From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the sentence in Active/Passive voice.
Who is creating this problem?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → By whom is this problem being created?
Passive of a "who" question in the present continuous:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent (by ...) | Who | By whom | “Who” is the doer. In the passive the doer takes “by”, so it becomes “By whom”. It stays at the start of the question. |
| Object becomes subject | this problem | this problem | The object becomes the subject. In a question it comes after the helping verb “is”. |
| Tense kept | is creating | is ... being created | “Is creating” is in the present continuous, so the passive stays in the present continuous. The passive form is is/am/are + being + past participle (V3). |
| Full sentence | Who is creating this problem? | By whom is this problem being created? |
Other continuous passive forms: was/were + being + V3. Example: Who is painting the wall? → By whom is the wall being painted?
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Who has been created this problem? — Incorrect. The tense changes from present continuous to present perfect. The active sentence has “is creating”.
Option 2: By whom has this problem been created? — Incorrect. This is the present perfect passive. “Is creating” needs “is being created”.
Option 3: By whom this problem is being created? — Incorrect. This has the word order of a statement. In a question, the helping verb “is” comes before the subject.