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

Did the police catch the thief?

  1. Was the thief caught by the police?

  2. Did the thief caught by the police?

  3. Did the thief was caught by the police?

  4. Was the thief caught?
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 past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb.'Did' changes to 'was/were'.

Multiple choice

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

They all expressed utmost relief.

  1. Utmost relief was all expressed by them.

  2. Utmost relief was expressed by them all.

  3. Utmost relief was expressed by them all of them.

  4. Utmost relief by them all was expressed.
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. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb. We cannot ignore the object.

Multiple choice

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

His pocket has been picked.

  1. They have his pocket picked.

  2. Picking of his pocket has been done.

  3. He has picked his pocket.

  4. Someone has picked his pocket.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D 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.

Has the child not broken the tea pot?

  1. Has not the tea pot been broken by the child?

  2. Has the tea pot not been broken by the child?

  3. Has not been the tea pot broken by the child?

  4. Has the tea pot been broken by the child?
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. Adverb of negation (not) just precedes the verb clause.

Multiple choice

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

The noise of the traffic kept me awake.

  1. I remained awake by the noise of the traffic.

  2. I was kept waking by the noise of the traffic.

  3. I was kept awake by the noise of the traffic.

  4. The traffic kept me awake by the noise.
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. Case of past simple tense. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb. 

Multiple choice

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

Four policemen were guarding me.

  1. I was guarded by four policemen.

  2. I was being guarded by four policemen.

  3. I was being guarded by the four policemen.

  4. I was guarding the four policemen.
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. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb. Error of article usage in option 3.

Multiple choice

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

Nobel hired a boat.

  1. A boat is hired by Nobel.

  2. A boat was hired by Nobel.

  3. A boat by Nobel is hired.

  4. A boat by Nobel was hired.
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. In such cases, we use 'was/were' with the third form of the verb.

Multiple choice

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

I was tormented by heat.

  1. Heat torments me.

  2. Heat did torment me.

  3. Heat tormented me.

  4. Heat tormented at me.

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. While changing into active voice, we refer to the verb in the passive voice. This is the case of past simple tense. 'Was tormented' becomes 'tormented'.

Multiple choice

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

Why do we not sing a song?

  1. Why is a song not sung by us?

  2. Why a song is not sung by us?

  3. Why is a song not being sung by us?

  4. Why don't a song sung by us?
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 interrogative sentence in present simple tense. In interrogative sentences, auxiliary precedes the subject.

Multiple choice

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

Who is attending to him?

  1. By whom he is being attended to?

  2. By whom is he being attended to?

  3. By whom is he attended to?

  4. By whom he is attended to?
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 interrogative sentence in present continuous tense. In interrogative sentences, auxiliary precedes the subject.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence that has been underlined has an error. Select the option that is the most coherent and precise representation of the underlined part.

Many cardiologists now believe that a sedentary life–style and not faulty food habits are the major reason of heart strokes.

  1. believe that a sedentary life-style

  2. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits are

  3. believe that a sedentary life-style is the major reason

  4. believe that sedentary life-styles and not faulty food habits are

  5. believe that a sedentary life-style and not faulty food habits is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 What is the reason? 'Sedentary life-style' (and not faulty food habits) is the major reason. 

Multiple choice
Directions: The following question contains a paragraph with a sentence or phrase missing, indicated parenthetically. From the alternatives, select the sentence or phrase that best provides the missing link.
Jose Arcadio did not dare to leave the house for several days. It was enough for him to hear the rocking laughter of Pilar in the kitchen to run and take refuge in the laboratory, where the artifacts of alchemy had come alive again with Ursula's blessing. (__________). One afternoon, the boys grew enthusiastic over the flying carpet that went swiftly by the laboratory at window level, carrying the gypsy who was driving it and several children from the village who were merrily waving their hands, but Jose Arcadio Buendia did not even look at it.

  1. He lost his appetite and he could not sleep.

  2. Let them dream, she said.

  3. <div align="justify">Jose Arcadio Buendia received his errant son with joy and initiated him in the search for the philosopher's stone, which he had finally undertaken.

  4. From his accomplice and a communicative person he had become withdrawn and hostile.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The last sentence talks to Jose Arcadio Buendia. So, it is but natural that the sentences preceding it should have him in context. This is a direct pointer to option (3). Options (2) and (4) do not fit in the context. If option (1) is selected, then a further reading on to the last sentence indicates that Buendia has been suddenly introduced in the paragraph without prior reference. Hence (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the news items given below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the sentence. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.

Top India and Pakistan diplomats to meet in Islamabad Top diplomats from India and Pakistan are _________ key talks over peace and security issues ahead of the Pakistani foreign minister's visit to India in July.

  1. due to hold

  2. due for holding

  3. holding

  4. due withholding
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase is 'are ___ key talks' meaning scheduled to have talks. 'Due to hold' is the correct construction meaning scheduled/expected to hold talks. Option B should be 'due to holding', C 'holding' alone doesn't convey the scheduled aspect, and D 'due withholding' is either 'due to withholding' (incorrect preposition) or 'due with holding' which doesn't make sense.