Question

Active voice of: By whom was this book given to you ?

• A. Who gave you this book?
• B. Who given you this book?
• C. Who has given this book?
• D. Book given by who?

Hint:

Remember the correspondence: "By whom" in the passive voice almost always becomes "Who" at the start of the active voice question.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires converting a sentence from passive voice to active voice. The sentence is an interrogative (question) in the simple past tense.

Step 2: Key Rules for Conversion:
1. Identify Subject and Object: In the passive sentence, the subject is 'this book' and the agent is 'by whom'. In the active voice, the agent becomes the subject.
2. Change 'By whom' to 'Who': The phrase 'By whom' in the passive becomes the subject 'Who' in the active.
3. Change Verb Form: The passive verb `was ... given` (simple past passive) changes to the active form, which is the simple past verb `gave`.
4. Rearrange the Sentence: The new subject ('Who') comes first, followed by the verb ('gave'), then the indirect object ('you'), and finally the direct object ('this book').

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- Passive: "By whom was this book given to you?"
- The agent 'whom' becomes the subject 'Who'.
- The verb 'was given' (past passive) becomes 'gave' (past active).
- The objects are 'you' (indirect) and 'this book' (direct).
- The active question structure is: Who + past tense verb + indirect object + direct object?
- This gives: "Who gave you this book?"
Let's check the options:
(A) Correct.
(B) Grammatically incorrect ('given' is a past participle, not a simple past verb).
(C) Incorrect tense (present perfect). The original sentence is in the past.
(D) Grammatically incorrect sentence fragment.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct active voice is Who gave you this book?.