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
1081
The loud music from next door is irritating me.
Answer:
I am being irritated by the loud music from next door.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'me' becomes the subject 'I'. The verb form 'am being irritated' is correct for the Present Continuous passive for the first person singular.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1082
Who was managing the accounts?
Answer:
By whom were the accounts being managed?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + was/were + object + being + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (d)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'the accounts' is plural, so 'were' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'managed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.
1083
Who is teaching you mathematics?
Answer:
Both a and c are correct.
**Rule**: For an interrogative Present Continuous sentence with two objects starting with 'Who', either object can become the subject in the passive form, which starts with **'By whom'**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (a) and (c) are correct passive transformations.
- In (a), the indirect object 'you' becomes the subject, requiring the plural verb form 'are being taught'.
- In (c), the direct object 'mathematics' becomes the subject, requiring the singular verb form 'is being taught', and the indirect object is expressed as 'to you'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This is correct, but (c) is also valid.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This has incorrect word order for a question.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is correct, but (a) is also valid.
1084
You ought to have helped your friend.
Answer:
Your friend ought to have been helped by you.
**Rule**: For sentences with past modals (modal + have + V3), the passive structure is **Object + modal + have been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'your friend' becomes the subject. The past modal passive form 'ought to have been helped' is the correct construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'ought to be helped' is the passive form for a present modal ('ought to help').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'must' is a different modal, changing the meaning from moral obligation to strong deduction.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This changes the modal structure entirely, altering the meaning to past necessity.
1085
The mechanic is servicing my car.
Answer:
My car is being serviced by the mechanic.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'my car' becomes the subject. Since it is singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'serviced'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1086
The wind blew the roof off.
Answer:
The roof was blown off by the wind.
**Rule**: For a Simple Past Tense sentence with a phrasal verb, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + V3 + particle + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the roof' becomes the subject. The verb form 'was blown off' correctly keeps the particle 'off' with the verb. The past participle of 'blow' is 'blown'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
1087
The company will have to terminate his contract.
Answer:
His contract will have to be terminated by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'his contract' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be terminated' is the correct passive form for the future necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This omits 'have to', changing the meaning to a simple future action.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'will have been terminated' is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
1088
The librarian will issue the books tomorrow.
Answer:
The books will be issued by the librarian tomorrow.
**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 'the books' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'will be issued' correctly reflects the Future Simple Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal verb here; it changes the meaning of the sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Future Perfect.
1089
Who will have to take responsibility?
Answer:
By whom will responsibility have to be taken?
**Rule**: For an interrogative sentence with 'will have to' starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + will + object + have to be + V3?**
- **Correct Answer (c)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The structure 'will...have to be taken' is the correct passive form for the future necessity. The word order is correct for a question.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This omits 'have to', changing the meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
1090
The detective was following the clues.
Answer:
The clues were being followed by the detective.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the clues' becomes the subject. Since 'clues' is plural, 'were' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'followed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.