Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
The old temple walls were being whitewashed by the painters when the storm broke.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The painters were whitewashing the old temple walls when the storm broke.
Active form of the past continuous passive:
| Change | Passive | Active | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doer becomes subject | by the painters | The painters | The painters do the whitewashing, so they become the subject. |
| Tense kept | were being whitewashed | were whitewashing | “Were being whitewashed” is the past continuous passive: was / were being + past participle (V3). So the active stays in the past continuous: was / were + -ing. “Were” because the painters are many. |
| Subject becomes object | The old temple walls | the old temple walls (after the verb) | The walls receive the action, so they go after “were whitewashing”. |
| Full sentence | The old temple walls were being whitewashed by the painters when the storm broke. | The painters were whitewashing the old temple walls when the storm broke. |
Other past continuous passives change back the same way: was / were being + V3 → was / were + -ing. Example: The bus was being driven by a new driver. → A new driver was driving the bus.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The painters had whitewashed the old temple walls when the storm broke. — Incorrect. “Had whitewashed” is the past perfect. It says the work was over before the storm, but the passive says it was still going on.
Option 2: The painters was whitewashing the old temple walls when the storm broke. — Incorrect. “Was” is for one doer. “The painters” are many, so it must be “were”.
Option 3: When the storm broke, the painters whitewashed the old temple walls. — Incorrect. “Whitewashed” is the simple past. It loses the idea that the work was going on when the storm came.