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
1021
I will have to complete this assignment by Monday.
Answer:
This assignment will have to be completed by me by Monday.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'this assignment' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be completed' is the correct passive form for the future necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'is to be' incorrectly changes the tense and meaning to a present plan.
1022
You should have informed me earlier.
Answer:
I should have been informed earlier by you.
**Rule**: For sentences with past modals (modal + have + V3), the passive structure is **Object + modal + have been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'me' becomes 'I'. The past modal passive form 'should have been informed' is the correct construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'should be informed' is the passive form for a present modal ('should inform'), not a past modal.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: While 'ought to' is similar to 'should', it is a different modal and not a direct conversion.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'must' changes the meaning from advice about a past action to a strong deduction.
1023
Do not insult the weak.
Answer:
Let the weak not be insulted.
**Rule**: Negative imperative sentences expressing a command or strong advice are often converted to passive voice using the structure: **Let + object + not + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: This option correctly applies the 'Let' structure for a negative command. 'the weak' is the object, followed by 'not be' and the past participle 'insulted'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: While 'warned' is a possibility, the 'Let' structure is a more direct and standard passive conversion.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This structure implies a rule, which is a slightly different nuance.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This treats the command as advice, which is also a valid interpretation, but (b) is a more direct conversion of the imperative form.
1024
The teacher did not give us any homework.
Answer:
We were not given any homework by the teacher.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense with two objects, the indirect object can become the subject. The passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The indirect object 'us' becomes the subject 'We'. The passive verb form 'were not given' correctly reflects the negative Simple Past tense. The direct object 'any homework' follows.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: While grammatically possible, making the indirect object the subject (as in d) is often more natural.
1025
The company has to reduce its expenses.
Answer:
Its expenses have to be reduced by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to'/'have to', the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'its expenses' becomes the subject. Since 'expenses' is plural, it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'reduced'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'have been reduced' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, not necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
1026
He did not help me.
Answer:
I was not helped by him.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'me' becomes the subject 'I'. The passive verb form 'was not helped' correctly reflects the negative Simple Past tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1027
They were repairing the bridge.
Answer:
The bridge was being repaired by them.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the bridge' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'repaired'.
- **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)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
1028
Who had left the window open?
Answer:
By whom had the window been left open?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Past Perfect Tense starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + had + object + been + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (c)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The auxiliary 'had' is used, followed by the new subject 'the window', 'been', and the past participle 'left'. The complement 'open' remains.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This has incorrect word order for a question.
1029
Nobody noticed the mistake.
Answer:
The mistake was not noticed.
**Rule**: A negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense (using 'Nobody') is converted to passive using **Object + was/were + not + V3**. The negative idea from 'Nobody' is transferred to the verb.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the mistake' becomes the subject. The passive verb 'was not noticed' correctly reflects the negative meaning and the Simple Past tense. The agent is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present and uses a double negative ('not' and 'nobody').
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1030
Someone had left the door open.
Answer:
The door had been left open.
**Rule**: For a Past Perfect Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + had + been + V3**. The indefinite subject 'someone' is omitted.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the door' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been left' is the correct passive construction for the Past Perfect Tense. The agent 'by someone' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.