Select the appropriate Passive Voice for the given sentence-
Why does the playwright use other images and motifs in the play?
A. Why are the images and motifs used in the play?
B. What are other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play?
C. Why are other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play?
D. Why were other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play?
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → C only
Passive of a wh-question in the simple present:
- The question word (Why) stays at the start.
- Object becomes subject: the object (other images and motifs) becomes the subject. It is plural, so the verb is are.
- Tense kept: simple present passive, are + past participle (use → used).
- Agent (by ...): the doer goes into a by-phrase: by the playwright. The rest stays the same.
Example: Why does the teacher give tests? → Why are tests given by the teacher?
(A) Why are the images and motifs used in the play? — Incorrect.
- "other" is replaced by "the", and the doer "by the playwright" is left out, so the meaning changes.
(B) What are other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play? — Incorrect.
- The question word "Why" has become "What", which asks a different question.
(C) Why are other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play? — Correct.
- It keeps "Why", uses are used (simple present passive) and adds by the playwright.
(D) Why were other images and motifs used by the playwright in the play? — Incorrect.
- "were" puts the verb in the past.
- The given sentence is in the present (does use).