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
921
They have to complete the survey by Friday.
Answer:
The survey has to be completed by Friday.
**Rule**: When the active sentence uses 'have to' to show necessity, the passive form is **Object + has/have to + be + V3**. The agent 'by them' can be omitted.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'the survey' becomes the subject. Since 'survey' is singular, it takes 'has to be', followed by the past participle 'completed'. The agent 'by them' is correctly omitted.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to the future.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'has been completed' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense ('has completed'), not 'have to complete'.
922
You must obey your parents.
Answer:
Your parents must be obeyed.
**Rule**: For sentences with modal verbs (like must), the passive structure is **Object + modal verb + be + V3**. The agent ('by you') is often omitted when it is obvious.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: The object 'Your parents' becomes the subject. The modal 'must' is followed by 'be' and the past participle 'obeyed'. Omitting 'by you' is more natural and concise as it's clearly implied.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'should' is a different modal, implying advice rather than the strong obligation of 'must'.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'are to be' changes the meaning to a plan or arrangement.
- **Incorrect Answer (c)**: While grammatically correct, it's less concise than option (d) due to the redundant 'by you'.
923
They were checking the tickets at the entrance.
Answer:
The tickets were being checked at the entrance.
**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 tickets' becomes the subject. Since 'tickets' is plural, 'were' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'checked'. 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.
924
The committee is looking into the complaint.
Answer:
The complaint is being looked into by the committee.
**Rule**: For sentences in the Present Continuous Tense with a phrasal verb (verb + preposition), the preposition is retained in the passive voice. The structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + preposition + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the complaint' becomes the subject. The verb form 'is being looked into' correctly reflects the passive voice of the Present Continuous Tense, keeping the preposition 'into' with the verb.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
925
The company will provide you with a new laptop.
Answer:
Both a and b are correct.
**Rule**: For a Future Simple Tense sentence with two objects (indirect 'you' and direct 'a new laptop'), either can become the subject of the passive sentence.
- **Correct Answer (d)**: Both (a) and (b) are correct passive transformations.
- In (a), the indirect object 'you' becomes the subject. The preposition 'with' is retained.
- In (b), the direct object 'a new laptop' becomes the subject, and the indirect object is expressed as 'to you'.
- **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)**: 'would' is an incorrect modal change.
926
The club was organizing a charity event.
Answer:
A charity event was being organized by the club.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + was/were + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (a)**: The object 'a charity event' becomes the subject. Since it's singular, 'was' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'organized'.
- **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)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Continuous.
927
The company has to follow the new regulations.
Answer:
The new regulations have to be followed 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 'the new regulations' becomes the subject. Since 'regulations' is plural, it takes 'have to be', followed by the past participle 'followed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: 'had to be' incorrectly changes the tense to the past.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: 'have been followed' is the passive of the Present Perfect Tense ('have followed'), not 'have to follow'.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: 'are to be' implies a plan, which is a different meaning from the obligation of 'have to'.
928
The chef had prepared a special dish for the guests.
Answer:
A special dish had been prepared for the guests by the chef.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Past Perfect Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + had + been + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'a special dish' becomes the subject. The verb form 'had been prepared' is the correct passive construction for the Past Perfect 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 structure, making the indirect object the subject, is grammatically awkward and incorrect. 'The guests' were not prepared.
929
The manager is signing the letters.
Answer:
The letters are being signed by the manager.
**Rule**: For a sentence in the Present Continuous Tense, the passive voice structure is **Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject**.
- **Correct Answer (c)**: The object 'the letters' becomes the subject. Since 'letters' is plural, 'are' is used, followed by 'being' and the past participle 'signed'.
- **Incorrect Answer (a)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Simple Present.
- **Incorrect Answer (b)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Present Perfect.
- **Incorrect Answer (d)**: This incorrectly changes the tense to Past Continuous.
930
The cat was not drinking the milk.
Answer:
The milk was not being drunk by the cat.
**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 milk' becomes the subject. The passive verb form 'was not being drunk' 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.