direction: Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Who teaches you English?
By whom are you taught English?
Understanding Active and Passive Voice Conversion
This question asks us to convert a sentence from active voice to passive voice. Let's first understand what active and passive voice mean in English grammar.
- Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. Example: "Who teaches you English?" Here, "Who" is the subject performing the action "teaches".
- Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action. The focus shifts to the action and the receiver of the action. The original subject is often mentioned at the end, introduced by "by". Example: "English is taught to you." Here, "English" (the receiver) is the subject.
Converting 'Who teaches you English?' to Passive Voice
The given sentence is "Who teaches you English?" This is a question in the simple present tense. The active voice structure is: Who (subject) + verb (teaches) + indirect object (you) + direct object (English)?
When converting 'Who' questions in active voice to passive voice, 'Who' typically changes to 'By whom'. The object(s) in the active voice sentence become the subject in the passive voice sentence.
In this sentence, there are two possible objects: 'you' (indirect object) and 'English' (direct object). We can form a passive sentence using either as the subject.
Analyzing the Passive Voice Options
Let's examine each option to see which correctly converts the original simple present tense sentence "Who teaches you English?" into the passive voice.
| Option | Analysis | Correctness |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Who has been taught you English? | This uses the present perfect continuous tense ('has been taught'), which does not match the original simple present tense ('teaches'). The structure is also incorrect for a passive question. | Incorrect |
| 2. By whom were you taught English? | This uses the simple past tense passive ('were taught'). The original sentence is in the simple present tense ('teaches'). Therefore, the tense is incorrect. | Incorrect |
| 3. By whom are you taught English? | This uses 'By whom' correctly for the 'Who' question. It uses 'you' as the subject of the passive sentence and the simple present tense passive form ('are taught'). This matches the original simple present tense. Structure: By whom + helping verb (are) + subject (you) + past participle (taught) + remaining part (English)? This is a correct passive conversion. | Correct |
| 4. By whom was English taught to you? | This uses the simple past tense passive ('was taught'). The original sentence is in the simple present tense ('teaches'). Therefore, the tense is incorrect. | Incorrect |
Based on the analysis, Option 3 correctly converts the simple present active voice sentence "Who teaches you English?" to the simple present passive voice question "By whom are you taught English?".
Correct Passive Voice Transformation
The original sentence is in the simple present active voice:
\(\text{Who (Subject)} + \text{teaches (Simple Present Verb)} + \text{you (Indirect Object)} + \text{English (Direct Object)?}\)
To convert this 'Who' question to passive voice, 'Who' becomes 'By whom'. We can choose either 'you' or 'English' as the subject of the passive sentence. The verb must remain in the simple present tense passive form (is/am/are + past participle).
Using 'you' as the passive subject:
\(\text{By whom} + \text{are (Helping Verb for Simple Present Passive)} + \text{you (Passive Subject)} + \text{taught (Past Participle of teach)} + \text{English?}\)
This gives us: "By whom are you taught English?"
Using 'English' as the passive subject:
\(\text{By whom} + \text{is (Helping Verb for Simple Present Passive)} + \text{English (Passive Subject)} + \text{taught (Past Participle of teach)} + \text{to you?}\)
This would give us: "By whom is English taught to you?" (Option 4 is close but uses the wrong tense 'was taught').
Comparing the correct passive forms with the given options, "By whom are you taught English?" is present as Option 3, and it is a grammatically correct passive transformation in the simple present tense.
Revision Table: Active vs Passive Voice
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Subject's Role | Performs the action | Receives the action |
| Focus | On the doer of the action | On the action or the receiver of the action |
| Verb Structure | Main verb (varies by tense) | 'be' verb (in original tense) + past participle |
| 'By' phrase | Usually not present | Often used to mention the original subject (the doer) |
Additional Information: Voice Change in English Grammar
Changing the voice of a sentence allows us to shift emphasis. Passive voice is often used when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context, or when we want to emphasize the action or its receiver.
Key points about voice change:
- Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be changed into passive voice.
- The tense of the verb remains the same during the conversion; only the verb form changes to 'be + past participle'.
- Questions in active voice remain questions in passive voice, often requiring inversion of the helping verb and subject.
- Sentences starting with 'Who' in active voice questions become 'By whom' in passive voice questions. Sentences starting with 'Whom' in active voice questions become 'Who' in passive voice questions.
Understanding these rules is crucial for correctly transforming sentences between active and passive voice in English grammar.
Similar Questions
Direction: Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
You must have submitted the important documents.
Direction: Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
I have to stay in the Netherlands for a year till I finish my course.
Direction: Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
Somebody sent me a gift on my anniversary.
Direction: Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
The administrator will give you a cheque.
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
Someone has drunk all the wine in the glass.
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
Mike decided to skip work.
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
I am being tortured by you.
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
A farewell party for me has been organised by my office colleagues.
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
The courier service had delivered the parcel.
Select the correct active form of the given sentence.
Hundreds of villages in West Bengal have been devastated by Cyclone Amphan.
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.
All previous ages are far surpassed in knowledge by our age.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
Give her a 50% raise in salary.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
The commanding officer ordered the troops to march ahead.
