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
1071
The teacher had to punish the naughty student.
Answer:
The naughty student had to be punished by the teacher.
**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 naughty student' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be punished' is the correct passive form for the past necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had been punished' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense ('had punished'), not 'had to punish'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'was to be' implies a past plan, which is a different meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'has to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the present.
1072
The committee had been discussing the issue for hours.
Answer:
The issue had been being discussed for hours.
**Rule**: The passive voice for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense is formed with **Object + had been + being + V3**. However, this construction is very rare and often considered awkward. It is usually rephrased.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: This is the grammatically correct, though rarely used, passive form of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This changes the tense to Past Perfect, losing the continuous aspect.
1073
When will you return the book?
Answer:
When will the book be returned by you?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Future Simple Tense starting with a 'Wh-' word, the passive structure is **Wh- word + will/shall + object + be + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The 'Wh-' word 'When' remains at the beginning. The modal 'will' is used, followed by the new subject 'the book', 'be', and the past participle 'returned'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Future Perfect.
1074
I am writing a letter.
Answer:
A letter is being written by me.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'a letter' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'written'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1075
Who composed this symphony?
Answer:
By whom was this symphony 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 (a)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'this symphony' is singular, so 'was' is used, followed by the past participle 'composed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: The word order is incorrect, and 'who' should be 'whom' after a preposition.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1076
They are going to renovate the entire building.
Answer:
The entire building is going to be renovated.
**Rule**: For active sentences using the 'be going to' future form, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + going to be + V3**. The agent 'by them' can be omitted.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the entire building' becomes the subject. The structure 'is going to be renovated' is the correct passive conversion. The agent 'by them' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is the passive of the Present Continuous tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1077
Who is going to manage the event?
Answer:
By whom is the event going to be managed?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with the 'be going to' future form starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + is/am/are + object + going to be + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The object 'the event' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be managed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
1078
The storm damaged the crops severely.
Answer:
The crops were severely damaged by the storm.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the crops' becomes the subject. Since 'crops' is plural, 'were' is used. The adverb 'severely' is correctly placed before the past participle 'damaged'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1079
The teacher is going to give us a test.
Answer:
Both a and b are correct.
**Rule**: For an active sentence using 'be going to' with two objects (indirect 'us' and direct 'a test'), either can become the subject in the passive form.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (a) and (b) are correct passive transformations.
- In (a), the indirect object 'us' becomes the subject 'We'.
- In (b), the direct object 'a test' becomes the subject, and the indirect object is expressed as 'to us'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This is correct, but (b) is also a valid transformation.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is correct, but (a) is also a valid transformation.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
1080
The children are flying kites.
Answer:
Kites are being flown by the children.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'kites' becomes the subject. Since 'kites' is plural, 'are' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'flown'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.