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.

"Didn't we discuss this yesterday?", asked the teacher.

  1. The teacher asked whether they had not discussed that the previous day.

  2. The teacher asked whether they not discussed that the previous day.

  3. The teacher said whether they had not discussed that the previous day.

  4. The teacher asked whether they had not discussed that yesterday.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The simple past tense in the reported speech will change to past perfect tense as per the simple past reporting speech. 'Yesterday' will change into the 'previous day'. The interrogative form will become assertive. 

Multiple choice

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

"Can you lend me some money?", the old man asked me.

  1. The old man asked me whether I could lend him some money.

  2. The old man asked me if I can lend him some money.

  3. The old man said to me whether I can lend the money.

  4. The old man asked me to lend him some money.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense and the addressee is 'me', 'can lend' will be replaced by 'could lend'. Also, the question is converted into a statement.

Multiple choice

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

"When will your father return from work?", the old man said to the girl.

  1. The old man asked the girl when her father would return from work.

  2. The old man asked the girl when her father will return from work.

  3. The old man said the girl that when her father would return from work.

  4. The old man enquired from girl when her father would return from work.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense, the future tense in the reported speech will take past connotations by replacing 'will' with 'would'. Also, the question will be converted into a statement by using 'asked'. 

Multiple choice

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

"Where can I find English dictionary?", asked a pupil.

  1. A pupil asked where can I find English dictionary.

  2. A pupil asked where will I find English dictionary.

  3. A pupil asked where I will find the English dictionary.

  4. A pupil asked where he could find English dictionary.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense and the speaker is 'a pupil', 'I can' will be replaced by 'he could'. Also, the question is converted into a statement by using 'asked'.

Multiple choice

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

"I want to see your father urgently", the man said to me.

  1. The man told me that he wanted to see my father urgently.

  2. The man told me that he want to see my father urgently.

  3. The man said he want to see my father urgently.

  4. The man said that he want to see my father urgently.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense, and the speaker is third person, 'I want' is changed to 'he wanted'. 

Multiple choice

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

"Are you free this afternoon?", he asked me.

  1. He asked me if I am free this afternoon.

  2. He asked me whether I was free that afternoon.

  3. He asked me whether I am free that afternoon.

  4. He asked me whether I was free this afternoon.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Since the reporting verb is in simple past tense and the addressee is 'me', 'are you' will be replaced by 'I was'. Also, the question is converted into a statement by using 'asked' and 'this' is changed to 'that'.

Multiple choice

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

"Do you live in this colony?", said the stranger to me.

  1. The stranger asked me if I live in this colony.

  2. The stranger asked me that I live in that colony.

  3. The stranger asked me whether I live in that colony.

  4. The stranger asked me whether I lived in that colony.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Since the reporting verb is in the simple past tense, and the question is about 'me', 'you live' will change to 'I lived'. Also, the question will change into a statement by the use of 'asked'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct passive voice for the following sentence.

I must take away the bundle.

  1. The bundle must be taken away by me.

  2. Away the bundle must be taken by me.

  3. The bundle should be taken away by me.

  4. The bundle has to be taken away by me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(2) is incorrect because it is not properly arranged. (3) is incorrect because ‘must’ cannot be changed into ‘should’. (4) is incorrect because ‘must’ cannot be changed into Present Perfect Tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct passive voice for the following sentence.

The farmer killed the snake with a stick.

  1. The snake was killed by the farmer with a stick.

  2. The snake was killed with a stick by the farmer.

  3. The snake has been killed by the farmer.

  4. The snake will be killed with a stick by the farmer.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Simple past changes to "was/were + 3rd" form of the verb. Option 2 is correctly formed sentence and option 1 has misplaced conjunction.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct passive voice for the following sentence.

He kissed the fountain with his thirsty lips.

  1. The thirsty lips were kissed with the fountain by him.

  2. The fountain is kissed with his thirsty lips by him.

  3. The fountain was kissed with his thirsty lips by him.

  4. The fountain will be kissed with his thirsty lips by him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is incorrect because the sentence is framed wrongly. (2) is incorrect because the present tense is used in stead of the past. (4) is incorrect because the future tense is used in stead of the past.