Understanding Active and Passive Voice

The question asks us to change a sentence from active voice to passive voice. Let's first understand what active and passive voice mean.

• Active Voice: In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action. The structure is typically Subject + Verb + Object. Example: Somebody (Subject) sent (Verb) a gift (Object).
• Passive Voice: In a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action. The object of the active sentence often becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The structure typically involves a form of the verb 'to be' followed by the past participle of the main verb. Example: A gift (Subject) was sent (Verb - be + past participle).

The original sentence is: "Somebody sent me a gift on my anniversary."

Here:

• "Somebody" is the subject (the doer of the action).
• "sent" is the verb (in simple past tense).
• "me" is the indirect object (the person who received the gift).
• "a gift" is the direct object (the thing that was sent).
• "on my anniversary" is an adverbial phrase indicating when the action happened.

Since the active sentence has two objects (an indirect object "me" and a direct object "a gift"), it can be transformed into the passive voice in two ways, by making either object the subject of the passive sentence.

Method 1: Using the indirect object ("me") as the new subject.

• The indirect object "me" becomes the subject "I".
• The verb "sent" (simple past active) becomes "was/were sent" (simple past passive). Since the new subject is "I", we use "was". So, "was sent".
• The direct object "a gift" is kept as a retained object.
• The agent "somebody" can be included using "by somebody" or "by someone", or omitted if the doer is unknown or unimportant.
• The phrase "on my anniversary" remains.

Combining these gives: I was sent a gift on my anniversary by somebody/someone.

Method 2: Using the direct object ("a gift") as the new subject.

• The direct object "a gift" becomes the subject "a gift".
• The verb "sent" becomes "was sent".
• The indirect object "me" is usually preceded by "to" or "for" when the direct object is the subject. So, "to me".
• The agent "somebody" is included as "by somebody/someone" or omitted.
• The phrase "on my anniversary" remains.

Combining these gives: A gift was sent to me on my anniversary by somebody/someone.

Now let's evaluate the given options based on these possible passive structures.

Analyzing the Options for Passive Voice Conversion

Let's look at each option provided:

1. I was surprised to have been sent a gift on my anniversary.
2. Someone sent a gift on my anniversary.
3. I was sent a gift on my anniversary by someone.
4. I would be sent a gift on my anniversary by someone.

Analysis of Option 1: "I was surprised to have been sent a gift on my anniversary."
This sentence expresses surprise about receiving the gift and uses a more complex structure ("was surprised to have been sent"). While it includes a passive construction ("have been sent"), the addition of "I was surprised" changes the core meaning of the original sentence, which simply states that someone sent a gift. This is not a direct passive transformation of the original sentence's main clause.

Analysis of Option 2: "Someone sent a gift on my anniversary."
The subject of this sentence is "Someone", and the verb is "sent". The subject is performing the action of sending. This sentence is still in the active voice. It is just a slight variation of the original sentence ("Somebody" changed to "Someone"). Therefore, this is incorrect.

Analysis of Option 3: "I was sent a gift on my anniversary by someone."
In this sentence, the subject is "I" (derived from the indirect object "me"). The verb is "was sent", which is the simple past passive form of "sent". "a gift" is the retained object, and "by someone" indicates the agent. This matches the first method of passive transformation discussed above, where the indirect object becomes the subject. This sentence correctly expresses the original idea in the passive voice.

Analysis of Option 4: "I would be sent a gift on my anniversary by someone."
This sentence uses the modal verb "would" followed by the passive infinitive "be sent". "Would be sent" expresses a conditional or future possibility or hypothetical action, not a past action that actually happened. The original sentence uses the simple past tense ("sent"), indicating a completed action in the past. Therefore, this tense does not match the original sentence, making this option incorrect.

Based on the analysis, Option 3 is the only sentence that correctly transforms the original active voice sentence into the passive voice while retaining the past tense and meaning.

Correct Passive Voice Sentence

The correct passive voice transformation of "Somebody sent me a gift on my anniversary" is "I was sent a gift on my anniversary by someone."

Revision Table: Active vs. Passive Voice

Additional Information on Passive Voice

Here are some more points about the passive voice:

• The passive voice is often used when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. In such cases, the "by + agent" phrase is often omitted. For example, if it's clear that postal workers deliver mail, you might say "The mail is delivered by 10 AM" (where "by postal workers" is understood). In our example, "Somebody" is non-specific, so "I was sent a gift on my anniversary" without "by someone" is also a common and acceptable passive form. However, including "by someone" is also correct and was presented as an option.
• Sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can usually be changed into the passive voice. Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take an object, like 'sleep', 'run', 'arrive') cannot be made passive.
• The choice between active and passive voice depends on what you want to emphasize. Active voice is generally more direct and energetic. Passive voice is useful when the action or the recipient of the action is more important than the doer.