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: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one that best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

We were surprised by this.

  1. This was surprising for us.

  2. This surprised us.

  3. This was surprising.

  4. This surprises us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one that best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

She must know the truth.

  1. The truth must be known to her.

  2. The truth must be known by her.

  3. The truth must be known.

  4. The truth is a must to be known.

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

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Voice relates only to the verb clause. 'Must know' becomes 'must be known' in passive voice. Preposition 'to' is used before the object in passive voice in some cases.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

His way of talking astonishes me.

  1. I am astonished by his way of talking.

  2. I am astonished with his way of talking.

  3. I am astonished at his way of talking.

  4. I am astonished at his talking way.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Case of present simple tense. In such cases, we use the third form of the verb with 'is/am/are'. Correct preposition is 'by', not 'with'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

It has to be done by you.

  1. You will have to do it.

  2. You have to do it.

  3. You have done it.

  4. You shall have to do it.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. While changing the sentence to active voice, we consider the tense of the passive voice. Given sentence is the case of present perfect tense. So, in active voice we should use the 'has/have'. We use 'have' for second person 'you'. Thus, 'has to be done' becomes 'have to do'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

Spectators thronged the field.

  1. The field was thronged at spectators.

  2. The field was thronged with spectators.

  3. The field was thronged in spectators.

  4. The field was thronged of spectators.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Case of past simple tense. We use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb in passive voice in this tense. Correct preposition for associates is 'with'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

We should respect our elders.

  1. Our elders must be respected by us.

  2. Our elders should be respected for by us.

  3. Our elders should be respected by us.

  4. Our elders shall be respected by us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object.  Moreover, we use the past participle form of the verb. The object in passive voice is generally preceded by 'by'. Modal remains unchanged.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

The police arrested the thief.

  1. The thief got arrested by the police.

  2. The thief was arrested by the police.

  3. The police was arrested by the thief.

  4. The thief were arrested by the police.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object.  Moreover, we use the past participle form of the verb. The object in passive voice is generally preceded by 'by'.Case of past indefinite, where we use 'was/were + the third form of the verb'. Subject 'thief', being singular, needs singular auxiliary.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

She could not speak a word.

  1. A word could not be spoken.

  2. A word could not be spoken by her.

  3. A word was not spoken by her.

  4. Even a word could not but be spoken.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb. Modals remain unchanged while changing the voice. We do not have the liberty to delete the subject/object.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

You are wanted outside.

  1. Somebody wants that you come outside.

  2. Outside somebody want you.

  3. Somebody wants you outside.

  4. Somebody outside wants you.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object. If the object is missing in the passive voice, we can provide the same while changing the voice. Case of present simple tense. Hence, option 3.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

Is this how you arrange things?

  1. Is this how things are arranged by you?

  2. Is this how are things arranged by you?

  3. Is this how things are arranged?

  4. Do you arrange things in this manner?

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

While changing the voice of a sentence, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object. It is a case of present indefinite tense. In this case, we use 'is/am/are + the third form of the verb'. Option (2) is wrong as the interrogative (is) has already preceded the subject (this). So, no need of double interrogative.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

I must share my joys and sorrows.

  1. Must my joys and sorrows be shared by us.

  2. Joys and sorrows must be shared by me.

  3. My joys and sorrows must be shared by me.

  4. My joys and sorrows must be shared.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice, we interchange the respective places of the subject and the object. In passive voice, we always use the third form of the verb with the helping verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

He was joined by two more constables.

  1. Two more constables had joined him.

  2. Two more constables joined him.

  3. Two more constables did join him.

  4. Two more constable were joined with him.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object. It is a case of past indefinite tense. In active voice, we use only the second form of the verb in the past indefinte tense.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

We shall be received kindly by them.

  1. They will receive us kindly.

  2. They would receive us kindly.

  3. They shall receive us kindly.

  4. They will kindly receive us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object. Pronoun 'they' takes 'will' in case of future tense. Error of modifier in the fourth option.

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best converts the given sentence into passive or active voice.

Your behavior displeased me.

  1. I was displeased by your behavior.

  2. I was displeased at your behavior.

  3. I was displeased with your behavior.

  4. I was displeased with the behavior that you gave me.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

While changing the voice of a sentence from active to passive, we interchange the respective positions of the subject and the object.  Moreover, we use the past participle form of the verb. The object in passive voice is generally preceded by 'by'.