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Interrogative Sentences

Introduction

In English grammar, interrogative sentences ask questions. When changing them from active to passive voice, we must retain the question format while making the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive one.

This pattern is important because it teaches how to restructure questions while keeping them grammatically correct and natural.

Pattern: Interrogative Sentences

Pattern

In passive voice, questions keep their interrogative form, but the auxiliary verb precedes the new subject.

General structure:
Active: Did + Subject + Verb + Object?
Passive: Was/Were + Object + Past Participle + (by + Subject)?

For “Who” questions:
Who → By whom Example: Who taught you English? → By whom were you taught English?

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Did he write the letter?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify components.

    Subject = he; Verb = write; Object = the letter.

  2. Step 2: Make the object the new subject.

    → the letter.

  3. Step 3: Choose correct helping verb.

    “Did” in active past simple → was/were in passive. (Letter = singular → was)

  4. Step 4: Form the passive question.

    → Was the letter written by him?

  5. Final Answer:

    Was the letter written by him?

  6. Quick Check:

    Both forms are questions; “write” correctly changes to “written.” ✅

Quick Variations

1. Yes/No questions: “Did they build the house?” → “Was the house built by them?”

2. Wh-questions: “Who made this cake?” → “By whom was this cake made?”

3. Questions with “can,” “should,” etc.: “Can she solve the puzzle?” → “Can the puzzle be solved by her?”

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Keep the question structure intact (start with the auxiliary or Wh-word).
  • Step 2: Swap the subject and object roles.
  • Step 3: Convert main verb to past participle and adjust auxiliary accordingly.

Summary

Summary

In the Interrogative Sentences pattern:

  • Maintain question word order (auxiliary before subject).
  • Change who → by whom.
  • Use correct helping verb (is/are, was/were, etc.) based on tense and subject.
  • Ensure the verb is in past participle form.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Change into passive voice:<br>Did he complete the task?
easy
A. Was the task completed by him?
B. Is the task completed by him?
C. Has the task completed by him?
D. Was the task being completed by him?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify tense and components.

    ‘Did’ indicates past simple; verb = complete; object = the task.

  2. Step 2: Make the object the subject.

    → The task.

  3. Step 3: Replace ‘did’ with ‘was/were’ in passive form.

    → Was (for singular ‘task’).

  4. Step 4: Convert verb to past participle.

    Complete → completed.

  5. Final Answer:

    Was the task completed by him? → Option A.

  6. Quick Check:

    Both active and passive are past simple questions. ✅
Hint: Replace ‘did’ with ‘was/were’ and move object before the verb.
Common Mistakes: Keeping ‘did’ in the passive form.
2. Convert into passive voice:<br>Is she making the cake?
easy
A. Was the cake being made by her?
B. Is the cake made by her?
C. Is the cake being made by her?
D. Has the cake been made by her?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Recognize tense.

    Present continuous (‘is making’).

  2. Step 2: Identify object.

    The cake.

  3. Step 3: Replace subject and object.

    The cake becomes the subject.

  4. Step 4: Apply passive formula.

    Is + being + V₃ → Is the cake being made by her?

  5. Final Answer:

    Is the cake being made by her? → Option C.

  6. Quick Check:

    ‘Being made’ correctly represents continuous tense. ✅
Hint: Continuous → use ‘being + past participle’.
Common Mistakes: Omitting ‘being’.
3. Change into passive voice:<br>Did they deliver the parcel?
easy
A. Was the parcel delivered by them?
B. Were the parcel delivered by them?
C. Is the parcel delivered by them?
D. Has the parcel been delivered by them?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Check tense.

    ‘Did’ → past simple.

  2. Step 2: Identify object.

    The parcel.

  3. Step 3: Replace with ‘was/were’ + V₃.

    Singular subject → was delivered.

  4. Step 4: Form question.

    → Was the parcel delivered by them?

  5. Final Answer:

    Was the parcel delivered by them? → Option A.

  6. Quick Check:

    ‘Parcel’ is singular, so use ‘was’. ✅
Hint: Use ‘was/were’ based on the number of the object.
Common Mistakes: Using plural verb ‘were’ for singular subject.
4. Convert into passive voice:<br>Who taught you English?
medium
A. By whom was you taught English?
B. By whom were you taught English?
C. Whom you were taught English by?
D. Who were you taught English?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify structure.

    Interrogative with ‘Who’ → change to ‘By whom’.

  2. Step 2: Identify object and subject.

    Object = you, Subject = who.

  3. Step 3: Apply passive formula.

    Use were + V₃ + by + subject.

  4. Step 4: Frame question.

    → By whom were you taught English?

  5. Final Answer:

    By whom were you taught English? → Option B.

  6. Quick Check:

    ‘Who → By whom’ correctly changed. ✅
Hint: Replace ‘Who’ with ‘By whom’.
Common Mistakes: Keeping ‘Who’ instead of ‘By whom’.
5. Change into passive voice:<br>Has he finished the work?
medium
A. Was the work finished by him?
B. Has the work been finished by him?
C. Is the work finished by him?
D. Had the work been finished by him?

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the tense.

    The sentence uses present perfect tense (‘has finished’).

  2. Step 2: Identify subject and object.

    Subject = he; Object = the work.

  3. Step 3: Make the object the subject in passive.

    → The work becomes the new subject.

  4. Step 4: Apply the passive rule for perfect tense.

    Structure: has/have + been + past participle → Has the work been finished by him?

  5. Final Answer:

    Has the work been finished by him? → Option B.

  6. Quick Check:

    ‘Has + been + finished’ correctly shows present perfect passive form. ✅
Hint: For perfect tenses, always add ‘been’ after has/have/had.
Common Mistakes: Using ‘was’ instead of ‘has been’.

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