Choose the option that correctly transforms the given sentence into passive voice:
Her meteoric success in the literary world surprised everyone.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Everyone was surprised by her meteoric success in the literary world.
Passive voice of the simple past:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | everyone | Everyone | The object of the active sentence, everyone, now opens the sentence. |
| Tense kept | surprised | was surprised | Simple past passive = was/were + past participle: “surprised” becomes was surprised (“everyone” is singular). |
| Agent (by ...) | Her meteoric success in the literary world | by her meteoric success in the literary world | The old subject becomes the agent after by, and every word of it stays. |
| Full sentence | Her meteoric success in the literary world surprised everyone. | Everyone was surprised by her meteoric success in the literary world. |
Example: The storm damaged the bridge. → The bridge was damaged by the storm.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Everyone was left surprised by her meteoric success. — Incorrect.
- "Was left surprised" adds a verb that is not in the active sentence.
- It drops "in the literary world" from the agent.
Option 2: Everyone was surprised by the meteoric success in the literary world. — Incorrect. "Her" has become "the", so the sentence no longer says whose success it was.
Option 4: Everyone is surprised by her success in the literary world. — Incorrect.
- "Is" puts the sentence in the present. The active verb "surprised" is in the past.
- It drops "meteoric".