Converting Passive Voice to Active Voice

This solution explains how to convert a sentence from passive voice to active voice, using the provided example.

Understanding Active and Passive Voice

Voice refers to the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject of the sentence performs the action or receives the action.

• Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. The structure is typically Subject + Verb + Object.
• Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action. The structure often involves a form of the verb 'to be' + past participle + 'by' + agent.

Analyzing the Passive Sentence

The original sentence is in the passive voice:

"The poem was composed by the student during the literature class."

Let's break it down:

• Subject (receiver of action): The poem
• Verb phrase: was composed (form of 'to be' + past participle)
• Agent (doer of action): the student (introduced by 'by')
• Prepositional Phrase: during the literature class

Steps for Conversion to Active Voice

To convert this sentence to active voice, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Agent: The agent in the passive sentence is "the student". This will become the subject of the active sentence.
2. Change the Verb: The passive verb "was composed" needs to be changed to its active form. Since "was composed" is in the simple past tense, the active verb should also be in the simple past tense. The base verb is 'compose', so the simple past active form is "composed".
3. Identify the Object: The subject of the passive sentence, "The poem", becomes the direct object of the active sentence.
4. Rearrange the Sentence: Place the agent (now the subject) first, followed by the active verb, then the object, and finally the rest of the sentence (prepositional phrase).

Constructing the Active Sentence

Applying the steps:

• New Subject: The student
• Active Verb: composed
• New Object: the poem
• Prepositional Phrase: during the literature class

Combining these elements results in the active voice sentence: "The student composed the poem during the literature class."

Comparing with Options

Let's examine the provided options:

• Option 1: "The student composed the poem during the literature class." - This correctly follows the active voice structure derived above.
• Option 2: "The student had composed the poem during the class." - This uses the past perfect tense ("had composed"), which is a different tense than the original passive sentence ("was composed"). It also omits "literature".
• Option 3: "The poem is being composed by the student during the class." - This sentence is still in the passive voice, using the present continuous passive form.
• Option 4: "The student is composing the poem during the literature class." - This uses the present continuous active tense, which does not match the past tense of the original sentence.

Therefore, the correct active voice conversion that maintains the original tense and meaning is "The student composed the poem during the literature class."