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
1101
He will have to pay the fine.
Answer:
The fine will have to be paid by him.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The object 'the fine' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be paid' is the correct passive form for the future obligation.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'will have been paid' is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'is to be' incorrectly changes the tense and meaning to a present plan.
1102
The company has to update its policies.
Answer:
Its policies have to be updated 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 (b)**: The object 'its policies' becomes the subject. Since 'policies' is plural, it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'updated'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'have been updated' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, not the necessity of 'have to'.
1103
The dog was not chasing the car.
Answer:
The car was not being chased by the dog.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the car' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not being chased' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous tense.
- **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.
1104
The architect is designing a new skyscraper.
Answer:
A new skyscraper is being designed by the architect.
**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 new skyscraper' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'is' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'designed'.
- **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.
1105
They were carrying the injured person to the hospital.
Answer:
The injured person was being carried to the hospital.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3**. The agent 'by them' can be omitted.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the injured person' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'carried'. The agent 'by them' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1106
The city will have to introduce new traffic rules.
Answer:
New traffic rules will have to be introduced by the city.
**Rule**: For sentences using the modal-like structure 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'new traffic rules' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be introduced' is the correct passive form for the future necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This omits 'have to', changing the meaning from necessity to a simple future action.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This is the passive form of the Future Perfect tense, which is incorrect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change and alters the meaning.
1107
The city has to improve its public transport.
Answer:
Its public transport has to be improved by the city.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' to show necessity, the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'its public transport' becomes the subject. Since 'transport' is singular, it takes 'has to be', followed by the past participle 'improved'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has been improved' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'is to be' implies a plan, not necessity.
1108
We were discussing an important issue.
Answer:
An important issue was being discussed by us.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'an important issue' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'discussed'.
- **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 incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
1109
I had to call off the meeting.
Answer:
The meeting had to be called off by me.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'had to' with a phrasal verb, the passive form is **Object + had to + be + V3 + particle**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the meeting' becomes the subject. The structure 'had to be called off' is the correct passive form for the past necessity, keeping the particle 'off' with the verb.
- **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 called off' is the passive of the Past Perfect Tense.
1110
We were watching the football match.
Answer:
The football match was being watched by us.
**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 football match' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'watched'.
- **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.