Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. Four grams of sodium chloride was added to the mixture by the research team.
The research team added four grams of sodium chloride to the mixture.
Understanding Active and Passive Voice in Grammar
The question asks us to convert a sentence from passive voice to active voice. Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is key to performing this transformation correctly.
- 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 is typically Object + form of 'be' + past participle + (by + Agent).
In the given sentence, "Four grams of sodium chloride was added to the mixture by the research team," let's identify the parts:
- The subject is "Four grams of sodium chloride" (it is receiving the action of being added).
- The verb is "was added" (a form of 'be' + past participle).
- The agent performing the action is "the research team" (introduced by 'by').
- The object receiving the action is implied or the result is applied "to the mixture".
This structure clearly indicates that the sentence is in passive voice because the subject ("Four grams of sodium chloride") is not performing the action; it is being acted upon.
Converting Passive Voice to Active Voice
To convert a sentence from passive voice to active voice, we need to make the agent the new subject and restructure the sentence so the new subject performs the action. The original passive subject often becomes the direct object in the active sentence.
Let's follow these steps for the given sentence:
- Identify the agent (the doer of the action) in the passive sentence. It is usually found in the "by + agent" phrase. In this case, the agent is "the research team". This will be the subject of our active sentence.
- Identify the verb in the passive sentence ("was added") and change it to its active form. The action is 'add', and the tense is past simple (indicated by 'was'). So, the active verb is "added".
- Identify what was being acted upon (the original passive subject). In this case, it is "Four grams of sodium chloride". This will be the direct object in our active sentence.
- Include any other parts of the sentence, such as prepositional phrases like "to the mixture".
Putting these parts together, we get: "The research team added four grams of sodium chloride to the mixture."
Analyzing the Options
Now let's look at the provided options and see which one matches our active voice transformation:
| Option | Sentence | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The research team added the mixture to four grams of sodium chloride. | Incorrect. While "The research team" is the subject and "added" is the verb, the object is "the mixture", and "four grams of sodium chloride" is the recipient, which changes the meaning significantly from the original sentence. |
| 2 | Four grams of sodium chloride added the mixture to the research team. | Incorrect. "Four grams of sodium chloride" is the subject here, which is illogical as a substance cannot perform the action of adding a mixture to a team. This sentence is nonsensical. |
| 3 | The research team added four grams of sodium chloride to the mixture. | Correct. "The research team" is the subject (the agent), "added" is the active verb, and "four grams of sodium chloride" is the direct object (what was added). "to the mixture" is the prepositional phrase indicating where it was added. This correctly reflects the action and participants of the original passive sentence in active voice. |
| 4 | The mixture added four grams of sodium chloride to the research team. | Incorrect. "The mixture" is the subject here, which is illogical as a mixture cannot perform the action of adding sodium chloride to a team. This sentence is nonsensical. |
Based on our analysis, Option 3 is the correct active voice transformation of the given passive voice sentence.
Revision Table: Active vs. Passive Voice
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | On the doer of the action (Subject) | On the action or the receiver of the action (Subject) |
| Structure (Basic) | Subject + Verb + Object | Object + form of 'be' + Past Participle + (by + Agent) |
| Verb Form | Varies by tense (e.g., adds, added, will add) | Form of 'be' (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) + Past Participle |
| Agent | The subject is the agent | Introduced by 'by' or sometimes omitted if unknown or unimportant |
| Usage | More direct, clear, and concise. Common in most writing. | Used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or when focusing on the action/receiver (e.g., scientific writing). |
Additional Information: Voice Transformation Tips
Converting sentences between active and passive voice is a common exercise in English grammar. Here are some tips to help you:
- Always identify the agent (who or what is doing the action) and the receiver (who or what is being acted upon).
- Pay close attention to the verb tense. The tense must remain the same when you switch between voices. For example, if the passive sentence is in past simple, the active verb should also be in past simple.
- Remember that only transitive verbs (verbs that can take a direct object) can be used in the passive voice.
- Sentences without a 'by + agent' phrase in passive voice can still be converted to active voice, but you might have to infer the agent (e.g., "The window was broken" → "Someone broke the window").
Important Questions from Active and Passive Voice
Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
The Smiths have put up a huge Christmas tree.
Select the correct passive form of the given sentence.
Conduct all the exams in a fair and proper manner.
Directions: Select the correct passive form of the given sentence.
The masons are building the house.
Directions: Select the correct active form of the given sentence.
By whom has this mischief been done?
Select the correct active form of the given sentence.
By whom were you pushed into the mud?
