Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.
My grandfather used to milk the cows every morning.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The cows used to be milked by my grandfather every morning.
Passive of “used to” + verb:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | the cows | The cows | The cows receive the action, so they become the subject. |
| Used to kept | used to milk | used to be milked | “Used to milk” tells of a past habit. In the passive it becomes used to be + past participle (V3). “Used to” does not change for one or many. |
| Agent (by ...) | My grandfather | by my grandfather | My grandfather is named, so the doer comes after “by”. |
| Full sentence | My grandfather used to milk the cows every morning. | The cows used to be milked by my grandfather every morning. |
Other verbs after “used to” work the same way. Example: The villagers used to draw water from this well. → Water used to be drawn from this well by the villagers.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: The cows were used to be milked by my grandfather every morning. — Incorrect. “Were” cannot come before “used to” when it shows a past habit. “Used to be + V3” is enough.
Option 3: The cows used to milk by my grandfather every morning. — Incorrect. The word “be” is missing. “The cows used to milk” makes the cows do the milking.
Option 4: The cows are used to being milked by my grandfather every morning. — Incorrect. “Are used to being milked” means the cows are now accustomed to it. That is a different meaning, not a past habit.