Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice.
The village well is being cleaned by the panchayat workers before the monsoon.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The panchayat workers are cleaning the village well before the monsoon.
Active form of a present continuous passive:
| Change | Passive | Active | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doer becomes subject | by the panchayat workers | The panchayat workers | The workers do the cleaning, so they become the subject. |
| Subject becomes object | The village well | the village well (after the verb) | The well receives the action, so it goes after the verb. |
| Tense kept | is being cleaned | are cleaning | “Is being cleaned” is in the present continuous, so the active stays in the present continuous: is / are + verb-ing. “Are” because the workers are many. |
| Full sentence | The village well is being cleaned by the panchayat workers before the monsoon. | The panchayat workers are cleaning the village well before the monsoon. |
The past continuous changes back the same way: was / were being + past participle (V3) becomes was / were + verb-ing. Example: The road was being repaired by the labourers. → The labourers were repairing the road.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The panchayat workers clean the village well before the monsoon. — Incorrect. “Clean” is the simple present. The passive “is being cleaned” is in the present continuous.
Option 2: The panchayat workers were cleaning the village well before the monsoon. — Incorrect. “Were cleaning” is the past continuous. The passive “is being cleaned” is in the present.
Option 4: The panchayat workers have been cleaning the village well before the monsoon. — Incorrect. “Have been cleaning” is the present perfect continuous. The passive “is being cleaned” is the present continuous.