In the questions below the sentences have been given in Active/Passive voice. From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the given sentence in Passive/Active voice.
The invigilator was reading out the instructions.
Answer: B
Correct answer: The instructions were being read out by the invigilator.
The past continuous was reading becomes were being read. The plain past and past perfect options change the aspect: the sentence describes an action in progress, not one completed.
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You can play with these kittens quite safely.
Answer: D
Correct answer: These kittens can be played with quite safely.
Play with is a prepositional verb, so the preposition stays attached to the participle and is left stranded at the end: can be played with. Adding you after it, as one option does, gives the preposition an object it must not have.
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A child could not have done this mischief.
Answer: C
Correct answer: This mischief could not have been done by a child.
The modal perfect could not have done becomes could not have been done - the perfect have is kept and been inserted before the participle. Dropping either leaves the tense wrong.
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James Watt discovered the energy of steam.
Answer: B
Correct answer: The energy of steam was discovered by James Watt.
The object becomes the subject and the subject becomes the agent after by. The option reversing them makes the energy of steam the discoverer, and the first option has no passive verb at all.
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She makes cakes every Sunday.
Answer: B
Correct answer: Cakes are made by her every Sunday.
Makes is present simple describing a habit, so the passive is are made, plural to agree with cakes. Were made shifts to the past, and cakes make her reverses the roles.
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She spoke to the official on duty.
Answer: A
Correct answer: The official on duty was spoken to by her
Speak to is a prepositional verb, so to stays with the participle: was spoken to. The phrase on duty describes the official and must stay next to him, which is why moving it to the end changes what it modifies.
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The doctor advised the patient not to eat rice.
Answer: A
Correct answer: The patient was advised by the doctor not to eat rice.
Advise takes an object and an infinitive; the object becomes the subject and the infinitive is untouched. Turning it into a that clause changes the construction, and the continuous and perfect options change the tense.
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I cannot accept your offer.
Answer: A
Correct answer: Your offer cannot be accepted by me.
The object your offer becomes the subject, I becomes by me, and the modal takes be + participle. The option dropping your loses whose offer it is, and the one dropping the agent loses who refuses.
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You should open the wine about three hours before you use it.
Answer: D
Correct answer: Wine should be opened about three hours before it is used.
Both verbs go passive, not just the first: you use it becomes it is used. The options leaving you use it or use in the second clause convert only half the sentence.
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They will inform the police.
Answer: A
Correct answer: The police will be informed by them.
The future will inform becomes will be informed. The second option is active again with the roles reversed, and the third changes the tense to the present.
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