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 questions, a sentence has been given in Active voice / Passive voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive voice / Active voice.

The conman was finally arrested.

  1. Finally the conman was arrested.

  2. The police finally arrested the conman.

  3. The police arrests the conman finally.

  4. Finally the police arrested the conman.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In passive voice, the action is stressed but the doer is unknown. In sentences in the Passive Voice without subject or agent, we supply the appropriate subject. The correct active voice is, ‘the police finally arrested the conman’.

Multiple choice

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

Speak the truth.

  1. The truth must be spoken.

  2. The truth is to be spoken.

  3. Let the truth be spoken.

  4. Let the speaking be in truth.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

For changing imperative sentences into passive voice, auxiliary verb �be� is used. The word �Let� is added before sentence in passive voice. Auxiliary verb �be� is added after object in sentence in passive voice. Main verb (base form) of imperative sentence is changed to 3rd form of verb (past participle) in passive voice.  Thus, the correct answer is, Let the truth be spoken.

Multiple choice

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

My mother has finished her work.

  1. Her work has been finished by my mother.

  2. Her work is being finished by my mother.

  3. Let her work be finished by my mother.

  4. Her work should be finished by my mother.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice. 3rd form of verb or the past participle will be used only as main verb in passive voice. In this context, the auxiliary verb in passive voice for present perfect tense is has been. Thus, the correct answer is, Her work has been finished by my mother.

Multiple choice

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

The assignment had been completed by them.   

  1. They have completed the assignment.

  2. They have been completing the assignment.

  3. They had completed the assignment.

  4. They are having to complete the assignment.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice. 3rd form of verb or the past participle will be used only as main verb in passive voice. In this context, the auxiliary verb in active voice for past perfect tense ‘had been’ is ‘had’.

Multiple choice

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

She can play a piano.   

  1. A piano may be played by her.

  2. A piano could be played by her.

  3. A piano can be played by her.

  4. A piano ought to be played by her.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice. 3rd form of verb (past participle) will be used only (as main verb) in passive voice. To change sentences having present/future modal into passive voice, auxiliary verb �be� is added after modal in sentence. Thus, in this context the auxiliary verb with modal in this sentence will be can be. The correct answer is, A piano can be played by her.

Multiple choice

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

He will finish the work in a fortnight.       

  1. The work will finish by him in a fortnight.

  2. The work by him will be finishing in a fortnight.

  3. The work will be finishing by him in a fortnight.

  4. The work will be finished by him in a fortnight.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The object of a verb in the active voice becomes the subject of the passive form. Only intransitive verbs can be used in passive voice because an intransitive verb has no object. In this sentence of simple future tense, the correct intransitive verb will be will be taken. Thus, the correct answer is, The work will be finished by him in a fortnight.

Multiple choice

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

The guard refused him admittance.       

  1. Admittance was refused to him by the guard.

  2. Admittance was being refused to him by the guard.

  3. He was being refused admittance by the guard.

  4. Admittance had been refused to him by the guard.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When verbs that take both direct and indirect object in the active voice are changed to the passive, either object may become the subject of the passive verb, while the other is retained. In this context, ‘Admittance was refused to him by the guard’ is correct as it also follows the correct tense of the sentence. The sentence is in simple past tense. Thus, option 3 is incorrect due to the past perfect tense in passive voice though the object is correct.

Multiple choice

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

They use online resources for teaching the students.

  1. Online resources are being used by them for teaching the students.

  2. Online resources are used for teaching the students.

  3. Online resources have been used for teaching the students.

  4. Online resources had been used for teaching the students.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passive voice is preferred when the active form would involve the use of an indefinite or vague pronoun or noun as subject; that is when we do not know the agent or the agent is obvious. In such cases, the agent with ‘by’ is usually avoided. Thus, this sentence in simple present tense will have the verb ‘are used’. The correct sentence in this context is, ‘Online resources are used for teaching the students.’

Multiple choice

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

Somebody hit the dog with a stick.

  1. The dog was hit with a stick.

  2. The dog was being hit somebody with a stick.

  3. The dog has been hit by a stick.

  4. The dog was hit by a stick.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An indirect object denotes the person to whom or for whom something is given or done. While a direct object usually denotes a thing. With not by is used to talk about an instrument used by the agent. Thus, in this sentence the correct answer is, The dog was hit with a stick.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following questions, 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.

My mother said, �The sun rises in the east.�

  1. My mother said that the sun rose in the east.

  2. My mother said that the sun has risen in the east.

  3. My mother said the sun rises in the east.

  4. My mother said that the sun rises in the east.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

If the verb in the reported speech is stating a universal truth, a habit or a constant situation, the tense of that verb does not change. Since, the given sentence is a universal truth, only the conjunction that will be used. No other change is required. My mother said that the sun rises in the east.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following questions, 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.

My sister cried that she had cut her finger.

  1. My sister cried, �I had cut my finger.�

  2. �I have cut my finger� cried my sister.

  3. �I had cut my finger� my sister cried.

  4. �I am cutting my finger� my sister cried.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

To change from Indirect to Direct Speech, the reporting verb should be changed into the correct tense. Past perfect or simple past tense in indirect remains past tense; thus, the correct option is �I have cut my finger� cried my sister.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following questions, 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.

He said, �I am suffering from homesickness�.

  1. He said that I am suffering from homesickness.

  2. He said that he was suffering from homesickness.

  3. He was said to be suffering from homesickness.

  4. He said that I am a sufferer of homesickness.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If there is 'said' in the direct speech, then the tense of the words inside quotation marks is changed to the past tense. Thus, He said that he was suffering from homesickness.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following questions, 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.

He said,� It`s hot today.�

  1. He said that it is hot today.

  2. He said that it was hot today.

  3. He said that it is hot that day.

  4. He said that it was hot that day.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A reporting sentence in simple present is changed to simple past in the reported speech. Also, today is changed to that day. Thus, the correct answer choice is, He said that it was hot that day.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following questions, 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: In the following questions, 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.