Question

Complete the following statement using the appropriate form of the verb:

Originally the book _________ in Spanish and a few years ago it __________ into English.

• A. written ... translated
• B. is written ... is translated
• C. writes ... translates
• D. was written ... was translated
  

Answer 1

The correct option is D was written ... was translated

The given sentence is in the past tense, as mentioned in the sentence 'originally...a few years ago'.

Also, the sentence is in passive voice, the subject 'the book' receives the action 'written' and 'translated'. A book cannot perform such actions.

Option D: 'Was written' and 'was translated are in simple past tense in passive voice. They relate to the given sentence in tense and voice. Hence option D is correct.

Option A: 'Written' is a past participle and does not express tense without a helping verb. 'Translated' is a simple past tense verb but it does not state the passive voice.

Option B; 'Is written' and 'is translated' refer to a present situation, or a general truth. But the words 'a few years ago' refer to a past action.

Option C: 'Writes' and 'translates' also refer to the present, as opposed to the time 'a few years ago' mentioned in the sentence.

Hence options A, B and C are incorrect.