Choose the correct active form of the given sentence:
The hockey players were promised new kits by the sports secretary before the tournament.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The sports secretary promised the hockey players new kits before the tournament.
Active form of a verb with two objects (simple past):
| Change | Passive | Active | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doer becomes subject | by the sports secretary | The sports secretary | The sports secretary made the promise, so the secretary becomes the subject. |
| Tense kept | were promised | promised | “Were promised” is the simple past passive: was / were + past participle (V3). So the active stays in the simple past: promised. |
| Both objects after the verb | The hockey players ... new kits | the hockey players new kits | The players get the promise and the kits are the thing promised. Both go after “promised”, the players first. |
| Full sentence | The hockey players were promised new kits by the sports secretary before the tournament. | The sports secretary promised the hockey players new kits before the tournament. |
Other verbs with two objects change back the same way, like give, show and lend. Example: Neha was given a free ticket by the conductor. → The conductor gave Neha a free ticket.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The sports secretary has promised the hockey players new kits before the tournament. — Incorrect. “Has promised” is the present perfect. The passive “were promised” is the simple past.
Option 3: The hockey players promised the sports secretary new kits before the tournament. — Incorrect. This turns the meaning around. Now the players make the promise to the secretary.
Option 4: The sports secretary was promising the hockey players new kits before the tournament. — Incorrect. “Was promising” is the past continuous. The passive “were promised” is the simple past, not “were being promised”.