Choose the correct option to change the sentence from Passive to Active Voice :
Two hundred people are employed by the company.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The company employs two hundred people.
Passive to active (simple present):
| Change | Passive | Active | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent (by ...) becomes subject | by the company | The company | The agent “the company” (after “by”) moves to the front. |
| Tense kept | are employed | employs | “Are employed” is the simple present passive. The active simple present with a singular subject is “employs”. |
| Subject becomes object | Two hundred people (subject) | two hundred people (object) | “Two hundred people” now follows the verb. |
| Full sentence | Two hundred people are employed by the company. | The company employs two hundred people. |
Example: The letters are delivered by the postman. → The postman delivers the letters.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Two hundred people have been employed by the company. — Incorrect. It is still passive, and the tense has changed to the present perfect.
Option 2: The company has been employed by two hundred people. — Incorrect. It is passive again and reverses the meaning: now the people employ the company.
Option 3: The company will be employing two hundred people. — Incorrect. The tense changes to the future continuous. The passive sentence is in the simple present.