Choose the correct option to complete the following sentence:
Mohit's request was rejected _______ the adjudicators, even _______ he spoke about it.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → by, before
Agent in the passive and "even before":
- In a passive sentence the doer of the action (the agent) is introduced by by: the request was rejected by the adjudicators.
- Even before stresses that something happened earlier than expected: the request was turned down before Mohit had even spoken about it.
- Complete sentence: Mohit's request was rejected by the adjudicators, even before he spoke about it.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: to, while — Incorrect. "Rejected to the adjudicators" is wrong. The doer of a passive action takes "by".
Option 3: for, after — Incorrect. "Rejected for the adjudicators" would mean on their behalf. It does not name them as the ones who rejected it.
Option 4: at, while — Incorrect. "Rejected at the adjudicators" makes no sense. "At" does not introduce the doer.