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Question

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.

Help the needy people.

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2020 Tier-II (English) Previous Year Paper (29-Jan-2022)
The correct answer is

Let the needy people be helped.

Understanding Voice Change for Imperative Sentences

The question asks to convert the given sentence "Help the needy people." into its passive voice form. The original sentence is an imperative sentence, which gives a command or instruction. Changing imperative sentences from active to passive voice follows a specific rule.

Rule for Passive Voice of Imperative Sentences

The general structure for converting an active imperative sentence to the passive voice is:

\(\text{Let} + \text{Object} + \text{be} + \text{Past Participle of the Verb}\)

Let's break down the given sentence "Help the needy people.":

  • Verb: Help
  • Object: the needy people

Applying the rule:

\(\text{Let} + \text{the needy people} + \text{be} + \text{helped}\)

This gives us the passive voice sentence: "Let the needy people be helped."

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each provided option based on the rule for changing imperative sentences to passive voice:

Option 1: The needy people are helping.

  • This sentence is in the active voice (present continuous tense). The subject "The needy people" is performing the action of helping. This is not the passive voice of the original imperative sentence.

Option 2: Let the needy people be helped.

  • This sentence follows the structure: Let + Object ("the needy people") + be + Past Participle ("helped"). This correctly transforms the active imperative sentence into the passive voice.

Option 3: The needy people are been helped.

  • This sentence uses an incorrect grammatical structure ("are been helped"). The correct form for passive voice in present tenses would typically involve "be" forms + past participle (e.g., "are being helped" for present continuous passive, or "are helped" for simple present passive, though neither applies correctly here). This option is grammatically incorrect for the passive voice transformation of the imperative.

Option 4: Let the needy people being helped.

  • This sentence uses "being" instead of "be" after "Let" and the object. The correct structure for imperative passive voice requires "be". This option is incorrect.

Based on the analysis, only option 2 correctly represents the passive voice of the imperative sentence "Help the needy people."

Summary of Options and Analysis
Option Sentence Analysis Correctness
1 The needy people are helping. Active voice, present continuous. Incorrect
2 Let the needy people be helped. Passive voice of imperative. Follows Let + Object + be + P.P. Correct
3 The needy people are been helped. Incorrect passive structure ("are been"). Incorrect
4 Let the needy people being helped. Incorrect structure ("being" instead of "be"). Incorrect

Conclusion on Passive Voice Transformation

To correctly convert an imperative sentence to the passive voice, remember to start with "Let," followed by the object of the active sentence, then "be," and finally the past participle of the main verb. This structure ensures the command or request is expressed passively, indicating that the action is to be done to the object.

Therefore, the passive voice of "Help the needy people." is "Let the needy people be helped."

Revision Table: Active and Passive Voice Key Points

Key Points on Active vs. Passive Voice
Feature Active Voice Passive Voice
Focus Subject performing the action Action being performed on the subject (or object of active sentence)
Structure (Simple Present) Subject + Verb + Object Object (becomes subject) + is/am/are + Past Participle (+ by + Subject)
Structure (Imperative) Verb + Object Let + Object + be + Past Participle
Example (Simple Present) She writes a letter. A letter is written by her.
Example (Imperative) Close the door. Let the door be closed.

Additional Information: Types of Sentences and Voice

Understanding different types of sentences helps in voice transformation:

  • Declarative Sentences: These make a statement (e.g., "Birds fly."). Both active and passive voice are common.
  • Interrogative Sentences: These ask a question (e.g., "Did you see him?"). Can be converted to passive voice (e.g., "Was he seen by you?").
  • Imperative Sentences: These give a command or make a request (e.g., "Open the window."). As discussed, the passive voice uses the "Let + Object + be + Past Participle" structure.
  • Exclamatory Sentences: These express strong emotion (e.g., "What a beautiful day!"). Voice change is usually not applicable or straightforward for exclamatory sentences themselves, though the core statement within might be convertible.

The ability to switch between active and passive voice is crucial for varying sentence structure and emphasizing different parts of a sentence. In passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the action itself or the receiver of the action.

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