Understanding Active and Passive Voice Conversion

The question asks us to convert a given sentence from passive voice to active voice. The original sentence is: "Nothing can be achieved without hard work."

Let's first understand the difference between active and passive voice:

• Active Voice: The subject performs the action. The structure is typically Subject + Verb + Object. Example: "The student reads the book." (Student is the subject performing the action of reading).
• Passive Voice: The subject receives the action. The structure is typically Object + be verb + Past Participle of Verb + (by + Subject/Agent). Example: "The book is read by the student." (Book is the subject receiving the action).

In the given sentence, "Nothing can be achieved without hard work," the structure is Object ("Nothing") + modal verb ("can") + "be" + past participle ("achieved") + (implied agent) + additional phrase ("without hard work"). This structure clearly indicates passive voice, where "Nothing" is receiving the action of being achieved.

To convert a passive sentence with a modal verb to active voice, we follow these steps:

1. Identify the object in the passive sentence that becomes the subject in the active sentence. In "Nothing can be achieved...", "Nothing" is the subject in the passive voice, but it was the object in the implied active voice.
2. Identify the verb (including the modal verb). The modal verb is "can", and the main verb is "achieved" (past participle).
3. Identify or assume the agent (the one performing the action) if it's not explicitly mentioned (e.g., "by someone"). In this sentence, the agent is not mentioned, implying a general subject like "one," "people," or "someone." The options suggest using "One."
4. Change the verb form from passive (modal + be + past participle) to active (modal + base form of the verb). The base form of "achieved" is "achieve."
5. Restructure the sentence into Subject + Modal Verb + Base Verb + Object + remaining parts.

Applying this to the sentence "Nothing can be achieved without hard work":

• Implied Agent (Subject in active): "One"
• Modal Verb: "can"
• Base Verb: "achieve"
• Object (was subject in passive): "nothing"
• Remaining part: "without hard work"

Putting it together, the active voice sentence is: "One can achieve nothing without hard work."

Analyzing the Options for Active Voice

Let's examine the given options:

1. One has achieved nothing without hard work.

   This option uses the present perfect tense ("has achieved"). The original sentence uses the modal "can," indicating possibility or ability in the present. Changing the tense alters the meaning of the sentence.

2. One will achieve nothing without hard work.

   This option uses the future tense ("will achieve"). The original sentence uses the modal "can," referring to present possibility or ability. Changing the tense is incorrect for a standard passive-to-active conversion aiming to retain the original meaning and tense/modality.

3. One could achieve nothing without hard work.

   This option uses the modal "could." While "could" can sometimes be the past form of "can," here "can" expresses a general truth or possibility. Using "could" changes the nuance, suggesting a past possibility or a conditional statement, which doesn't match the original meaning conveyed by "can."

4. One can achieve nothing without hard work.

   This option uses "One" as the subject, keeps the modal verb "can," uses the base form of the verb "achieve," and includes "nothing" as the object, followed by "without hard work." This structure perfectly matches the active voice conversion of the original sentence, retaining the meaning and the modal verb.

Therefore, the option that correctly expresses the given sentence in active voice is "One can achieve nothing without hard work."

Revision Table: Active vs. Passive Voice Basics

Additional Information on Modal Verbs in Passive Voice

Modal verbs (like can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must) express possibility, ability, permission, obligation, etc. When converting sentences with modal verbs between active and passive voice, the modal verb itself remains, but the structure of the main verb changes.

• Active: Modal Verb + Base Form of Main Verb
• Passive: Modal Verb + be + Past Participle of Main Verb

Examples:

• Active: You must finish the work. → Passive: The work must be finished by you.
• Active: She should write a letter. → Passive: A letter should be written by her.
• Active: They may find a solution. → Passive: A solution may be found by them.

The key is to correctly identify the subject, verb, and object and apply the appropriate structure while keeping the original modal verb and maintaining the intended meaning.