SSC CGL (Prelims) General: Voice questions with solutions

Q1. Change the following from active to passive: Will the committee review the amended policy immediately?

1. Will the amended policy be reviewed immediately by the committee?
2. Will the amended policy being reviewed immediately by the committee?
3. Will the amended policy have been reviewed immediately by the committee?
4. Will the amended policy reviewed immediately by the committee?

Answer: Will the amended policy be reviewed immediately by the committee?

The active sentence is in the future tense with "will." In passive voice, the object "the amended policy" becomes the subject, and the verb changes to "will be reviewed." The agent can be added with "by the committee."

Q2. Convert the sentence from passive to active voice: The citizens were warned about the cyclone by the authorities.

1. The authorities warned the citizens about the cyclone.
2. The citizens warned the authorities about the cyclone.
3. The authorities have warned the citizens.
4. The citizens were warning the authorities.

Answer: The authorities warned the citizens about the cyclone.

In passive voice, "the authorities" are the doers and "the citizens" receive the action. Converting to active voice gives the authorities as the subject and keeps the same meaning.

Q3. Change the following from active to passive: The committee might have revised the regulatory framework during the session.

1. The regulatory framework might revise by the committee during the session.
2. The regulatory framework might be revised by the committee during the session.
3. The regulatory framework might have been revised by the committee during the session.
4. The regulatory framework has been revised by the committee during the session.

Answer: The regulatory framework might have been revised by the committee during the session.

In passive voice, the object “the regulatory framework” becomes the subject. Since the active sentence uses the modal perfect form “might have revised,” the passive form must be “might have been revised.” Therefore, option 3 is correct.

Q4. Convert the following passive voice sentence into active voice: Was the final agreement signed by both parties after prolonged negotiations?

1. Did both parties sign the final agreement after prolonged negotiations?
2. Were both parties signing the final agreement?
3. Had the agreement been signed after negotiations?
4. Did the negotiations sign the agreement?

Answer: Did both parties sign the final agreement after prolonged negotiations?

In the passive sentence, "the final agreement" is the object and "both parties" are the doers of the action. Converting to active voice gives a simple past interrogative: "Did both parties sign the final agreement after prolonged negotiations?"

Q5. Change the following from active to passive: They will have inaugurated the metro line by next year.

1. The metro line will have been inaugurated by next year.
2. The metro line will be inaugurated by next year.
3. The metro line has been inaugurated by next year.
4. The metro line will being inaugurated by next year.

Answer: The metro line will have been inaugurated by next year.

The active sentence is in the future perfect tense: "will have inaugurated." In passive voice, the object "the metro line" becomes the subject, and the structure becomes "will have been inaugurated."

Q6. Identify the sentence from the passage that is in the passive voice: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: The metamorphosis of a moth exemplifies one of nature's most intricate and fascinating biological transitions. The life cycle commences with the deposition of delicate eggs, typically concealed along the veins of leaves, ensuring immediate sustenance once they hatch. Upon emergence, the larva — or caterpillar — enters a stage of persistent consumption, voraciously feeding on plant matter to accelerate its growth. Throughout this period, it experiences successive molts, discarding its inflexible exoskeleton to accommodate its enlarging structure. This intense feeding phase is indispensable for accumulating the energy necessary for the forthcoming metamorphosis. The progression into the pupal stage, enclosed within a chrysalis, represents an extraordinary biological transformation. Within this enclosure, the caterpillar’s tissues are methodically dismantled and reorganized into entirely new anatomical structures; wings, antennae, and compound eyes develop through a refined mechanism termed histogenesis. After this concealed reconstruction concludes, the adult moth emerges, its fragile wings requiring expansion with hemolymph and sufficient drying before flight can occur. Once airborne, the moth’s existence is primarily devoted to reproduction, thereby ensuring the continuation of the species before its ephemeral lifespan ends. Although frequently idealized, the moth’s life cycle illustrates a demanding narrative of adaptation, endurance, and evolutionary precision, providing profound insight into ecological equilibrium.

1. The larva consumes plant matter voraciously.
2. The adult moth emerges from the chrysalis.
3. The caterpillar’s tissues are methodically dismantled.
4. The moth expands its wings.

Answer: The caterpillar’s tissues are methodically dismantled.

In passive voice, the subject receives the action. "The caterpillar’s tissues are methodically dismantled" uses "are dismantled," which is passive, unlike the other options that are active voice.

Q7. Convert the sentence from passive voice to active voice: The letter had been signed by the ambassador before the delegation arrived.

1. The ambassador signs the letter before the delegation arrives.
2. The ambassador had signed the letter before the delegation arrived.
3. The letter was being signed by the ambassador when the delegation arrived.
4. The ambassador will have signed the letter before the delegation arrives.

Answer: The ambassador had signed the letter before the delegation arrived.

The sentence is in past perfect passive voice: 'had been signed'. In active voice, the subject becomes 'the ambassador' and the verb changes to past perfect active: 'had signed'. The time clause remains unchanged.

Q8. Change the following from active to passive: The principal let the students leave the examination hall before time.

1. The examination hall was left by the students before time.
2. The students were permitted leaving the examination hall before time.
3. The students were allowed to leave the examination hall before time.
4. The principal was letting the students leave the hall before time.

Answer: The students were allowed to leave the examination hall before time.

The verb 'let' in active voice is commonly changed to 'allow' in passive voice. So, 'The principal let the students leave...' becomes 'The students were allowed to leave...'. This preserves both meaning and grammar.

Q9. Rewrite the following sentence by changing it from passive voice to active voice: A certificate of merit will be awarded to all employees by the management next month.

1. The management had awarded a certificate of merit to all employees.
2. The management gives a certificate of merit to all employees.
3. The management will award a certificate of merit to all employees next month.
4. A certificate of merit was being awarded to all employees by the management.

Answer: The management will award a certificate of merit to all employees next month.

In passive voice, the object receives the action and the doer is introduced by "by." To convert to active voice, make "the management" the subject and keep the future tense "will award."

Q10. Change the following from active to passive: The auditors will not have submitted the compliance report by the deadline.

1. The compliance report will not be submitted by the auditors by the deadline.
2. The compliance report would not have been submitted by the auditors by the deadline.
3. The compliance report will not have been submitted by the auditors by the deadline.
4. The compliance report has not been submitted by the auditors by the deadline.

Answer: The compliance report will not have been submitted by the auditors by the deadline.

The active sentence is in future perfect negative tense: 'will not have submitted.' In passive voice, the object 'the compliance report' becomes the subject, and the structure becomes 'will not have been + past participle.' Hence option C is correct.

Q11. Convert the sentence from passive voice to active voice: No formal objections were seen to have been raised by the delegates against the revised charter.

1. It was seen that the delegates raised formal objections against the revised charter.
2. The delegates were seen raising no formal objections against the revised charter.
3. It was seen that the delegates had raised no formal objections against the revised charter.
4. It was seen that the delegates had made no formal objections to the revised charter.

Answer: It was seen that the delegates had raised no formal objections against the revised charter.

The sentence is passive and contains the reporting structure 'were seen to have been raised.' Converting it to active voice gives 'the delegates had raised no formal objections.' Option C preserves the meaning and tense correctly.

Q12. Convert the following sentence from passive voice to active voice: The witnesses must have been briefed about the protocol changes by the investigation officer.

1. The investigation officer might have briefed the witnesses about the protocol changes.
2. The investigation officer had briefed the witnesses about the protocol changes.
3. The investigation officer must have briefed the witnesses about the protocol changes.
4. The investigation officer must be briefing the witnesses about the protocol changes.

Answer: The investigation officer must have briefed the witnesses about the protocol changes.

In the passive sentence, "the witnesses" receive the action and "the investigation officer" performs it. Changing to active voice places the doer as the subject while preserving the modal-perfect structure: "must have briefed."

Q13. Change the following from active to passive: The engineers may have been overlooking certain critical safety protocols.

1. Certain critical safety protocols may have been overlooked by the engineers.
2. Certain critical safety protocols may be being overlooked by the engineers.
3. Certain critical safety protocols may have been being overlooked by the engineers.
4. Certain critical safety protocols may had been being overlooked by the engineers.

Answer: Certain critical safety protocols may have been being overlooked by the engineers.

The sentence is in modal perfect continuous tense: 'may have been overlooking'. In passive voice, the object becomes the subject and the structure becomes 'may have been being + past participle'.

Q14. Change the following from active to passive: She had not been reviewing the financial documents carefully.

1. The financial documents had not had been reviewed carefully.
2. The financial documents were not being reviewed carefully.
3. The financial documents had not reviewed carefully.
4. The financial documents had not been being reviewed carefully.

Answer: The financial documents had not been being reviewed carefully.

The active sentence is in past perfect continuous tense: "had not been reviewing." In passive voice, the object becomes the subject and the structure becomes "had not been being + past participle."

Q15. Change the following from active to passive: Someone had left the emergency exit unlocked overnight.

1. The emergency exit had been left unlocked overnight.
2. The emergency exit was being left unlocked overnight.
3. The emergency exit had to be left unlocked overnight.
4. The emergency exit has been left unlocked overnight.

Answer: The emergency exit had been left unlocked overnight.

The sentence is in past perfect tense: 'had left'. In passive voice, it becomes 'had been left', with 'the emergency exit' as the subject. The meaning remains unchanged.

Q16. Convert the sentence below from passive voice to active voice: It had been made clear by the committee that the rule would not be altered.

1. The committee made it clear that the rule would not be altered.
2. The rule was made clear not to be altered by the committee.
3. The rule alteration was clarified by the committee.
4. The committee had altered the rule as made clear.

Answer: The committee made it clear that the rule would not be altered.

In active voice, the subject performs the action. Here, 'the committee' is the doer, and the sentence becomes 'The committee made it clear that the rule would not be altered.'

Q17. Change the following from active to passive voice: The tourists had taken many photographs.

1. Many photographs have been taken by the tourists.
2. Many photographs are taken by the tourists.
3. Many photographs had been taken by the tourists.
4. Many photographs were being taken by the tourists.

Answer: Many photographs had been taken by the tourists.

In active voice, the subject performs the action on the object. To change to passive voice, the object becomes the subject and the verb changes to the passive form while retaining the same tense. Since the sentence is in past perfect, the correct passive form is "had been taken."

Q18. Convert the following sentence from passive voice to active voice: The documents had been submitted by the assistant before the deadline.

1. The assistant submits the documents before the deadline.
2. The assistant had submitted the documents before the deadline.
3. The assistant was submitting the documents before the deadline.
4. The assistant is submitting the documents before the deadline.

Answer: The assistant had submitted the documents before the deadline.

In the passive sentence, "the documents" receive the action and "the assistant" performs it. Since the tense is past perfect passive, the active voice becomes past perfect active: "had submitted."

Q19. Change the following from active to passive: The professor could have been explaining differential topology for hours.

1. Differential topology could have be being explained for hours by the professor.
2. Differential topology could have explained for hours by the professor.
3. Differential topology could have been being explained for hours by the professor.
4. Differential topology could have had been been explained for hours by the professor.

Answer: Differential topology could have been being explained for hours by the professor.

The active sentence is in modal perfect continuous form: "could have been explaining." In passive voice, the object "differential topology" becomes the subject, and the verb phrase changes to "could have been being explained."

Q20. Change the following from active to passive voice: They had sent the invitations by courier.

1. The invitations were sent by courier.
2. The invitations have been sent by courier.
3. The invitations had been sent by courier.
4. The invitations had been being sent by courier.

Answer: The invitations had been sent by courier.

The sentence is in past perfect tense: 'They had sent...'. In passive voice, the object 'the invitations' becomes the subject, and the verb changes to 'had been sent'.

Q21. Convert the sentence from passive voice to active voice: The machinery was known to have been operated manually during the testing phase.

1. Manual operators were known to test the machinery.
2. Someone was known to operate the machinery manually during testing.
3. It was known that the machinery had been manually tested.
4. It was known that someone had manually operated the machinery during the testing phase.

Answer: It was known that someone had manually operated the machinery during the testing phase.

The phrase 'was known to have been operated' indicates a passive perfect infinitive. To convert it into a more active structure, we express the action as something 'someone had manually operated' during the testing phase.

Q22. Change the following from active to passive: The teacher has explained the concept clearly.

1. The concept was clearly explained by the teacher.
2. The concept had been clearly explained by the teacher.
3. The concept has been clearly explained by the teacher.
4. The concept is being clearly explained by the teacher.

Answer: The concept has been clearly explained by the teacher.

The sentence is in present perfect active voice: "has explained." In passive voice, the object "the concept" becomes the subject and the tense changes to "has been explained."

Q23. Convert the following sentence from active to passive voice: 'Why did the editor disregard the major stylistic irregularities?'

1. Why have the major stylistic irregularities been disregarded by the editor?
2. Why are the major stylistic irregularities being disregarded by the editor?
3. Why did the major stylistic irregularities be disregarded by the editor?
4. Why were the major stylistic irregularities disregarded by the editor?

Answer: Why were the major stylistic irregularities disregarded by the editor?

The active sentence is in simple past tense: 'did disregard.' In passive voice, the object 'the major stylistic irregularities' becomes the subject, and the verb becomes 'were disregarded.' The question word 'Why' remains unchanged.