Question

From the below-mentioned options, identify the sentence which is in active voice:

• A. The ship was docked at the Roman port by the captain.
• B. The captain docked the ship at the Roman port.
• C. The Roman port was established by the emperor, Claudius.
• D. The Roman sea port was called Ostia by the ancient Romans.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The captain docked the ship at the Roman port.

A sentence is in active or passive voice depending on whether its verb is in active or passive voice. A verb is in active voice when its form shows that the subject does some action. A verb is in passive voice when something is done to the subject. In passive voice, the doer of the action may appear in the phrase, "by .....". This could be one easy way of identifying a sentence in passive voice. However, in some cases, this phrase is omitted.

In option B, "the captain" is the subject. He performed the action of docking the ship. Hence, this sentence is in active voice, making option B correct.

In option A, "the ship" is the subject. It was "docked" somewhere by the captain. As the action of docking was done on the ship (subject), the sentence is in passive voice. Hence, A is incorrect.

In option C, "the Roman port" is the subject. It was "established" by the emperor i.e an action was performed on the subject. Hence, the sentence is in passive voice. Option C is incorrect.

In option D, "the Roman sea port" is the subject. It was "called" something. i.e the action was performed on the subject. Hence, the sentence is in passive voice. Option D is incorrect.