Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the following in Passive Voice.
You are teasing them.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → They are being teased by you.
Active to passive voice (present continuous):
Pattern: am/is/are + being + past participle.
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | them | They | “Them” becomes “they”. |
| Tense kept | are teasing | are being teased | Be + past participle, in the same tense: present continuous “are teasing” becomes “are being teased”. |
| Agent (by ...) | You | by you | “You” stays “you” as the agent: “by you”. |
| Full sentence | You are teasing them. | They are being teased by you. |
Example: The road is being repaired by the workers.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: They were being teased by you. — Incorrect. "Were being teased" is the past continuous. The active sentence is in the present.
Option 2: They are teased by you. — Incorrect.
- This is the simple present passive.
- It loses "being", the mark of the continuous tense.
Option 3: They have been teasing by you. — Incorrect.
- "Have been teasing" is an active form (present perfect continuous).
- An active form cannot take "by you".