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 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 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.

Modi said, �I met Obama last week�.

  1. Modi said that he had met Obama last week.

  2. Modi said that he had met Obama the previous week.

  3. Modi said that I had met Obama last week.

  4. Modi said that I had met Obama the previous week.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The adverbs of nearness are put into those of distance. Thus, last week becomes the previous week. The pronoun also changes and I becomes he. Thus the correct answer is, Modi said that he had met Obama the previous week.

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.

Rohan said, �I am going to school�.

  1. Rohan said that he was going to school.

  2. Rohan said that he would be going to school.

  3. Rohan said that he will be going to school.

  4. Rohan said that I was going to school.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Present continuous in direct becomes past continuous in reported speech. The pronoun also changes from I to he. Thus, the correct answer is, Rohan said that he was going to school.

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.

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

Identify the correct use of active voice.

  1. The entire house was painted blue by my father.

  2. The whole forest was destroyed by the fire.

  3. Millions of consumers preorder the new I phone seven.

  4. The Romans were invaded by numerous barbarian factions.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Active voice occurs when the subject performs the action. In option C, 'consumers' is the subject performing the action of 'preordering'. The other options use passive voice, where the subject receives the action.

Multiple choice

Which of the following sentences uses active voice.

  1. My skateboard was severely damaged after being run over.

  2. The bicycle has been severely damaged over the years.

  3. The video games were confiscated from him due to poor grades

  4. He swerved out of the way to avoid the debris.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In option D, the subject 'He' performs the action 'swerved'. The other options use passive voice constructions.

Multiple choice

Identify the correct use of passive voice.

  1. The planner is making the reservations for the wedding.

  2. The university developed more fuel efficient engines.

  3. My was ad was not responded to by anyone.

  4. Joseph Barbera created the show "Tom and Jerry".
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Passive voice requires a form of 'to be' plus a past participle, where the subject receives the action. Option C ('ad was not responded to') fits this structure.

Multiple choice

Identify the incorrect use of passive voice.

  1. Marty created a cure for cancer.

  2. The flat tire was created by Jim.

  3. My sales ad was not responded to by anyone.

  4. The captain was knocked off the boat by the enormous wave.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The question asks for an incorrect use of passive voice. Option A is active voice ('Marty' is the subject performing the action). The others are passive.

Multiple choice

Passive voice uses which of the following?

  1. A verb to a form of be plus a past particle

  2. A subject that is doing the verb's action.

  3. Verbs that are more direct.

  4. Uses fewer words to express action within the sentence.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Passive voice construction requires a form of 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were, been) followed by a past participle. The subject receives the action rather than performing it. Option A correctly identifies this structure, though it contains a typo saying 'past particle' instead of 'past participle'.

Multiple choice

Define Passive voice

  1. The subject receives the action rather than performing it.

  2. Sentences are not too wordy.

  3. Verbs are more direct and easier to point out.

  4. When the subject performs the action of the verb.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In passive voice, the grammatical subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the performer.

Multiple choice

When should active voice be used in a sentence?

  1. When you want to give the reader a vague description.

  2. When you are not naming specific object.

  3. When you want to keep something or someone discrete.

  4. When writing a non-scientific paper.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Active voice is generally preferred in most writing, including non-scientific papers, because it is more direct, concise, and clear.

Multiple choice

Active Voice occurs when...

  1. the subject receives the action

  2. you want to emphasize the recipient of the action

  3. a person or object that experiences the action

  4. the subject performs the action of the verb
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Active voice is defined as a sentence structure where the subject of the sentence performs the action denoted by the verb.

Multiple choice

Change it into indirect speech They said,"Please guide us the way." Principal said,"You have been completing the project for an hour." He said ,"I have been playing football for an since evening." He said to me ,"The sun is bright."

  1. They requested to guide them the way.

  2. Principal said that I had been completing the project for an hour

  3. He said that he had been playing football since evening

  4. He said to me that the sun is bright
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B,C,D Correct answer
Multiple choice

I made an A on my grammar test!

  1. active

  2. passive
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The subject 'I' is performing the action 'made'. This is an active voice construction.