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
1121
The team was not playing well.
Answer:
The game was not being played well by the team.
**Rule**: Intransitive verbs (like 'play well' without a direct object) cannot be made passive in the usual way. To make it passive, an implied object must be introduced.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The implied object 'the game' is introduced as the subject. The verb form 'was not being played' is the correct passive for the negative Past Continuous. The adverb 'well' is correctly placed.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Well' is an adverb and cannot be the subject of the sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This structure is grammatically incorrect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: Using the introductory 'It' is possible but less direct and clear than option (a).
1122
The artists were rehearsing the final act.
Answer:
The final act was being rehearsed by the artists.
**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 final act' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'rehearsed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
1123
The detective did not solve the mystery.
Answer:
The mystery was not solved by the detective.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense, the passive structure is **Object + was/were + not + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the mystery' becomes the subject. The verb form 'was not solved' is the correct passive construction for a negative sentence in the Simple Past Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
1124
Who is going to arrange the meeting?
Answer:
By whom is the meeting going to be arranged?
**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 (c)**: 'Who' changes to 'By whom'. The object 'the meeting' is singular, so 'is' is used, followed by the object and the correct passive structure 'going to be arranged'. The word order is correct for a question.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This changes the structure from 'going to' future to 'will' future.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: The word order is incorrect for an interrogative sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
1125
They are going to launch a satellite.
Answer:
A satellite is going to be launched.
**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 (d)**: The object 'a satellite' becomes the subject. The structure 'is going to be launched' is the correct passive conversion. The agent 'by them' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This is the passive of the Present Continuous tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This introduces the idea of necessity, which was not in the original sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This changes the structure to the 'will' future.
1126
Who sent you this gift?
Answer:
By whom were you sent this gift?
**Rule**: For an interrogative Simple Past Tense sentence with two objects starting with 'Who', the indirect object can become the subject in the passive form, which starts with **'By whom'**.
- **Correct Answer (b)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The indirect object 'you' becomes the subject, which takes the plural verb 'were', followed by the past participle 'sent'. The direct object 'this gift' follows.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'was' is incorrect with the pronoun 'you'.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
1127
Who will have to sign this document?
Answer:
By whom will this document have to be signed?
**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 (b)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The structure 'will...have to be signed' 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 (c)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
1128
The team was not performing well.
Answer:
The performance was not being done well by the team.
**Rule**: Intransitive verbs (like 'perform well' without a direct object) cannot be made passive directly. The action must be nominalized or an implied object introduced.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The action 'performing well' is nominalized into 'The performance'. The verb 'do' is introduced to carry the passive voice ('was not being done'). This is a logical way to restructure the sentence.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Well' is an adverb and cannot be the subject.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This structure is grammatically incorrect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: While introducing an object like 'the game' is possible, it assumes context not present in the original sentence. Option (a) is a more direct restructuring.
1129
The team will have to change its strategy.
Answer:
Its strategy will have to be changed by the team.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'will have to', the passive form is **Object + will have to + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'its strategy' becomes the subject. The structure 'will have to be changed' is the correct passive form for the future necessity.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This omits 'have to', changing the meaning.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This is the passive of the Future Perfect Tense.
1130
The judge will have announced the verdict by tomorrow.
Answer:
The verdict will have been announced by the judge by tomorrow.
**Rule**: To convert a Future Perfect Tense sentence to passive voice, the structure is **Object + will/shall + have been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the verdict' becomes the subject. The verb form 'will have been announced' is the correct passive construction for the Future Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Future Simple.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.