Active–Passive Voice and Direct–Indirect Speech MCQs

Solved English MCQs on changing active to passive voice and direct to indirect speech (narration), with the rule behind each answer, for SSC and banking exams.

1. 1

   Choose the passive voice of: "She writes a letter."

   AA letter is written by her.BA letter is being written by her.CA letter was written by her.DA letter has been written by her.

   Correct answer: A. A letter is written by her.

   Simple present active → is/am/are + past participle: "is written".

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2. 2

   Choose the passive voice of: "They are building a new hospital."

   AA new hospital is being built by them.BA new hospital is built by them.CA new hospital has been built by them.DA new hospital was being built by them.

   Correct answer: A. A new hospital is being built by them.

   Present continuous → is/are being + past participle.

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3. 3

   Choose the passive voice of: "The police have arrested the thief."

   AThe thief is arrested by the police.BThe thief had been arrested by the police.CThe thief was arrested by the police.DThe thief has been arrested by the police.

   Correct answer: D. The thief has been arrested by the police.

   Present perfect → has/have been + past participle.

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4. 4

   Choose the passive voice of: "Who broke this window?"

   ABy whom was this window broken?BWho was this window broken?CWhom broke this window?DBy whom this window was broken?

   Correct answer: A. By whom was this window broken?

   "Who" becomes "By whom", and the question keeps the order of a question: "was this window broken?"

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5. 5

   Choose the passive voice of: "Do not insult the poor."

   ALet not insult the poor.BThe poor should insult not.CThe poor are not insulted.DLet the poor not be insulted.

   Correct answer: D. Let the poor not be insulted.

   Imperative sentences take "Let … be + past participle" in the passive.

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6. 6

   Choose the passive voice of: "He will finish the work tomorrow."

   AThe work is finished by him tomorrow.BThe work would be finished by him tomorrow.CThe work will have finished by him tomorrow.DThe work will be finished by him tomorrow.

   Correct answer: D. The work will be finished by him tomorrow.

   Simple future → will be + past participle.

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7. 7

   Choose the passive voice of: "The cat was chasing the mouse."

   AThe mouse is being chased by the cat.BThe mouse was being chased by the cat.CThe mouse was chased by the cat.DThe mouse had been chased by the cat.

   Correct answer: B. The mouse was being chased by the cat.

   Past continuous → was/were being + past participle.

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8. 8

   Choose the passive voice of: "People speak English all over the world."

   AEnglish has spoken all over the world.BEnglish is spoken all over the world.CEnglish is being spoken by people all over the world.DEnglish was spoken all over the world.

   Correct answer: B. English is spoken all over the world.

   General subjects such as "people" or "someone" are usually dropped in the passive.

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9. 9

   Choose the passive voice of: "Somebody stole my bag."

   AMy bag is stolen.BMy bag had stolen.CMy bag was stolen.DMy bag has been stolen by somebody.

   Correct answer: C. My bag was stolen.

   Simple past → was/were + past participle; the unknown doer "somebody" is dropped.

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10. 10

    Choose the passive voice of: "One should keep one's promises."

    APromises should keep.BPromises should be kept.CPromises must kept.DPromises are kept by one.

    Correct answer: B. Promises should be kept.

    Modal verbs take modal + be + past participle: "should be kept".

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12. 11

    Choose the indirect speech of: She said, "I am tired."

    AShe said that she is tired.BShe said that I was tired.CShe told that she had tired.DShe said that she was tired.

    Correct answer: D. She said that she was tired.

    With a past reporting verb, the present tense moves back to the past (am → was) and "I" becomes "she".

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13. 12

    Choose the indirect speech of: He said to me, "Where do you live?"

    AHe asked me where did I live.BHe said to me where I live.CHe asked me that where I lived.DHe asked me where I lived.

    Correct answer: D. He asked me where I lived.

    Questions use "asked", take the order of a statement (where I lived) and drop "that".

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14. 13

    Choose the indirect speech of: The teacher said, "The earth revolves around the sun."

    AThe teacher said that the earth had revolved around the sun.BThe teacher said that the earth revolved around the sun.CThe teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.DThe teacher told the earth revolves around the sun.

    Correct answer: C. The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.

    Universal truths keep their present tense in indirect speech.

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15. 14

    Choose the indirect speech of: Ram said to Shyam, "Please help me."

    ARam ordered Shyam to help me.BRam said Shyam to please help him.CRam requested Shyam to help him.DRam requested Shyam that he help me.

    Correct answer: C. Ram requested Shyam to help him.

    Requests use "requested" + object + to-infinitive; "please" is dropped and "me" becomes "him".

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16. 15

    Choose the indirect speech of: She said, "I have finished my homework."

    AShe said that she finished my homework.BShe said that she had finished her homework.CShe said that I had finished my homework.DShe said that she has finished her homework.

    Correct answer: B. She said that she had finished her homework.

    The present perfect (have finished) changes to the past perfect (had finished).

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17. 16

    Choose the indirect speech of: He said, "I saw a tiger yesterday."

    AHe said that he saw a tiger yesterday.BHe said that I had seen a tiger yesterday.CHe said that he had seen a tiger the previous day.DHe said that he has seen a tiger the previous day.

    Correct answer: C. He said that he had seen a tiger the previous day.

    The simple past becomes the past perfect, and "yesterday" becomes "the previous day" (or "the day before").

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18. 17

    Choose the indirect speech of: Mother said to me, "Don't play in the sun."

    AMother told me not to play in the sun.BMother told me to not played in the sun.CMother said me not to play in the sun.DMother told me don't play in the sun.

    Correct answer: A. Mother told me not to play in the sun.

    Negative commands take "told/advised" + object + "not to" + base verb.

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19. 18

    Choose the indirect speech of: He said to her, "Are you coming with us?"

    AHe asked her that she was coming with them.BHe asked her if she was coming with them.CHe told her if she is coming with us.DHe asked her was she coming with them.

    Correct answer: B. He asked her if she was coming with them.

    Yes/no questions use "if" or "whether"; the tense moves back and "us" becomes "them".

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20. 19

    Choose the indirect speech of: She said, "What a beautiful garden!"

    AShe exclaimed that the garden was very beautiful.BShe said what a beautiful garden it is.CShe asked what a beautiful garden was.DShe exclaimed that what a beautiful garden.

    Correct answer: A. She exclaimed that the garden was very beautiful.

    Exclamations use "exclaimed (with joy/wonder)" and become statements: "the garden was very beautiful".

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21. 20

    Choose the indirect speech of: They said, "We can solve this problem."

    AThey said that they can solve this problem.BThey said that we could solve this problem.CThey said that they could solve that problem.DThey said that they could have solved the problem.

    Correct answer: C. They said that they could solve that problem.

    "Can" becomes "could", "we" becomes "they" and "this" becomes "that".

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