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

The visitors were shown a collection of old manuscripts.

A sentence has been given in active/passive voice. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which expresses the same sentence in passive/active voice.

  1. A collection of old manuscripts was shown to the visitors.

  2. The hostess was showing the visitors a collection of old manuscripts.

  3. The hostess showed the visitors a collection of old manuscripts.

  4. The hostess was showed us a collection of old manuscripts.

  5. A collection of old manuscripts showed the visitors.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The passive verb ‘were/was shown’ becomes ‘showed’ in the active voice. When the agent (the person who performs the action) is not mentioned in the passive voice, we can use a noun/pronoun appropriate for the context in the active voice.

Multiple choice

The government has launched a massive child welfare scheme in many parts of the country.

A sentence has been given in active/passive voice. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which expresses the same sentence in passive/active voice.

  1. A massive child welfare scheme is launched by the government in many parts of the country.

  2. A massive child welfare scheme has been launched by the government in many parts of the country.

  3. Many parts of the country have launched a massive child welfare scheme.

  4. The government in many parts of the country has launched a massive child welfare scheme.

  5. A massive child welfare scheme was launched in many parts of the country by the government.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The active verb 'has launched' becomes 'has been launched' in the passive voice.

Multiple choice

Historians have written too many books about the Second World War.

Directions: A sentence has been given in active/passive voice. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which expresses the same sentence in passive/active voice.

  1. Too many books were written about the Second World War.

  2. Too many books have been written about the Second World War.

  3. Too many books had been written about the Second World War.

  4. About the Second World War too many books are written.

  5. Too many books about the Second World War are being written.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The active verb 'have written' becomes 'have been written' in the passive voice.

Multiple choice

The robbers destroyed the chairs and tables. They also attacked the inmates.

A sentence has been given in active/passive voice. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which expresses the same sentence in passive/active voice.

  1. The chairs and tables were destroyed by the robbers. The inmates were also being attacked by them.

  2. The chairs and tables were destroyed by the robbers. The inmates were also attacked by them.

  3. The chairs and tables had been destroyed by the robbers. The inmates had also been attacked by them.

  4. Including the chairs and tables, the robbers had attacked the inmates.

  5. The chairs and tables were destroyed by the robbers. The inmates had also attacked them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. 'Were/was destroyed' is the passive form of the active verb 'destroyed' and 'were/was attacked' is the passive form of the active verb 'attacked'.

Multiple choice

After many years of research, a new type of immunizer has been developed that could eventually immunize children anywhere in the world within seconds by using ultra-high pressure thin stream of spray without any danger of infecting the children with contaminated hypodermic needles.

  1. that could eventually immunize children anywhere in the world within seconds by using ultra-high pressure thin stream of spray without any danger of

  2. that, by using ultra-high pressure thin stream of spray without any danger, could eventually immunize children anywhere in the world within seconds of

  3. that could eventually immunize, within seconds, children anywhere in the world by using a thin, ultra-high pressure stream of spray, without carrying any danger of

  4. that could eventually immunize children anywhere in the world by using a thin, ultra-high pressure stream of spray within seconds, without carrying any danger of

  5. that would eventually immunize, within seconds, children anywhere in the world by using a thin, ultra-high pressure stream of spray, without carrying any danger of
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes any ambiguity as to whether the immunization could be done in seconds or children anywhere in the world could be immunized within seconds. Also, by adding 'carrying' to the sentence, it removes the idiomatic error in the original sentence.

Multiple choice

Giant Squid, a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, lives at depths up to one km, where it was long thought that it was immune from human intervention.

  1. was long thought that it was immune from

  2. was long thought to have become immune from

  3. was long thought as being immune to

  4. was long thought to be immune to

  5. was long thought to have been immune to
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; compact sentence without any ambiguity; removes error of incorrect word usage by using 'immune to'

Multiple choice

When life emerged on Earth with a basic cellular structure, it would be adjudged positively primitive by today's standards.

  1. When life emerged on Earth with a basic cellular structure, it would be adjudged positively primitive by today's standards.

  2. When life emerged on Earth with a basic cellular structure, it was adjudged primitive by today's standards.

  3. Life, with basic cellular structure, emerged on Earth, when it would've been adjudged primitive by today's standards.

  4. Life, with a basic cellular structure, as it emerged on Earth, would be adjudged primitive by today's standards.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; removes the Error of Misplaced Modifier and correctly refers to 'Life' when referring to 'basic structure'; removes the redundant 'When'.

Multiple choice

None, accept an archdeacon, pretends to know what the duties of an archdeacon are, so no one can say if these duties are performed perfunctorily and inadequately, or scrupulously and successfully.

  1. None, accept an archdeacon, pretends to know what the duties of an archdeacon are, so no one can say if these

  2. No one except an archdeacon pretends to know what the duties of an archdeacon are, so none can say if these

  3. No one, except an archdeacon pretends to know what the duties are of an archdeacon, so anybody cannot say whether these

  4. No one, except an archdeacon, pretends to know what the duties of an archdeacon are, so no one can say if these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Sentence bears error of diction and parallel construction (none, accept…….no one can say). Use of 'none' is incorrect, as none refers to persons already mentioned. So, the correct usage here is 'no one', not 'none'. And use of 'accept' is incorrect; it refers to admit or allow, but the sentence implies 'other than', so, the correct usage is 'except'. This is the correct answer as it rectifies both the errors.

Multiple choice

Aging in humans depends upon many factors like environment, heredity, and lifestyle' whereas wild animals age at a steady rate regardless of the lifestyle and environment.

  1. Aging in humans depends upon many factors like environment, heredity, and lifestyle' whereas wild animals age at a steady rate regardless of the lifestyle and environment.

  2. Regardless of lifestyle and environment, wild animals age at a steady rate whereas the aging of humans depends not only on these factors, but also on heredity.

  3. Aging in human beings depends upon many factors like environment, heredity, and lifestyle' whereas aging in wild animals goes at a steady rate regardless of lifestyle and environment.

  4. Aging of human beings depends on many factors like environment, heredity, and lifestyle whereas aging in wild animals goes at a steady rate depending solely on heredity.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The sentence maintains proper parallelism, 'aging in humans' and 'aging in animals'.

Multiple choice

The rain brought a brief respite from the scorching heat so that a wet front spread along the coast.

  1. from the scorching heat so much so that a wet front spread along the coast

  2. to the scorching heat, spreading a wet front along the coast

  3. to the scorching heat when it spread a wet front along the coast

  4. from the scorching heat, for a wet front spread along the coast

  5. by the spread of a wet front, from the scorching heat along the coast
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. Here, 'for' implies 'because' and it explains correctly how the rain brought a respite from the scorching heat.

Multiple choice

Although most amongst us can differentiate a good dress from a bad one, we are much less adept in distinguishing a good person and a bad one, a genuine smile and fake.

  1. much less adept in distinguishing a good person and a bad one, a genuine smile and fake

  2. far less adept in distinguishing a good person from a bad one, a genuine smile from a fake one

  3. far less adept at distinguishing a good person from a bad one, a genuine smile from a fake one

  4. much less adept in distinguishing good persons and bad ones, genuine smile and a fake one

  5. much less adept when it comes to distinguishing between good persons, bad persons, a genuine smile, and a fake one
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option correctly uses 'adept' and 'at'. Also, the option removes the idiomatic error by following 'distinguishing' with 'from', as well as the incomplete comparison between a real smile and a fake one.

Multiple choice

Many workers prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing, they are unmindful of both the loss of creativity and the likelihood of becoming jaded by the end of the contract.

  1. Many workers prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing, they are unmindful of both the loss of creativity and the likelihood of becoming jaded by the end of the contract.

  2. Many workers who prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing are unaware of both the loss of creativity and the likelihood of becoming jaded by the end of the contract.

  3. Many workers who prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing are unaware of both the loss of creativity as well as the likelihood of becoming jaded by the end of the contract.

  4. Many workers who prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing since they are unaware of both the loss of creativity and the likelihood of becoming jaded at the end of the contract.

  5. Many workers prefer entering a contract instead of freelancing; but these workers are unmindful of both the loss of creativity and the likelihood of becoming jaded by the end of the contract.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the option removes the coma error and converts the independent clause into a subordinate clause without introducing a new error.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the best revision for the underlined part in the given sentence.

Growth of an employee depends upon various factors; discipline and experience, enhance the performance of employee, as do punctuality and knowledge.

  1. upon various factors; discipline and experience, enhance the performance of employee, as do punctuality and knowledge

  2. on various factors, discipline and experience, enhances the performance of any employee, so does punctuality and knowledge

  3. upon various factors, discipline and experience, just like punctuality and knowledge enhances the performance of any employee, just like punctuality and knowledge

  4. upon various factors; discipline and experience enhance the performance of any employee, and as do punctuality and knowledge
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence begins with “Growth of an employee”; the subsequent reference to the subject also should be 'an' or 'any' employee.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, select the option that expresses the central idea in the most clear, concise and correct manner.

  1. The government has shown excellent fiscal management which must be emulated.

  2. The fiscal management shown by the government is indeed exemplary.

  3. As an example of excellent fiscal management, consider the government.

  4. The government has shown excellent fiscal management which is exemplary and must be emulated.

  5. The example of the government's excellent fiscal management must be emulated.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

None of the options may really be incorrect. Our challenge is to find the best expression. The best way is to try to restate the sentence in our own words. The shorter, the active and the more direct are always the better. The government has done some exemplary work. 

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, select the option that expresses the central idea in the most clear, concise and correct manner.

  1. The strike reduced energy reserves, which caused unemployment among the workers.

  2. The strike reduced energy reserves, which caused the workers to unemployed.

  3. The strike reduced energy reserves, a circumstance that resulted in unemployment.

  4. The strike reduced energy reserves, a fact that created unemployed workers.

  5. The strike reduced energy reserves, which led many workers to be unemployed.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

‘Which’ has no other word in the sentence to refer to. Therefore, choices (1), (2) and (5) are incorrect. Either a circumstance or a fact is correct. Since the reduction of energy reserves did not create workers (unemployed or otherwise), choice (3) is correct. The circumstance resulted in unemployment. A pronoun must unambiguously refer to some other noun or pronoun in the sentence. Otherwise, another word (circumstance) must be supplied.