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 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.

She said, “It has been raining for three days.”

  1. She said that it had been raining for three days.

  2. She said that it has been raining for three days.

  3. She said that it had rained for three days.

  4. She is saying that it has been raining for three days.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A sentence in present perfect continuous tense in direct speech is changed to past perfect continuous in indirect speech. Thus, the correct answer is, ‘She said that it had been raining for three days'.

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.

The professor said, “Mathematics is a science.”

  1. The professor said that mathematics was a science.

  2. The professor said that mathematics will be a science.

  3. The professor said that mathematics is a science.

  4. The professor said that mathematics would have been a science.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The tense of reported speech may not change if reported speech is a universal truth, though its reporting verb belongs to past tense. Thus, the correct answer is, ‘The professor said that mathematics is a science'.

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.

Trisha said, “The third day of the week is Tuesday.”

  1. Trisha said that the third day of the week will be Tuesday.

  2. Trisha said to me that the third day of the week can be Tuesday.

  3. Trisha said that the third day of the week was Tuesday.

  4. Trisha said that the third day of the week is Tuesday.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Whatever may be the tense of the reporting sentence, if the reported sentence tells a universal fact, no change is made in the tense of the reported sentence. Thus, the correct answer is ‘Trisha said that the third day of the week is Tuesday'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct passive or active voice of the given sentence.

Children painted these pictures.

  1. The pictures are painted by the children.

  2. Children have painted these pictures.

  3. These paintings are being painted by children.

  4. These pictures were painted by children.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The given statement is in active voice. To convert it into passive, the object 'pictures' becomes the subject, the subject 'children' is changed into the object and is preceded by a 'by'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the voice of the given sentence.

Mr. Rao teaches me English.

  1. I was taught English by Mr. Rao.

  2. I taught English by Mr. Rao.

  3. I am taught English by Mr. Rao.

  4. I am being taught English by Mr. Rao.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Active voice: teaches me, passive voice: I am taught Subject becomes object and object becomes subject. When there are two objects as in this sentence (English and me), either can become the subject.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option that converts the given statement into indirect speech.

"Has it been raining all night?", Grandma said to Sunil.

  1. Grandma asked Sunil if it had been raining all night.

  2. Grandma asked Sunil if it was raining all night.

  3. Grandma asked Sunil if it has raining all night.

  4. Grandma asked Sunil if has been raining all night.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When converting a present perfect continuous question to indirect speech, the tense shifts to past perfect continuous ('had been raining').

Multiple choice

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

He told me a story.

  1. I was told a story by him

  2. A story was told by him

  3. I was told a story

  4. He was told a story
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Me' becomes the subject 'I', the second object remains unchanged. The subject 'He' changes to object and is used with 'by'

Multiple choice

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

Why haven’t they allowed you to go?

  1. Why you haven’t been allowed to go?

  2. Why haven’t you been allowed to go?

  3. Why you were not allowed to go?

  4. Why were you not allowed to go?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The object 'you' becomes the subject; the 'be' form is added before the past partciple form of verb.

Multiple choice

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

Has anybody done the work?

  1. Has the work been done by anybody?

  2. Somebody has done the work.

  3. The work has been done by somebody.

  4. Has all the work done by somebody?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 'Work' becomes the subject, the verb 'done' changes to past participle(been done).

Multiple choice

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

Tobacco manufacturers are making considerable efforts to gain new clients.

  1. Considerable efforts are being made by tobacco manufacturers to gain new clients.

  2. Considerable efforts were being made by tobacco manufacturers to gain new clients.

  3. Considerable efforts are made by tobacco manufacturers to gain new clients.

  4. To gain new clients by tobacco manufacturers considerable efforts are being made.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 'Tobacco manufacturers' is changed into the object and the preposition 'by' is added before the object.

Multiple choice

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

Cigarette smoking causes two million deaths annually in the industrial states.

  1. Cigarette smoking has been causing two million deaths annually in the industrial states.

  2. Two million deaths are caused annually by cigarette smoking in the industrial states.

  3. Two million deaths are being caused by cigarette smoking annually in the industrial states.

  4. Two million deaths have been caused annually by cigarette smoking in the industrial states.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 'Cigarrete smoking' becomes the object and is preceded by 'by', the verb 'causes' is changed to 'are caused'.

Multiple choice

Choose the passive voice of—'Who ate my cheese?'

  1. By whom is my cheese being eaten?

  2. By whom was my cheese eaten?

  3. By whom will my cheese be eaten?

  4. By whom was my cheese been eaten?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The active sentence 'Who ate my cheese?' is in the simple past tense. The passive form requires 'By whom' + 'was' + object + 'eaten'.