English Language

Sentence Transformation

697 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 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

Verbs that take both direct and indirect objects in Active voice are changed to Passive voice, either object may become the subject of the Passive voice, 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; so option 4 is incorrect due to the past perfect tense in Passive voice, although the object is correct.

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.

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 is rising 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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: Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the question given below them.(1) The sailor was told it was placed there as warning signal to sailors to warn them of the danger. (2) He returned to the spot a few years later as captain of his own ship. (3) The ship was at sea for many days and finally anchored near the coastline. (4) The night was stormy and without a warning signal his ship was wrecked on that very rock. (5) One of the sailors on board saw a bell tied to a dangerous submerged rock. (6) As a joke the sailor decided to steal the bell and hide it despite being informed of this.

Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after the rearrangement?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.

That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks, jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. (5)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The logical sequence is: (3) The ship anchored, (5) a sailor saw a bell, (1) he was told it was a warning, (6) he stole it, (4) the ship wrecked, (2) he returned as captain. The third sentence is (1).

Multiple choice

Directions: Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the question given below them.(1) The sailor was told it was placed there as warning signal to sailors to warn them of the danger. (2) He returned to the spot a few years later as captain of his own ship. (3) The ship was at sea for many days and finally anchored near the coastline. (4) The night was stormy and without a warning signal his ship was wrecked on that very rock. (5) One of the sailors on board saw a bell tied to a dangerous submerged rock. (6) As a joke the sailor decided to steal the bell and hide it despite being informed of this.

Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after the rearrangement?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.

That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks, jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. (5)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Following the sequence: (3) The ship anchored, (5) a sailor saw a bell, (1) he was told it was a warning, (6) he stole it, (4) the ship wrecked, (2) he returned as captain. The second sentence is (5).

Multiple choice

Directions: Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the question given below them.(1) The sailor was told it was placed there as warning signal to sailors to warn them of the danger. (2) He returned to the spot a few years later as captain of his own ship. (3) The ship was at sea for many days and finally anchored near the coastline. (4) The night was stormy and without a warning signal his ship was wrecked on that very rock. (5) One of the sailors on board saw a bell tied to a dangerous submerged rock. (6) As a joke the sailor decided to steal the bell and hide it despite being informed of this.

Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after the rearrangement?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.

That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks, jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.

  1. (1)

  2. (2)

  3. (3)

  4. (4)

  5. (5)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Following the sequence: (3) The ship anchored, (5) a sailor saw a bell, (1) he was told it was a warning, (6) he stole it, (4) the ship wrecked, (2) he returned as captain. The fifth sentence is (4).