General English MCQs
Topic Notes: General English
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
991
The city will build a new bridge.
Answer:
A new bridge will be built by the city.
**Rule**: To convert a Future Simple Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + will/shall + be + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'a new bridge' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'will be built' correctly reflects the Future Simple Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal verb here.
992
The company was developing a new software.
Answer:
A new software was being developed by the company.
**Rule**: To convert a Past Continuous Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'a new software' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'developed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
993
The police are investigating the case.
Answer:
The case is being investigated by the police.
**Rule**: To convert a Present Continuous Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the case' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'investigated'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
994
Has he bought a new car?
Answer:
Has a new car been bought by him?
**Rule**: To convert an interrogative sentence in the Present Perfect Tense to passive voice, the structure is **Has/Have + object + been + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The helping verb 'Has' remains at the beginning. The object 'a new car' follows, then 'been' and the past participle 'bought'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'to be bought' is an incorrect verb form in this context.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This is not in the correct interrogative word order.
995
Don't touch the live wire.
Answer:
Let the live wire not be touched.
**Rule**: Negative imperative sentences (warnings/commands) are often converted to passive voice using the structure: **Let + object + not + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: This option correctly applies the 'Let' structure for a negative command. 'the live wire' is the object, followed by 'not be' and the past participle 'touched'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'advised not to be touching' is an awkward and incorrect construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This implies a rule or regulation, which is slightly different from a direct, urgent warning.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'Shouldn't' offers advice, which is weaker than the strong warning in the original sentence.
996
They were not taking care of the garden.
Answer:
The garden was not being taken care of.
**Rule**: For a negative Past Continuous sentence with a phrasal verb, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3 + prepositions**. The agent 'by them' can be omitted.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the garden' becomes the subject. The verb form 'was not being taken care of' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous tense and retains the phrasal verb's particles. The agent is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
997
Nobody was answering the phone.
Answer:
The phone was not being answered.
**Rule**: A negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense (using 'Nobody') is converted to passive using **Object + was/were + not + being + V3**. The negative idea from 'Nobody' is transferred to the verb.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the phone' becomes the subject. The passive verb 'was not being answered' correctly reflects the negative meaning and the Past Continuous tense. The agent is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This uses a double negative ('not' and 'nobody'), which is grammatically incorrect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
998
I had to finish the work before the deadline.
Answer:
The work had to be finished by me before the deadline.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' to show past necessity, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the work' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be finished' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'has to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'had been finished' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense.
999
His music has charmed everyone.
Answer:
Everyone has been charmed by his music.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'everyone' becomes the subject. 'Everyone' is a singular pronoun, so 'has' is used, followed by 'been' and the past participle 'charmed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
1000
Who composed this piece of poetry?
Answer:
By whom was this piece of poetry composed?
**Rule**: Interrogative sentences in the Simple Past Tense starting with 'Who' are converted to passive voice using **By whom + was/were + object + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'this piece of poetry' is singular, so 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'composed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.