Question

Change the following sentence into passive voice:
Who broke this window?

• A. By whom was this window broken ?
• B. By whom this window was broken ?
• C. By whom was this window been broken ?
• D. By whom broken this window ?

Answer 1

The correct option is A By whom was this window broken ?

The main verb in the given sentence is 'broke' in simple past tense. In passive voice, the past participle form of the main verb (broken) is used and the auxiliary 'was'/ 'were' is used in addition to the main verb.

Option A is correct as it uses the auxiliary 'was' and the past participle form 'broken'.

Option B is incorrect as the auxiliary 'was' has to immediately follow the subject (By whom).

Option C: The word 'was' suggests that the sentence is in simple past tense. The word, 'been' suggests that the sentence is in past perfect tense. However, use of both these words in the same sentence is grammatically incorrect. Further, the word 'been' is used without the auxiliary 'had'. Hence, this sentence is grammatically incorrect.

Option D is correct as the auxiliary 'was' is missing.