Choose the correct passive form of the sentence: 'The committee had been debating the issue for hours.'
The issue had been being debated by the committee for hours.
The given sentence is in the past perfect continuous tense:
Subject + had been + verb-ing + object.
The corresponding passive form is:
Object + had been being + past participle + by + subject.
Applying this:
The committee had been debating the issue → The issue had been being debated by the committee.
(Although 'had been being + V3' is grammatically heavy, it is the formally correct passive of the past perfect continuous; it is the form typically expected in objective grammar tests.)
Examining the other options:
(A) 'had been debated' — passive of past perfect, not past perfect continuous.
(C) 'was debated' — simple past passive.
(D) 'had debated' — incorrect form (active).
Hence, the correct passive form is option 2.
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Important Questions from Active and Passive Voice
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
Have you placed an order for a cake?Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
Walking zones have been demarcated using paints and cones by the municipal corporation.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
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The commanding officer ordered the troops to march ahead.
