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: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Research has shown that if patients suffering from Osteopenia exercise using light weights and take regular calcium supplements, they will be less likely to suffer a fracture than do those leading sedentary lifestyles.

  1. regular calcium supplements, they will be less likely to suffer a fracture than do

  2. calcium supplements regularly, they are less likely to suffer a fracture than are

  3. regular calcium supplements, they would be less likely to suffer a fracture than

  4. calcium supplements regularly, they will have reduced the likelihood of suffering of a fracture than do

  5. calcium supplements regularly, they have been less likely to suffer a fracture than are

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

The option removes the ambiguity about calcium supplements. Also, it uses 'than are' in place of the ungrammatical 'than do'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Change the active voice into passive voice.

He was troubling me for a long time.

  1. He was being troubled from a long time.

  2. He was being troubled for a long time by him.

  3. I had been troubling for a long time.

  4. I was being troubled for a long time by him.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In passive voice of past continuous tense, the rule is: 'Object + was/were + present tense verb + being + past participle + phrase + by + subject'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Without changing the meaning of the below given sentence, transform the degree of comparison from comparative to positive.

The pine tree has more uses than any other tree.

  1. No other tree is more useful than the pine tree.

  2. The pine tree has a lot more uses of all trees.

  3. No other tree has as many uses as the pine tree.

  4. The pine tree has the most uses of all other trees.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is made into a positive sentence by using the 'as...as' phrase. So, option 3 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Rewrite the sentence given in the question as directed in the bracket.

If you told me, I would keep your story in confidence. (Change the voice of the verb from active to passive)

  1. If you told me, your story would be kept in confidence.

  2. If I was told, your story would be kept in confidence.

  3. If you told me your story would have been kept in confidence.

  4. If you tell me, your story will have been kept in confidence.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In order to change conditional sentence into passive, the format is ‘’conditional phrase + subject (object of active form) + would be + past participle form of the verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The great conflict generated by the debate in urban middle-class homes over love versus arranged marriages is precisely about whether people belong to themselves or to wider communities.

  1. over love versus arranged marriages is precisely about whether people belong

  2. over love versus arranged marriages is precisely whether people belong

  3. over love marriages versus arranged marriages is precisely about whether people belong

  4. over love marriage versus arranged marriages is precisely about whether people belong

  5. over love marriages versus arranged marriages is precisely whether people belong
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence suffers from the error of comparison. The debate is over two types of marriage, not between two types of bonding: marriage and love. This option rectifies the error by adding 'marriages' after 'love'.

Multiple choice

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

The national anthem is being sung by Jason this time.

  1. Jason was singing the national anthem this time.

  2. Jason is singing the national anthem this time.

  3. Jason is being sing the national anthem this time.

  4. Jason is sung the national anthem this time.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is a passive sentence and is/am/are + being + V3 changes to  is/am/are + V1 + ing.

Multiple choice

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

Did the police officer catch the thief?

  1. Was the thief caught by the police officer?

  2. Was the thief catch by the police officer?

  3. Does the thief caught by the police officer?

  4. Do the thief catch by the police officer?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

‘Did’ always changes to ‘was/were’ when we change the voice of a sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given 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 direct/indirect form.

She said to Ali, “Is your mother at home?”

  1. She asked Ali that his mother was at home.

  2. She asked Ali if his mother was at home.

  3. She requested Ali that his mother was at home.

  4. She asked Ali whether his mother is at home.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The conjunction ‘that’ is not used between the main clause and the subordinate clause of the indirect speech sentence; instead ‘if' or 'whether’ is used for the ‘yes' or 'no’ questions.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct passive form of the given sentence.

The manager should look in to the software deployment.

  1. The software deployment must be looked in to by the manager.

  2. The software deployment should be looked by the manager.

  3. The software deployment should be looked in to by the manager.

  4. The software deployment may be looked in to by the manager.

  5. Both (3) and (4)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct voice due modal/auxilary + third form of the verb.