my voice

Question 1

1.Often ideas and concepts (a)/ are passed on from (b)/ one generation to the next (c)/ without being questioned. (d)/ No error (e) [Canara Bank Clerk 2009]

Answer 1

“1.(b) Because ““ideas and concept”” is the subject, the verb should be in the active voice. ““Are passed on”” should be ‘Pass on’.”

Question 2

2.In case you need five people (a)/ to run a branch you (b)/ should be selected (c)/ ten since some may leave. (d)/ No error (e) [Allahabad Bank Clerk 2009]

Answer 2

2.(c) Because ‘you’ is the subject, an active verb phrase is required. ‘Should be selected’ should be ‘Should select’.

Question 3

3.To train its newly (a)/ recruit staff the company (b)/ has developed an (c)/ online training programme. (d)/ No error (e) [Oriental Bank of Commerce Clerk 2009]

Answer 3

3.(b) ‘Recruit staff’ should be ‘recruited staff’. Newly recruited staff means staff who had been newly recruited. A passive participle modifying staff is needed. ‘Recruited’ is used as an adjective.

Question 4

4.The management will be taken (a)/ a decision about (b)/ the training of the clerical (c)/ staff early next month. (d)/ No error (e) [Bank of Maharashtra Clerk 2008]

Answer 4

4.(a) ‘The management’ is the subject of the sentence. Therefore, it requires an active verb phrase. ‘Will be taken’ should be ‘will take’.

Question 5

5.According to him (a)/ two factors which are (b)/ needy for success (c)/ are discipline and diligence. (d)/ No error (e) [SBI Associate, Clerk 2008]

Answer 5

5.(c) Because ‘factors’ is a passive subject, it requires a passive verb. A passive verb consists of be + past participle. ‘Are needy’ should be ‘are needed’.

Question 6

6.The institution had founded (a)/ by some noble souls (b)/ for the welfare of the poor (c)/ and disabled people. (d)/ No error (e) [Allahabad Bank Clerk 2007]

Answer 6

6.(a) ‘The institution’ is a passive subject. When a sentence starts with an object, passive verb is required. ‘Had found’ should be ‘had been found’.

Question 7

7.The security force posted (a)/ at the centre is so strict (b)/ that even the top boss (c)/ cannot be entered without frisking. (d)/ No error (e) [IOB Clerk 2007]

Answer 7

7.(d) Because ‘the top boss’ is the person who performs the action, an active verb phrase is required. Cannot be entered’ should be ‘cannot enter’.

Question 8

8.When we were reached (a)/ at the gate of the park (b)/ it was too dark (c)/ to see the new entrants. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 8

8.(a) Because the word we performs the action, the verb should be in the active voice. ‘Were reaches, should be ‘reached’.

Question 9

9.It was clear from the way (a)/ they were behaving (b)/ that they had been (c)/ lost their senses. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2006]

Answer 9

9.(c) The subject ‘They’ performs the action. Therefore, ‘They should be followed by an active verb. ‘Had been lost’ should be ‘had lost’.

Question 10

10.The leader was so shrewd (a)/ that he could not deceive (b)/ by the words of (c)/ the sycophant courtiers. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2007]

Answer 10

10.(b) The word ‘He’ is the person the action is directed at. Therefore, ‘could not deceive’ should be ‘could not be deceived’.

Question 11

11.Your desire to (a)/ meet the president (b)/ without prior appointment (c)/ cannot be fulfill. (d)/ No error (e) [UCO Bank Clerk 2007]

Answer 11

11.(d) The word ‘desire’ is in fact an object, not a subject. Therefore, even in subject position an object requires a passive verb. ‘cannot be fulfil’ should be ‘cannot be fulfilled.

Question 12

12.None else (a)/ should held responsible (b)/ for his accident (c)/ and the loss. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 12

12.(a) ‘None else’ is the subject of a passive sentence. ‘None else’ requires a passiveverb because it is an object which is used as subject of a passive sentence. ‘Should held responsible’ should be ‘Should be held responsible’.

Question 13

13.Palm oil is very beneficial (a)/ and is use to (b)/ make products ranging (c)/ from soap to bio diesel. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 13

13.(b) In the passive, an auxiliary is followed by a past participle. Therefore, ‘is use’ should be ‘is used’.

Question 14

14.The campaign launched (a)/ by the group of citizens (b)/ was admirable most (c)/ by all the guests. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 14

14.(c) In passive, an auxiliary is followed by a past participle, not an adjective.

Question 15

15.The ministry was considered (a)/ several proposals for the (b)/ development of small and medium (c)/ enterprises during budget discussions. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Overseas Bank P.O., 2008]

Answer 15

15.(a) ‘The Ministry’ performs the action, Therefore, an active verb is required. ‘The ministry was considered’ should be ‘the ministry considered’.

Question 16

16.Although he was desired (a)/ to work quite hard (b)/ he could not do so (c)/ owing to his prolonged illness. (d)/ No error (e) [SBI P.O., 2008]

Answer 16

16.(a) ‘Although he was desired’ should be ‘Although he desired’. Because ‘He’ is an actor, it requires an active verb.

Question 17

17.The list of the candidates admitted (a)/ to the test should be remain (b)/ with the invigilator (c)/ during the test. (d)/ No error (e) [IDBI P.O., 2008]

Answer 17

17.(b) Remember ‘remain’ is an intransitive verb. An intransitive verb does not require an object and is not used in the passive. Therefore, ‘should be remain’ should be ‘Should remain’.

Question 18

18.The promotion means (a)/ that you may be (b)/ post in Chennai (c)/ for next month. (d)/ No error (e) [UBI P.O., 2008]

Answer 18

18.(c) ‘Post’ should be ‘posted’. ‘You’ is a passive subject (object), therefore a passive verb is required.

Question 19

19.On account of the week (a)/ long strike the factory (b)/ was forced to close and (c)/ next month shipment will delay. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 19

19.(d) ‘Shipment’ is a passive subject (object). Therefore it requires a passive verb. ‘will delay’ should be ‘will be delayed’.

Question 20

20.The complainants in their complain (a)/ have been alleged that (b)/ they were forced to leave (c)/ their belongings un attended. (d)/ No error (e) [Vijaya Bank P.O., 2008]

Answer 20

20.(b) ‘The complainants’ is the subject of an active sentence. Therefore, it requires an active verb. ‘Have been alleged’ should be ‘have alleged’.

Question 21

21.They had been hired a taxi (a)/ to roam around the city (b)/ but the plan failed (c)/ as the taxi met with an accident. (d)/ No error (e) [Vijaya Bank P.O., 2008]

Answer 21

21.(a) ‘They’ is an actor. Therefore, it requires an active verb.

Question 22

22.The number of students (a)/ competing in the event (b)/ has been fallen (c)/ because of want of incentive. (d)/ No error (e) [UCO P.O., 2006]

Answer 22

22.(c) Because ‘the number’ is the subject of the sentence, an active verb is required. ‘Has been fallen’ should be ‘has fallen’.

Question 23

23.The quality of construction (a)/ of our building was (b)/ highly appreciable by (c)/ most of the visitors. (d)/ No error (e) [Syndicate Bank PO., 2005]

Answer 23

23.(c) Because, ‘the quality’ is a passive subject (= Object), it requires a passive subject, ‘Highly appreciable’ should be ‘highly appreciated’.

Question 24

24.A temple feast is (a)/ usually celebrates (b)/ in the honour of the deity (c)/ to whom the temple is dedicated. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 24

24.(b) ‘A temple feast’ is a passive subject which requires a passive verb. ‘Is usually Celebrate’ should be ‘is usually celebrated’.

Question 25

25.The schedule could not maintain (a)/ due to inadequate (b)/ number of staff members having (c)/ required work experience. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2005]

Answer 25

25.(a) ‘Could not maintain’ should be ‘could not be maintained’, ‘the schedule’ is the subject of a passive sentence.

Question 26

26.The apparently obvious solutions (a)/ to most of his problems (b)/ were overlook by (c)/ many of his friends. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 26

26.(c) ‘Were overlook’ should be ‘were overlooked’. In a passive verb phrase, only a past participle can be used.

Question 27

27.I was being astonished (a)/ when I heard that (b)/ he had left the country (c)/ without informing any one of us. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 27

27.(a) ‘I was being astonished’ should be ‘I was astonished’. ‘Astonish’ can’t be used in a continuous tense.

Question 28

28.You have made a mistake (a)/ while filing the form (b)/ you should be informed (c)/ the income tax department immediately. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]

Answer 28

28.(c) Because the word ‘you’ is an actor, it requires an active verb, ‘you should be informed’ should be ‘you should inform’.

Question 29

29.The land records (a)/ of this district (b)/ will computerize (c)/ by next year. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]

Answer 29

29.(c) ‘The land records’ requires a passive verb because it is a passive subject. ‘will computerise’ should be ‘will be computerised’.

Question 30

30.Sedimentary ‘deposit along the coast (a)/ may be primary reason for (b)/ the change in conditions (c)/ but a lot more remain to be understand. (d)/ No error (e) [Bank of India PO 2010]

Answer 30

30.(d) ‘To be’ can be followed by a past participle only. ‘Remain to be understand’ should be ‘Remain to be understood’.

Question 31

31.Rohan’s happiness knew no (a)/ bounds when the results (b)/ were announce because (c)/ he had won the competition. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 31

31.(c) ‘The results’ is a passive subject. Therefore, it requires a passive verb. ‘Were announce’ should be ‘were announced’.

Question 32

32.The next meeting can be (a)/ hold next week (b)/ we had the first (c)/ meeting a while ago. (d)/ No error [Bank of Baroda Clerk 2010]

Answer 32

32.(b) ‘The next meeting’ is not an actor. Therefore, a passive verb is required. ‘Hold’ should be ‘held’. ‘Can be held’ is the passive verb phrase.

Question 33

33.Whether or not to confront (a)/ them about their role (b)/ in the matter is decision (c)/ which is yet to take. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank P.O., 2010]

Answer 33

33.(c) The antecedent of the relative ‘which’ refers to an object. Therefore, a passive verb ‘is yet to be taken’ should be used.

Question 34

34.Most of travelers experienced (a)/ a shock when they arrived (b)/ at the museum only to find (c)/ that it had been burgled. (d)/ No error (e) [IOB P.O., 2007]

Answer 34

34.(e) The sentence contains no error.

Question 35

35.He encouraged us to (a)/ think but none of the (b)/ suggestions we made was (c)/ discussed at the meeting. (d)/ No error (e) [Allahabad Bank Clerk 2009]

Answer 35

35.(e)

Question 36

36.During the holidays (a)/ I am often worked (b)/ in my uncle’s school to (c)/ earn some pocket money. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 36

36.(b) The part ‘I’ is an actor, therefore, an active verb is required. I am often worked’ should be ‘I often work’.

Question 37

37.His proposal had (a)/ to be send to (b)/ the president of the company (c)/ for her approval. (d)/ No error (e) [SBI Clerk 2009]

Answer 37

37.(b) The past participle follows the verb ‘to be’. Therefore, ‘send’ should be ‘sent’.

Question 38

38.I regret to bring to your kind notice (a)/ that my son Sachin Dubey of Vth standard (b)/ of your school, has been found to be much distressed (c)/ and out of sorts for the last few days. (d)/ No error (e) [Bank of Maharashtra Spl. Officer 2003]

Answer 38

38.(e)

Question 39

39.People whose performance peaks in the morning (a)/ are better position for career success (b)/ because they are more proactive (c)/ than people who are at their best in the evening. (d)/ No error (e) [UCO Bank P.O., 2011]

Answer 39

39.(b) Because the word ‘performance’ is a passive subject followed by ‘are’, the past participle ‘positioned’ should be used.

Question 40

40.Don’t think you can (a)/ say unpleasant things (b)/ about someone behind his back (c)/ and not found out. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 40

40.(d) Remember that a modal in the passive is followed by ‘be’ and ‘the past participle’. ‘Not found’ should be ‘Not be found’.

Question 41

41.Such an act of cruelty (a)/ had never (b)/ be committed (c)/ before. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 41

41.(b) ‘Had never been committed’ is the correct passive verb phrase. Because ‘Such an act of cruelty’ is a passive subject, a passive verb should be used.

Question 42

42.Looking into the situation (a)/ prevailed a few years (b)/ ago, he was taken (c)/ that decision. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 42

42.(c) Because the word ‘He’ is the subject of an active sentence, an active verb is required. ‘He was taken’ should be ‘He took’.

Question 43

43.The graceful folk dance had performed (a)/ so beautifully by a dance group that nobody (b)/ seemed to notice that (c)/ the show was two and a half hours long. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 43

43.(a) ‘The graceful folk dance’ is a passive subject = object. Therefore, it requires a passive verb. ‘Had performed’ should be ‘had been performed’.

Question 44

44.Reena decided not to (a)/ watch the movie (b)/ because she had to study for the (c)/ quiz to be hold the next day. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 44

44.(d) ‘To be’ can be followed by the past participle form of a verb only. ‘To be hold’ should be ‘To be held’.

Question 45

45.The fruit vendor (a)/ would rather (b)/ let the fruits get spoiling than (c)/ sell them for a lesser price. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2010]

Answer 45

45.(c) ‘Get’ introduces a causative construction, ‘Get’ is followed by the past participle form of a verb. Therefore, ‘get spoiling’ should be ‘get spoiled’.

Question 46

46.The police making (a)/ every one leave (b)/ the building premises (c)/ immediately. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 46

46.(a) Because the sentence refers to a past event, making should be made. It means the police forced everyone to leave.

Question 47

47.Now-a-days the cost of living (a)/ is so high that (b)/ people find it difficult (c)/ to make both ends meeting. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2005]

Answer 47

47.(d) When ‘make’ means ‘force’, it is followed by a bare infinitive. A bare infinitive is a verb without ‘To’.

Question 48

48.His dishonest acts have (a)/ made his parents (b)/ bent their heads (c)/ in shame. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2004]

Answer 48

48.(c) ‘Make’ is followed by a bare infinitive, Therefore ‘bent’ should be ‘bend’.

Question 49

49. Based on the newspaper (a)/ reports (b)/ we can conclude that (c)/ many accidents caused by reckless driving. (d)/ No error (e)

Answer 49

49. (d) ‘Many accidents are caused’ should be used.