SSC CGL English Questions with Detailed Solutions

Get SSC CGL English Questions to prepare for your upcoming exam. Solve the most expected questions and detailed solutions that can be asked in the exam.

Important SSC CGL English Questions

Q1.

Directions: Choose the correct PASSIVE VOICE form of the given sentence.
The committee has been deliberating the contentious motion since dawn.

A.
The contentious motion was being deliberated by the committee since dawn.
B.
The contentious motion has been being deliberated by the committee since dawn.
✓ Correct
C.
The contentious motion had been deliberated by the committee since dawn.
D.
The contentious motion is being deliberated by the committee since dawn.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct option is (B).

The correct passive voice of the given sentence is (B).

The given active voice sentence is in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense ("has been deliberating"). To convert a Present Perfect Continuous tense sentence into passive voice, we follow a specific structural transformation, where the object becomes the new subject, followed by the appropriate auxiliary verbs.

Structure:
Active Voice: Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing + Object
Passive Voice: New Subject (Object) + have/has + been + being + Past Participle (V3) + by + New Object (Subject)

Here, 'The contentious motion' is a singular subject, so it takes 'has been being deliberated'.

Explain why other options are incorrect:

Option A uses 'was being', which changes the tense to Past Continuous.
Option C uses 'had been', which changes the tense to Past Perfect.
Option D uses 'is being', which changes the tense to Present Continuous.

So the correct answer is (b)

Q2.

Choose the correct transformation of the given sentence.
People say that honesty is the best policy.

A.It is said by people that honesty is the best policy.
B.It has been said that honesty is the best policy.
C.It is said that honesty is the best policy.
✓ Correct
D.Honesty is said to be the best policy for people.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is C

The correct active/passive voice of the given sentence is (c).

The active voice sentence begins with a generalized subject structure 'People say that...'. When converting sentences with reporting verbs and general subjects into the passive voice, the introductory clause 'People say' is transformed into the impersonal passive construction 'It is said'. The dependent noun clause 'that honesty is the best policy' represents a universal truth/proverbial statement and is retained exactly as it is without any modification. Mentioning 'by people' is redundant because it is implied.

Structure:
Active voice: People + say + that-clause
Passive Voice: It + is + said + that-clause

Explain why other options are incorrect:

Option A is incorrect because the inclusion of 'by people' is unnecessary and unnatural in formal English passive constructions of this nature.
Option B is incorrect because it changes the tense from simple present ('is said') to present perfect ('has been said').
Option D is incorrect because it modifies the structure clumsily and attaches 'for people' inappropriately to the proverb.

So the correct answer is (c)

Q3.

Change the following sentence to Active Voice:
A new bridge is being constructed across the river by the municipal corporation.

A.The municipal corporation constructs a new bridge across the river.
B.The municipal corporation is constructing a new bridge across the river.
✓ Correct
C.The municipal corporation had constructed a new bridge across the river.
D.A new bridge will be constructed across the river by the municipal corporation.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (B).

Rules of conversion:

The passive sentence is in the Present Continuous Tense, indicated by 'is being + V3 (constructed)'.
To change it to active voice, we use the structure: Subject + is/am/are + V1-ing + Object.
The agent 'the municipal corporation' becomes the subject, and 'a new bridge' becomes the object.

Structure:
Active voice: Subject + is/am/are + V-ing + Object.
Passive Voice: Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Subject.

Explain why other options are incorrect:

Option A is in Simple Present tense.
Option C is in Past Perfect tense.
Option D is in Simple Future tense.

So the correct answer is (b)

Q4.

Change the following sentence into Active Voice:
Let the matter be resolved amicably by both the parties.

A.Both the parties should resolve the matter amicably.
B.Let both the parties resolve the matter amicably.
✓ Correct
C.Both the parties must resolve the matter amicably.
D.Resolve the matter amicably by both the parties.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (B).

Rules of conversion:

The sentence is an imperative sentence starting with 'Let'.
The structure of such passive sentences is: Let + object + be + V3 + by + agent.
To change it to active voice, the structure is: Let + agent (subject) + V1 + object.
In the given sentence, 'both the parties' is the agent and 'the matter' is the object.

Structure:
Active voice: Let + Subject + V1 + Object.
Passive Voice: Let + Object + be + V3 + by + Subject.

Explain why other options are incorrect:

Option A and C change the mood of the sentence by using 'should' and 'must'.
Option D is grammatically incorrect as it retains 'by'.

So the correct answer is (b)

Q5.

Choose the correct passive voice transformation:
The board of directors is likely to announce the merger by the end of this quarter.

A.The merger is likely to be announced by the board of directors by the end of this quarter.
✓ Correct
B.The merger was likely announced by the board of directors by the end of this quarter.
C.The merger is likely being announced by the board of directors by the end of this quarter.
D.It is likely that the merger is announced by the board of directors by the end of this quarter.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is A

The correct passive voice of the given sentence is (A).

Rules of conversion:

The active sentence uses the structure 'is/am/are + likely + to + verb (infinitive)'.
To convert an infinitive ('to announce') into passive voice, we use 'to + be + past participle (V3)'. Thus, 'to announce' becomes 'to be announced'.
The object of the active sentence ('the merger') becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Structure:
Active voice: Subject + is/am/are + likely + to + V1 + Object.
Passive Voice: Object + is/am/are + likely + to + be + V3 + by + Subject.

Explain why other options are incorrect:

Option B changes the tense to 'was', which is incorrect.
Option C uses 'being', which is used for continuous tenses, not infinitives.
Option D changes the structure significantly and does not use the correct passive form of the infinitive.

So the correct answer is (a)

Q6.

Choose the correct passive form: "The jury will have delivered the verdict before the presiding judge adjourns the court."

A.The verdict will have been delivered by the jury before the court is adjourned by the presiding judge.
✓ Correct
B.The verdict would have been delivered by the jury before the court had been adjourned by the presiding judge.
C.The verdict will be delivered by the jury before the court was adjourned by the presiding judge.
D.The verdict had been delivered by the jury before the court is adjourned by the presiding judge.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is A

The correct option is (a).

Explanation:
The given sentence consists of two clauses. The first clause "The jury will have delivered the verdict" is in the Future Perfect tense. In passive voice, Future Perfect (will have + V3) changes to (will have been + V3). The second clause "before the presiding judge adjourns the court" is in the Simple Present tense, which changes to (is/am/are + V3) in passive voice.

Structure:
Active Voice: Subject + will have + V3 + Object + before + Subject + V1(s/es) + Object.
Passive Voice: Object + will have been + V3 + by Subject + before + Object + is/am/are + V3 + by Subject.

Why other options are incorrect:
Option (B) incorrectly uses 'would' and 'had been'. Option (C) uses 'will be' (Simple Future) instead of Future Perfect. Option (D) uses 'had been' (Past Perfect).
So the correct answer is (a)

Q7.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
She was made to feel responsible for the team's failure by the manager.

A.The manager had her feel responsible for the team's failure.
B.The manager made her feel responsible for the team's failure.
✓ Correct
C.The team's failure was blamed on her by the manager.
D.The manager got her to be blamed for the team's failure.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (B).

Explanation: The sentence is in the Passive Voice (Past Indefinite). In passive voice, 'make' is followed by 'to + infinitive' (was made to feel). However, in active voice, 'make' is a causative verb followed by a bare infinitive (Object + V1).

Structure:
Active voice: Subject + made + Object + V1 (bare infinitive) + ...
Passive Voice: Object + was/were + made + to + V1 + by + Subject.

Therefore, "The manager made her feel..." is the correct active form.

So the correct answer is (b)

Q8.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
The construction is alleged to have been halted due to environmental violations.

A.
It is alleged that the authorities halted the construction.
B.
Authorities allegedly halted the construction.
C.
The authorities are alleged to have halted the construction.
✓ Correct
D.
The violation allegedly halted the construction.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is C

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (c) The authorities are alleged to have halted the construction.
Explain the rules of conversion (Passive → Active) with structure:
The original sentence uses a reporting-passive structure:
· “is alleged to have been halted” = passive reporting + perfect infinitive passive.
· To convert it to active while keeping the same meaning:
1. Choose a logical agent/doer (implied actor): the authorities.
2. Convert passive infinitive: to have been halted → to have halted.
3. Keep the reporting verb passive form to preserve meaning: are alleged.
4. Structure:
· Passive: Subject + is/are alleged + to have been + V³
· Active: Agent + is/are alleged + to have + V³ + Object
· Example: The policy is believed to have been framed hastily. → Officials are believed to have framed the policy hastily.
Why other options are incorrect:
· (a) Still keeps “It is alleged…” (acceptable style), but the best active reframe in the given options is (c) because it directly makes the agent the subject while keeping “are alleged to have…”.
· (b) Drops the careful reporting structure “are alleged to have” and changes tense/nuance.
· (d) Changes meaning illogically: “violation halted construction” (violation is a cause, not an agent).

Q9.

Change the following from active to passive:
The committee had been debating complex amendments when the bell rang.

A.Complex amendments had had been debated by the committee when the bell rang.
B.Complex amendments had been being debated by the committee when the bell rang.
✓ Correct
C.Complex amendments had be being debated by the committee when the bell rang.
D.Complex amendments had debated by the committee when the bell rang.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct active/passive voice of the given sentence is (b).
Explain the rules of conversion (Active → Passive) with structure:
Active voice (Past Perfect Continuous):
· Structure: Subject + had been + V1-ing + Object
· Sentence: The committee + had been debating + complex amendments…
Passive voice (Past Perfect Continuous):
· Structure: Object + had been being + V3 + by + Subject
· Sentence: Complex amendments + had been being debated + by the committee…
Why option (b) is correct: It uses the exact passive structure required for past perfect continuous: had been being + V3.
Example (same rule):
Active: The team had been preparing the report.
Passive: The report had been being prepared by the team.
Explain why other options are incorrect:
· (a) “had had been” is a wrong and double-auxiliary construction; grammatically invalid.
· (c) “had be being” is incorrect because after “had” we need past participle (been), not “be”.
· (d) “had debated” removes the continuous aspect and also misses required auxiliaries for passive voice.

Q10.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
A letter is written to the editor by the citizen every week.

A.The editor writes a letter to the citizen every week.
B.The citizen writes a letter to the editor every week.
✓ Correct
C.The editor wrote a letter every week.
D.The citizen has been writing letters to the editor weekly.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is B

The correct active/passive voice of the given sentence is (b).
Explain the rules of conversion (Passive → Active) with structure:
Passive voice (Simple Present):
· Structure: Object + is/am/are + V3 + by + Subject + time
· Sentence: A letter + is written + to the editor + by the citizen + every week.
Active voice (Simple Present):
· Structure: Subject + V1(s/es) + Object + place/time
· Sentence: The citizen + writes + a letter to the editor + every week.
Why option (b) is correct: It keeps the tense simple present, keeps the meaning same, and places the doer ( the citizen) as the subject.
Example:
Passive: A report is prepared by the clerk daily.
Active: The clerk prepares a report daily.
Explain why other options are incorrect:
· (a): Changes the doer; in passive, the doer is “the citizen,” not “the editor.”
· (c): Wrong tense (past) and also drops “to the editor.”
· (d): Changes tense/aspect to present perfect continuous and changes number (“letters”), so it is not an exact conversion.

Q11.

Change the following from active to passive:
Will the authorities enforce the revised ordinance promptly?

A.Will the revised ordinance be enforced promptly by the authorities?
✓ Correct
B.Will the revised ordinance being enforced promptly by the authorities?
C.Will the revised ordinance have been enforced promptly by the authorities?
D.Will the revised ordinance enforced promptly by the authorities?

Answer & Solution

Correct option is A

The correct passive voice of the given sentence is (a) Will the revised ordinance be enforced promptly by the authorities?
Explain the rules of conversion (Active → Passive) with structure:
Active structure: Will + Subject + V1 + Object + adverb
· Will + the authorities + enforce + the revised ordinance + promptly
· Passive structure: Will + Object + be + V3 + (by + Subject) + adverb
· Will + the revised ordinance + be enforced + by the authorities + promptly
· Example (rule used): Will the committee approve the proposal? → Will the proposal be approved by the committee?
· Why other options are incorrect:
· (b) being enforced is wrong after “will”; “will” requires be + V3, not “being.”
· (c) have been enforced changes tense to future perfect, which is not in the active sentence.
· (d) missing auxiliary be; passive cannot be formed without “be.”

Q12.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
The package will have been delivered by the courier before 5 PM.

A.The courier will deliver the package before 5 PM.
B.The courier had delivered the package before 5 PM.
C.The courier has delivered the package before 5 PM.
D.The courier will have delivered the package before 5 PM.
✓ Correct

Answer & Solution

Correct option is D

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (d) The courier will have delivered the package before 5 PM.
Explain the rules of conversion (Passive → Active) with structure:
Passive structure: Object + will have been + V3 + by + Subject + time
· The package + will have been delivered + by the courier + before 5 PM
· Active structure: Subject + will have + V3 + Object + time
· The courier + will have delivered + the package + before 5 PM
· Example (rule used): The work will have been completed by Friday. → They will have completed the work by Friday.
· Why other options are incorrect:
· (a) “will deliver” changes tense from future perfect to simple future.
· (b) “had delivered” is past perfect, wrong time frame.
· (c) “has delivered” is present perfect, also wrong.
· Information booster / exception:
· Future perfect indicates an action completed before a future time (“before 5 PM”). In conversion, keep will have + V3 intact.

Q13.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
Rare minerals are known to have been secretly extracted from the site by unauthorized workers before the inspection.

A.Unauthorized workers extracted the rare minerals before inspection.
B.The site was secretly mined before the inspection.
C.Unauthorized workers are known to have secretly extracted rare minerals before inspection.
✓ Correct
D.The minerals had been extracted prior to inspection.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is C

The correct active voice of the given sentence is (c) Unauthorized workers are known to have secretly extracted rare minerals before inspection.
Explain the rules of conversion (Passive → Active) with structure:
The sentence contains a passive reporting structure:
· are known to have been extracted (passive infinitive perfect)
· And it also contains the agent: by unauthorized workers.
· Steps to convert:
1. Make the agent the subject → Unauthorized workers.
2. Keep the reporting idea “are known” to preserve meaning (not a direct claim, but reported knowledge).
3. Convert to have been extracted (passive) → to have extracted (active).
4. Keep adverbs and time phrase properly: secretly, before the inspection, from the site.
5. Structure:
· Passive: Object + be known + to have been + V³ + by + Agent
· Active: Agent + be known + to have + V³ + Object
· Example (rule used):
· Passive: The documents are known to have been forged by him.
· Active: He is known to have forged the documents.
· Explain why other options are incorrect:
· (a) Drops the reporting phrase “are known” and changes the meaning from reported fact to direct fact.
· (b) Changes the object and meaning (focus shifts to “site” rather than “minerals” and removes “are known”).
· (d) Still remains passive and also removes the doer; not an active conversion.
· Information booster / exception:
· With structures like “is/are known to…”, active voice usually keeps the reporting verb:
· “X is known to have done…” to maintain the same level of certainty and tone.

Q14.

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
It was being suggested by multiple sources that the operation had been compromised internally.

A.Multiple sources were suggesting that the operation had been compromised internally.
✓ Correct
B.The operation was compromised, multiple sources suggested.
C.The sources were suggesting an operation compromise.
D.The operation had compromised multiple internal sources.

Answer & Solution

Correct option is A

The correct active/passive voice of the given sentence is (a).
Explain the rules of conversion from active to passive or passive to active with structure in detail.
· Identify the agent in the passive: by multiple sources → becomes the subject in active voice ( Multiple sources).
· Match the aspect/tense: was being suggested = past continuous passive. Convert to past continuous active → were suggesting to preserve ongoing nature of the reporting at that past time.
· Retain the that-clause content: that the operation had been compromised internally (past perfect passive) remains unchanged because it denotes an action completed before the suggesting.
· Remove the dummy “It” construction: Passive expletive “It” is dropped in the active version.
· Thus, the faithful active transformation is: Multiple sources were suggesting that the operation had been compromised internally.
Structure:
· Passive (original): Dummy It + was being + past participle ( suggested) + by + Agent + that-clause
· It was being suggested by multiple sources that S…
· Active (converted): Agent (Subject) + past continuous ( were suggesting) + that-clause
· Multiple sources were suggesting that S…
Example (rule illustration):
· Passive: It was being reported by officials that the bridge had been damaged.
· Active: Officials were reporting that the bridge had been damaged.
Explain why other options are incorrect:
· (b) The operation was compromised, multiple sources suggested. — Awkward comma splice of two independent clauses; also foregrounds the result rather than giving a clean, tense-preserving active transformation of the dummy- It passive.
· (c) The sources were suggesting an operation compromise. — Unidiomatic noun phrase (“an operation compromise”) and loss of the precise meaning carried by the that-clause ( had been compromised internally).
· (d) The operation had compromised multiple internal sources. — Reverses the agency/meaning: now the operation compromises the sources, which contradicts the original message that the operation itself was compromised.

Q15.

Convert the following sentence into Passive Voice:
I am to complete the report within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.

A.The report will be completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.
B.The report is completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.
C.The report had to be completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.
D.The report is to be completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.
✓ Correct

Answer & Solution

Correct option is D

Option (d) is correct answer.
1. Identify the structure in Active Voice:
· I am to complete the report…
· This is a special structure (be + to + verb) used to show duty/obligation/arrangement.
2. Change Object → Subject:
· Object: the report → becomes subject in Passive.
3. Maintain the “be + to + verb” structure in Passive:
· Active: am to complete
· Passive: is to be completed.
4. Attach the agent properly:
· Subject “I” → changes to agent “by me.”
5. Final Passive Sentence:
6. The report is to be completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.
Why other options are wrong:
· (a) will be completed → Changes meaning into simple future tense (not correct).
· (b) is completed → Simple present tense (habitual action), incorrect.
· (c) had to be completed → Past obligation, not the same as “am to complete.”
Correct Passive Answer:
(d) The report is to be completed by me within two hours to ensure that the board meeting proceeds as scheduled.

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