Select the correct Assertive form of the given sentence:
To think that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths!
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → I never thought that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths.
Exclamatory to assertive (“To think that” to “I never thought that”):
- An exclamatory sentence shows a strong feeling, such as joy, surprise or sorrow, and ends with an exclamation mark.
- An assertive sentence states a fact or an opinion and ends with a full stop.
| Change | Exclamatory | Assertive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening words | To think that | I never thought that | “To think that” shows great surprise. The speaker did not expect this to happen. |
| End mark | (!) | (.) | An assertive sentence ends with a full stop. |
| Full sentence | To think that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths! | I never thought that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths. |
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: I always thought that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths. — Incorrect. It says “always thought”. This means the speaker expected it, but the sentence shows surprise.
Option 2: I never thought that the shy boy from the last bench will top the school in Maths. — Incorrect. It changes “would” to “will”. After “thought”, the sentence needs “would”.
Option 3: Did I ever think that the shy boy from the last bench would top the school in Maths? — Incorrect. It is a question. It is not an assertive sentence.