Question

From the below options, identify the sentence(s) which is/are not in the active voice:
1) The police did not trust the suspect.
2) The suspect was not trusted by the police.
3) The suspect was interrogated by the police.
4) The suspect was followed by the police everywhere.

• A. 1
• B. 3 and 4
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 2, 3 and 4

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

2, 3 and 4

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 something/ some action. A verb is in passive voice when something is done to the subject.

Let us look at each sentence.

In sentence 1), The subject is "The police" and the action word performed by the subject is "did not trust". This is in the active voice.

In sentence 2), The subject is "The suspect". The action performed on the subject is "was not trusted". The doer of the action is "the police". This is in the passive voice.

In sentence 3), The subject is "The suspect" and the action performed on the subject is "was interrogated". The doer of the action is "the police". This is in the passive voice.

In sentence 4), The subject is "The suspect". The action that was performed on the subject is "was followed". The doer of the action is "the police". Hence this sentence is in the passive voice.

Given the above, sentence, 2, 3 and 4 are in passive voice. Hence, option D is the correct answer and options A, B and C are incorrect.