Voice — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

This question is based on the concept of Active and Passive Voice . Understanding the voice is crucial to transforming sentences correctly while maintaining their original meaning and tense. Voice: In grammar, voice refers to the form of a verb that shows whether the subject performs the action (active voice) or receives the action (passive voice). Passive Voice Structure: In passive voice, the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. The structure generally follows: Object + had been + past participle (V3) + (by + subject) Original Sentence (Passive Voice): Our task had been completed before sunset. Step-by-step Conversion to Active Voice: 1. Identify the subject: Implicit in passive voice. Likely "we". 2. Change "our task" to the object. 3. "Had been completed" is the past perfect passive. The active form of this is " had completed ". 4. Keep the time expression "before sunset" as it is. Correct Transformation: We had completed our task before sunset. Correct Answer: Option D : We had completed our task before sunset. Other Options: Option A: We completed our task before sunset. — ❌ Incorrect. Changes the tense from past perfect to simple past. Option B: We have completed our task before sunset. — ❌ Incorrect. Changes the tense to present perfect, which is not equivalent. Option C: We complete our task before sunset. — ❌ Incorrect. Changes the tense to simple present, which alters the meaning entirely. Conclusion: The correct active voice form that maintains the original tense and meaning is Option D .

This question is based on the transformation of a sentence from Active Voice to Passive Voice , which is a common topic in competitive English. Voice: In grammar, voice refers to the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject performs the action (active voice) or receives the action (passive voice). Active Voice Structure: Subject + Verb + Object Passive Voice Structure: Object + appropriate form of "to be" + past participle (V3) + by + Subject Original Sentence (Active Voice): The boy laughed at the beggar. Step-by-step Breakdown: 1. The object "the beggar" becomes the subject in the passive sentence. 2. The verb phrase is "laughed at", which is a phrasal verb . In passive voice, the entire phrase must be preserved. 3. The correct tense is simple past, so the passive form uses " was " + past participle ("laughed"). 4. Maintain the preposition "at" with the verb. 5. The subject "the boy" comes after "by". Correct Transformation: The beggar was laughed at by the boy. Correct Answer: Option D : The beggar was laughed at by the boy. Other Options: Option A: The beggar was laughed by the boy. — ❌ Incorrect. Omits the necessary preposition "at", making it grammatically incorrect. Option B: The beggar was being laughed by the boy. — ❌ Incorrect. Incorrect tense ("was being" indicates past continuous) and missing "at". Option C: The beggar was being laughed at by the boy. — ❌ Incorrect. Wrong tense; this changes simple past into past continuous. Conclusion: The sentence that correctly follows the passive voice structure while preserving the meaning and tense is Option D .

Cricket was being played by the boys. The given sentence is in Past Continuous Tense and it is in active voice. We need to change it into Passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was /were) + being + V 3 + Optional Agents.

A circle was drawn by them in the morning. Given sentence is in Past simple tense and it is in active voice, we need to change it into passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was / were) + V 3 + Optional Agents.

The entire block will be demolished. The given sentence contains one of Model verb (Model Verb = will, shall, can, may, might, could, might, must, would). It is in active voice. Rule : Subject + Model verb + be + V 3 + Optional Objects.

Several items in the room were destroyed by the burglar. Even the carpet was torn. Above it contains two sentence one is in Past Simple sentence (Active Voice) and Second sentence is in Present Perfect tense (Passive Voice). We change First sentence according to voice rule and second sentence also be change according to same rule but tense of both sentence become same.

The elders must be respected. The given sentence contains one of Model verb (Model Verb = will, shall, can, may, might, could, might, must, would). It is in active voice. Rule : Subject + Model verb + be + V3 + Optional Objects.

You have been warned. Given sentence is in Present Perfect tense and It is in active Voice. Rule : Subject + (has / have) + been +V 3 + Optional Agents.

Let's look at the options: Option A: Your question has been answered? This is grammatically incorrect as a passive voice question. It's missing a helping verb. Option B: Anybody has answered your question? This is still in the active voice. It's just a rephrasing of the original question. Option C: Has your question been answered? This is the correct answer! It's in the passive voice and is grammatically correct. "Your question" is the subject, and it's *receiving* the action of being answered. The helping verb "has been" indicates passive voice for a present perfect tense. Option D: Have you answered your question? This changes the meaning of the sentence completely. It's asking if *you* did the answering, not if your question was answered. And it is in Active voice. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: Has your question been answered?

The prices were lowered by shopkeeper. Given sentence is in Past simple tense and it is in active voice, we need to change it into passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was / were) + V3 + Optional Agents.

A massive tribal welfare programme has been launched by the government in Jharkhand. The given sentence is in active voice and it is in Present Perfect Tense. Rule : Subject + (has /have) + been + V 3 + Other agents.

One's promises must be kept. The subject 'One' has to be replaced with 'One's promises' keeping the tense same.

The new drug has not been approved for sale by the government. Given sentence is a negative sentence of Present Perfect Tense and in active Voice. Rule : Subject + (has /have) + not + been + V 3 + Other agents.

All the details of the invention have been published by them. The given sentence is in active voice and it is in Present Perfect Tense. Rule : Subject + (has /have) + been + V 3 + Other agents.

The union leader's proposals could not be accepted by the manager. The given sentence contains one of Model verb (Model Verb = will, shall, can, may, might, could, might, must, would). It is in active voice and a negative sentence. Rule : Subject + Model verb +not + be + V3 + Optional Objects.

Be prepared for the worst.

The given sentence "He teaches us grammar." is in the active voice . To convert it into the passive voice , follow these steps: Step 1: Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object - Subject: He - Verb: Teaches (present tense) - Objects: Us (indirect object) and Grammar (direct object) Step 2: Convert the Sentence to Passive Voice - In passive voice, the object becomes the subject . - The direct object "Grammar" or the indirect object "We" can be used as the subject of the passive sentence. - The verb is changed to the passive form: am/is/are + past participle . - The phrase "by him" is added to indicate the doer of the action. The correct passive voice sentence is "We are taught grammar by him."

You are requested to shut the door and go to sleep. Given sentence is an Imperative sentence and started with Please that means sentence contains a request in it. Rule : Please /kindly → You are requested to. You are requested + rest of sentence.

This is impossible to be done. In the given sentence, Verb = (am /is /are/ was /were ) +to + verb 1 Rule: Subject + (am /is /are/ was /were ) +to + Be + verb 3

All living species on earth must be taken care of by us. The given sentence contains one of Model verb (Model Verb = will, shall, can, may, might, could, might, must, would). It is in active voice. Rule : Subject + Model verb + be + V3 + Optional Objects.

The fire has been lit by someone. The given sentence is in active voice and it is in Present Perfect Tense. Rule : Subject + (has /have) + been + V 3 + Other agents.

I am surprised by you. Given sentence is in Present simple tense. Rule : Subject + (is /am /are) + V 3 + Other agents.

The snake was killed by the boy with a stick. Given sentence is in Past simple tense. Rule : Subject + (was /were) + V 3 + Other agents.

Let this be done by me. If a sentence is started with Let the passive voice of that sentence also be started with Let. Rule : Let +Subject +be + V 3 + Other agents.

A fox was caught by the tiger. Given sentence is in Past simple tense and it is in active voice, we need to change it into passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was / were) + V 3 + Optional Agents.

I cannot wear this shirt any longer. Given sentence is in passive voice and Contains model verb. Rule : Subject + Cannot + V 1 + Other agents.

Grass is not eaten by a lion, however hungry he may be.

He was seen picking up a gun by someone. Given sentence is in Past simple tense and it is in active voice, we need to change it into passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was / were) + V 3 + Optional Agents.

Circumstances obliged him to resign.

Why was my proposal not agreed to by you? When a sentence is started with wh-words (Who, Which, whom, where, when, why, whose, whom, and how.) then passive voice also started with same wh-word. Rule : Wh-word + auxiliary verb + subject + V 3 + other agents.

Is what I mean understood by you?

Who is looked for by him? We change WHOM into who. Don't forget keeping the ? at the end. Rule : Who + helping verb + Subject + V 3 + Other objects + ?(question mark).

In this sentence, the original sentence "They say that you did that." would be transformed into "You are said to have done that." to maintain the passive voice construction. The verb "say" is changed to "said to have done" in the passive voice, indicating the action being reported.

Sums are being done by me. Given sentence is in Present continuous tense. Rule : Subject + (is /am / are) + V 3 + being + Other agents.

I was kept awake by the noise of the traffic. Given sentence is in Past simple tense and it is in active voice, we need to change it into passive voice. Rule : Subject + (was / were) + V 3 + Optional Agents.

His teacher congratulated him for his brilliant success in the recent examination. Given sentence is in form of passive voice and it is in Past Simple Tense. Rule : Subject + V 2 + Other agents.

English is spoken all over the world. Given sentence is in Present simple tense. Rule : Subject + (is /am /are) + V 3 + Other agents.

Let's analyze the options: Option A: By whom were you given permission to enter? This is the correct answer. The original sentence has "who" as the subject (the one performing the action of giving permission). In the passive voice, "you" becomes the subject (receiving the permission), and the verb changes to "were given." "By whom" indicates the agent (the person who gave permission). The word order correctly reflects passive voice structure. Option B: By whom was you given permission to enter? This option is incorrect because it uses the incorrect verb conjugation. "Was" should be "were" to agree with the plural pronoun "you". Option C: By whom you were given permission to enter? This option is grammatically incorrect. The word order is flawed. The passive construction requires the auxiliary verb ("were") to come before the subject ("you"). Option D: By whom were given you permission to enter? This option is incorrect due to the incorrect word order. The auxiliary verb "were" and the past participle "given" should come before the subject "you".

He has been granted a scholarship by the Principal. The given sentence is in active voice and it is in Present Perfect Tense. Rule : Subject + (has /have) + been + V 3 + Other agents.

Men, women and children throng the shops before festival making various purchases. Given sentence is in Passive voice and in Present Simple Tense. We need to change it into active voice. While changing the voice objects becomes subject and subject changes into object. Rule : Subject + V 1 + Other agents.