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
1151
They were not taking the matter seriously.
Answer:
The matter was not being taken seriously by them.
**Rule**: For a negative sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + not + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the matter' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not being taken' correctly reflects the negative Past Continuous tense.
- **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.
1152
Who taught you how to swim?
Answer:
By whom were you taught how to swim?
**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 (c)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'you' becomes the subject, which takes the plural verb 'were', followed by the past participle 'taught'. The infinitive phrase 'how to swim' remains.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'was' is incorrect with the pronoun 'you'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This word order is awkward and not standard for this type of question.
1153
The loud music is disturbing the neighbors.
Answer:
The neighbors are being disturbed by the loud music.
**Rule**: For a Present Continuous Tense sentence, the passive structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'the neighbors' becomes the subject. Since 'neighbors' is plural, 'are' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'disturbed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1154
Who is knocking at the door?
Answer:
By whom is the door being knocked at?
**Rule**: For an interrogative Present Continuous sentence with a phrasal verb starting with 'Who', the passive structure is **By whom + is/am/are + object + being + V3 + preposition?**
- **Correct Answer (a)**: 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. The object 'the door' is singular, so 'is' is used. This is followed by the object, 'being', the past participle 'knocked', and the preposition 'at' is correctly retained.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: 'who' is the incorrect case; 'whom' is required after the preposition 'By'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
1155
Don't make promises you can't keep.
Answer:
All of the above.
**Rule**: A negative imperative sentence that gives advice can be converted to passive voice in several ways.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: All the options are valid passive constructions for the given imperative sentence.
- (a) **'Promises you can't keep should not be made'** uses the modal 'should' to convey the advice.
- (b) **'Let promises you can't keep not be made'** uses the 'Let' structure for negative commands/advice.
- (c) **'You are advised not to make promises you can't keep'** explicitly states that the sentence is advice.
Since all three are correct and appropriate, 'All of the above' is the best answer.
1156
He might have forgotten the appointment.
Answer:
The appointment might have been forgotten by him.
**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 'the appointment' becomes the subject. The past modal passive form 'might have been forgotten' is the correct construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'might be forgotten' is the passive form for a present modal ('might forget').
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: Using 'must' changes the meaning from possibility to a strong deduction.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the structure to a simple past passive.
1157
The professor had already graded the exams.
Answer:
The exams had already been graded by the professor.
**Rule**: For a Past Perfect Tense sentence, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**. Adverbs like 'already' are typically placed between 'had' and 'been'.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the exams' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had already been graded' is the correct passive construction.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: While grammatically intelligible, placing the adverb 'already' after 'graded' is less standard than placing it before 'been'.
1158
The company has to increase its sales.
Answer:
Sales have to be increased by the company.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'has to' or 'have to', the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**. The choice between 'has' and 'have' depends on the new subject.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'its sales' becomes the subject 'Sales'. Since 'Sales' is plural, it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'increased'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'has' is incorrect because the new subject 'Sales' is plural.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have been increased' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense ('have increased'), not 'have to increase'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to the future.
1159
Do not pluck the flowers.
Answer:
Let the flowers not be plucked.
**Rule**: Negative imperative sentences (commands) are commonly changed to passive voice using the structure **Let + object + not + be + V3**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: This option correctly applies the 'Let' structure for a negative command. 'the flowers' is the object, followed by 'not be' and the past participle 'plucked'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This structure ('are not to be') implies a rule or arrangement, which is slightly different from a direct command.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'Forbidden from' is an incorrect prepositional combination; 'forbidden to' would be correct, but 'Let' is a more direct passive form.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'Must' introduces a strong sense of obligation, changing the tone from a simple command.
1160
What have you done?
Answer:
What has been done by you?
**Rule**: For interrogative sentences in the Present Perfect Tense starting with 'What', the passive structure is **What + has/have + been + V3 + by + subject?**
- **Correct Answer (b)**: The 'Wh-' word 'What' remains at the beginning and acts as the subject of the passive sentence. The verb 'has been done' is the correct singular passive form for the Present Perfect Tense.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Perfect.