wbp english practice set : Active and Passive Voice

Correct Answer: B) The matter is being looked into by the committee.

Explanation: The active sentence is in the Present Continuous Tense (is + verb-ing). The passive form for this tense is `am/is/are + being + V3`. Here, “look into” is a phrasal verb, and the preposition “into” must remain with the verb.

Correct Answer: D) Both A and C are correct.

Explanation: The active sentence is an interrogative sentence in the Past Simple Tense. When “Who” is the subject, the passive form starts with “By whom”. The structure is `By whom + auxiliary verb + subject + V3?`. Alternatively, in modern English, it’s common to leave the preposition “by” at the end, starting the question with “Who”. Both forms are grammatically correct.

Correct Answer: C) Both A and B are correct.

Explanation: When the active sentence has a structure like “They say/believe/think that…”, there are two ways to make it passive. 1. Using “It” as an introductory subject: `It is said that…`. 2. Making the subject of the clause (`he`) the main subject: `He is said to be…`. Both are standard passive constructions.

Correct Answer: A) Let this be done by me.

Explanation: For imperative sentences starting with “Let + object (pronoun) + V1”, the passive structure is `Let + object (noun) + be + V3 + by + agent`. Here, the object “this” comes after “Let”, followed by “be done”.

Correct Answer: A) Promises should be kept.

Explanation: When the subject of the active sentence is an indefinite pronoun like “one,” “someone,” “people,” etc., it is usually omitted in the passive voice because the agent is understood or unimportant. The structure for modal verbs (like ‘should’) in passive is `modal + be + V3`.

Correct Answer: C) The Romans expected the city to be conquered.

Explanation: This is a case of passive infinitive. The main verb “expected” remains active, but the infinitive action “to conquer the city” is made passive. The object of the infinitive (“the city”) becomes the subject of the passive infinitive phrase. The passive infinitive form is `to be + V3`. Therefore, “to conquer the city” becomes “the city to be conquered”. The other options change the meaning or structure incorrectly.

Correct Answer: C) The judge ordered them to hang the murderer.

Explanation: The original sentence has a passive infinitive (“to be hanged”). To change it to active, we need an agent to perform the action of hanging. Since the agent isn’t specified, we can introduce a general pronoun like “them” (implying the executioners). The structure becomes `Subject + Verb + Object + Active Infinitive`. So, “ordered the murderer to be hanged” becomes “ordered them to hang the murderer”. Option B is direct speech, not an active voice equivalent.

Correct Answer: B) I was made to do the work by him.

Explanation: The verb “make” is a causative verb. In the active voice, it is followed by an object and a bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’), like `make + object + V1`. However, in the passive voice, the bare infinitive becomes a full infinitive (with ‘to’). So, “do” becomes “to do”. The structure is `Subject (active object) + was/were made + to + V1`.

Correct Answer: C) This sentence cannot be changed to passive.

Explanation: For a sentence to have a passive form, its verb must be transitive, meaning it must have a direct object that receives the action. In this sentence, “is getting” is an intransitive verb phrase. “Out of control” is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial, not an object. Since there is no object to become the subject of the passive sentence, a passive version is not possible.

Correct Answer: A) I remember being taken to the zoo by my father.

Explanation: The main verb is “remember”. The object is a gerund phrase: “my father taking me to the zoo”. To make this passive, we focus on the action within the gerund phrase. The active gerund “taking” becomes the passive gerund “being taken”. The object of the gerund (“me”) is now the receiver of the action, and since it’s the same as the main subject (“I”), it’s implied. So, “my father taking me” becomes “being taken by my father”.

Correct Answer: A) This entire building will have to be pulled down.

Explanation: The structure in the active voice is `(modal) + have to + V1`. The passive form is `(modal) + have to + be + V3`. The agent “by them” is omitted as it’s understood. “Pull down” is a phrasal verb and must stay together.

Correct Answer: B) Are others imitated by you?

Explanation: The active sentence is an interrogative in the Present Simple Tense. The passive structure for a question in this tense is `Am/Is/Are + object + V3 + by + subject?`. The object “others” becomes the subject, which takes “Are”.

Correct Answer: B) It could not have been done by the manager.

Explanation: This sentence uses a perfect modal (`could have + V3`). The passive form for a perfect modal is `modal + have + been + V3`. So, “could not have done” becomes “could not have been done”.

Correct Answer: B) Honey is sweet when it is tasted.

Explanation: This is an example of a quasi-passive voice (or active sentence with a passive meaning). The verb “tastes” relates to the quality of the subject. The standard way to convert this is to use the structure `Subject + be + adjective + when + pronoun + be + V3`. Option A is grammatically acceptable but less complete than B.

Correct Answer: A) I was kept awake by the noise of the traffic.

Explanation: The active sentence is in the Past Simple Tense. The object “me” becomes the subject “I”. The passive verb form is `was/were + V3`, so “kept” becomes “was kept”. The phrase “awake” is an object complement and remains after the verb.

Correct Answer: B) I am vexed at his behavior sometimes.

Explanation: Certain verbs in the passive voice take prepositions other than “by”. The verb “vex” is typically followed by “at” or “with” when referring to a thing or a situation (like behavior). “Vexed at” is a common and appropriate choice here.

Correct Answer: B) I shall be obliged to go by circumstances.

Explanation: The active sentence is in the Future Simple Tense. The object “me” becomes “I”. In traditional grammar, “shall” is used with “I” and “we” in the future tense, while “will” is used for other pronouns. “I shall” is more formally correct here than “I will”. The passive structure is `shall/will + be + V3`. The infinitive “to go” remains unchanged.

Correct Answer: A) It is time for the shop to be shut.

Explanation: For sentences starting with “It is time + to + V1 + object”, the passive structure is `It is time + for + object + to be + V3`. This construction elegantly converts the active infinitive phrase into a passive one.

Correct Answer: A) Why was such a letter written by your brother?

Explanation: The active question is in the Past Simple Tense. For Wh-questions (except “Who”), the passive structure is `Wh-word + was/were + object + V3 + by + subject?`. The Wh-word “Why” remains at the beginning. “such a letter” is singular, so it takes “was”.

Correct Answer: A) The wine is going to be auctioned by the vintner.

Explanation: The phrase “be going to” is used to express future plans. In the passive voice, the structure is `am/is/are + going to + be + V3`. The structure must be preserved; replacing it with “will” (as in option B) changes the nuance slightly.

Correct Answer: B) His words must be listened to by us.

Explanation: The verb “listen” is followed by the preposition “to”. This preposition is part of the verb phrase and must be retained in the passive voice. Omitting “to” (as in option C) is a common error. The agent “by us” can be included or omitted, but option B is the most complete and correct form.

Correct Answer: C) By whom is this mess being created?

Explanation: The active sentence is an interrogative in the Present Continuous Tense. The passive structure for a “Who” question in this tense is `By whom + am/is/are + object + being + V3?`. The word “being” is crucial to indicate the continuous nature of the action.

Correct Answer: A) It has been reported to us that the CEO has resigned.

Explanation: The main clause is “They have reported to us”. The object is the entire clause “that the CEO has resigned”. The most natural passive form is to use the introductory “It”. The structure is `It + has/have been + V3 + (to + indirect object) + that-clause`. Option B is awkward; “We have been reported” is not standard English in this context. Option C changes the meaning by making the CEO the subject of the reporting verb directly.

Correct Answer: D) Both B and C are correct.

Explanation: Verbs of perception like ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘watch’ can be followed by a bare infinitive or a participle in the active voice. 1. If the active has a participle (“picking up”), the passive retains it: `He was seen picking up a gun`. (Emphasizes the ongoing action). 2. If the active is interpreted as `(saw him) pick up`, using a bare infinitive, the passive requires a full infinitive (`to + V1`): `He was seen to pick up a gun`. (Emphasizes the completed action). Both are grammatically valid passive forms.

Correct Answer: D) This sentence is already in active voice.

Explanation: This is a trick question. The structure `be + to + infinitive` (e.g., “I am to go”, “He was to finish”) expresses an arrangement, plan, or obligation. It is an active voice construction. The verb is `was to have finished`. The subject is “I”. There is no passive transformation here; the sentence is already active. A passive form would look like “The work was to have been finished by me…”.

Correct Answer: B) It is suggested that we should discuss the matter.

Explanation: Sentences starting with “Let’s” (Let us) are proposals or suggestions. While a direct passive like option A is structurally possible, the more common and idiomatic way to express this in a passive sense is to use the introductory phrase `It is suggested that…`. This captures the meaning of the proposal more accurately than a simple imperative passive.

Correct Answer: A) The plane was landed safely by the pilot.

Explanation: The placement of adverbs of manner (like ‘safely’) in passive sentences is important. The most natural position is after the main verb or at the end of the clause. Placing the adverb between the auxiliary verb (‘was’) and the main verb (‘landed’) as in option B is often considered awkward or less standard, especially in formal writing. Therefore, “was landed safely” is preferred over “was safely landed”.

Correct Answer: C) He was elected chairman by them.

Explanation: Verbs like ‘elect’, ‘make’, ‘appoint’, ‘call’ are followed by an object and an object complement. In the passive voice, the object becomes the subject, and the object complement follows the verb directly. No preposition like ‘as’ is needed. The sentence is in Past Simple, so the passive form is `was + V3`.

Correct Answer: D) Both B and C are valid active forms.

Explanation: The given sentence is a passive construction with the verb ‘need’. To make it active, we need to introduce a subject to perform the action of solving. Both a general pronoun “someone” or a specific “we” would be grammatically correct, depending on the context. Option A, “The problem needs solving,” is another valid structure with a similar meaning, using a gerund instead of a passive infinitive, but B and C are the most direct active voice conversions.