Question

Change the following sentence into passive voice:

Julia rescued three cats.

• A. Three cats are rescued by Julia.
• B. Three cats was rescued by Julia.
• C. Three cats were rescued by Julia.
• D. Three cats are being rescued by Julia.
  

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Three cats were rescued by Julia.

The given sentence is in the active voice, as the subject 'Julia' performs an action 'rescued' against the object 'three cats'.

If this sentence is changed to passive voice, then the subject is also changed, in order to retain the meaning of the sentence.

So, the object takes the place of the subject and vice versa and the word 'by' is introduced as now the subject receives the action by the object. The verb form of the sentence is also changed from active form to passive.

'Subject (Julia) + verb (rescued) + object (three cats)' changes to:

'New subject (three cats) + verb (were rescued) + by + new object (Julia)'

The passive form of 'rescued' in the simple past tense is 'was/were rescued'. Since the subject 'three cats' is plural, the verb will also be plural 'were rescued'.

This can be seen in option C, hence it's the right answer.

Option A: The tense of the given sentence is in past, whereas here the verb 'are' expresses the simple present tense. The voice of the sentence has changed, but the tense still remains the same.

Option B: 'Was' is a singular verb whereas the noun 'three cats' is plural.

Option D: 'Are being rescued' expresses the present continuous tense. But the event happened in the past.

Hence options A, B and D are incorrect.