Reported speech will be in statement form in “indirect speech” as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 4: “Had + past participle” will be used in “indirect” speech. “You” will be replaced with “I” and “me” with “him”.

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 teacher said, “I am busy now.”

  1. The teacher said that I am busy now.

  2. The teacher said that he is busy now.

  3. The teacher said that he is busy then.

  4. The teacher said that he was busy then.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past” and pronoun “I” will be changed according to the subject of “reporting verb” and “now” will change into “then”. Explanation for option 2: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past” and “now” will change into “then”. Explanation for option 3: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “simple past”.      Explanation for option 4: The tense of “reported speech” is changed into “simple past” and pronoun “I” is changed into the subject of “reporting verb” and “now” will change into “then”.

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 to me, “Do you play chess?”

  1. He asked me if I play chess.

  2. He asked me if I played chess.

  3. He told me that I played chess.

  4. He said to me if I played chess.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: The tense of “reported speech” will be changed into “past tense” as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: As “reported speech” is in “interrogative form”, so “said to” will be changed into “asked”. Explanation for option 4: As “reported speech” is in “interrogative form”, so “said to” will be changed into “asked”.

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 teacher said to the students, “Sit down.”

  1. The teacher told the students to sit down.

  2. The teacher ordered the students to sit down.

  3. The teacher order the students to sit down.

  4. The teacher ordered the students that sit down.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: As “reported speech” is in “imperative form', so reporting verb will be changed into “ordered”.  Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: “said to” will be changed into “ordered” as “reported speech” is in “imperative form”. Explanation for option 4: “that” will be replaced by “to”.

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.

Some boys were helping the wounded woman.

  1. The wounded woman was being helped by some boys.

  2. The wounded woman were being helped by some boys.

  3. The wounded woman was helped by some boys.

  4. The wounded woman was being helped by them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 2: “Were” is used with plural nouns. Hence, “were” will be replaced by “was”. Explanation for option 3: Was will be followed by “being” in the passive voice. Explanation for option 4: Pronoun “them” will not be used for “some boys”.

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 to Raman, “I can easily beat you in the 200 m race."

  1. He said to Raman that he could easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  2. He told Raman that he could easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  3. He told Raman that he can easily beat him in the 200 m race.

  4. He told Raman that I could easily beat him in the 200 m race.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Said to” of reporting verb will be changed into “told” in indirect speech. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: “can” will be changed into “could” in indirect speech. Explanation for option 4: The pronoun “I” will be changed according to the subject of “reporting 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.

He is known to me.

  1. I knew him.

  2. He knows me.

  3. I know him.

  4. He is my known.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Active voice” will be in present tense, if passive voice is in the present form. Explanation for option 2: The subject will become object. Thus, it is incorrect. Explanation for option 3: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 4: This is a different sentence and is not the active form of the given sentence.

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.

Did Kiran insult you?

  1. Are you insulted by Kiran?

  2. Were you insulted by Kiran?

  3. Was you insulted by Kiran?

  4. By Kiran were you insulted?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Are” should be replaced by “were”. Explanation for option 2: It is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 3: “Were” will be used instead of “was”. Explanation for option 4: Incorrect sentence formation.

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 authorities are looking into the matter.

  1. The matter is being looked into by the authorities.

  2. The matter are being looked into by the authorities.

  3. The matter is looked into by the authorities.

  4. The matter is being looked into the authorities.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: This is correct as per the rules of active/passive voice. Explanation for option 2: “Are” will be replaced by “is” as singular noun is placed at the beginning. Explanation for option 3: In passive voice "is" will be followed by “being” as the active voice is in the “present continuous” form. Explanation for option 4: Preposition "by" is missing and it will be placed before the objective of a “passive voice”.

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 teacher says, “Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469.”

  1. My teacher says that Guru Nanak Dev ji had been born in 1469.

  2. My teacher said that Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469.

  3. My teacher says that Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469.

  4. My teacher told that Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: As the reporting verb is in present tense, the tense of “reported speech” will not change in indirect speech. Explanation for option 2: “Present Tense” form (says) of reporting verb does not change into “said” as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Hence, this is not a valid option. Explanation for option 3: As reporting verb is in present tense, only conjunction “that” will be used after omitting “inverted commas” and the tense remains the same in the reported speech. Explanation for option 4: “Says” will not change to “told”.

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 to me, “He does not love her.”

  1. He said to me that he did not love her.

  2. He told me that he did not love her.

  3. He told me that he does not love her.

  4. He told me that he did not loved her.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for option 1: “Said to” is changed to “told” in indirect speech. Hence, we cannot take it as the right option. Explanation for option 2: This is correct as per the rules of direct/indirect speech. Explanation for option 3: “Simple present tense” of “reported speech” changes into “simple past” in indirect speech. Explanation for option 4: “Did” will be followed by the first form of the verb.