Change into passive: The salt-water corroded the metal beams. The metal beams _________ by the salt-water.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

OPSC ASO (English) 2022 Official Paper

Answer 1

The correct answer is 'were corroded'.

Key Points

To change a sentence from active voice to passive voice, follow these steps:
1. The **object** of the active sentence becomes the **subject** of the passive sentence. (Active: "the metal beams" (object) → Passive: "The metal beams" (subject)).
2. Use the verb "**to be**" in the same tense as the main verb of the active sentence. The active verb "corroded" is in the simple past tense.
3. Use the **past participle** of the main verb. The past participle of "corrode" is "corroded."
4. The original subject of the active sentence (the doer of the action) is often introduced by "by."
In the given sentence, the new subject "The metal beams" is **plural**. Therefore, the simple past form of "to be" must also be plural, which is "were".

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Complete Passive Sentence: "The metal beams were corroded by the salt-water."

Additional Information

Option 1: "was corroded" is incorrect because "was" is singular, but the subject "The metal beams" is plural.
Option 2: "corroded" is incorrect because it is the active voice verb form, not the passive voice.
Option 3: "has corroded" is incorrect because it is in the present perfect active voice, not the simple past passive voice.