Choose the correct passive construction(s) of the given sentence:
The trust awarded Meera a scholarship last year.
(A) Meera was awarded a scholarship by the trust last year.
(B) A scholarship was awarded to Meera by the trust last year.
(C) Meera has been awarded a scholarship by the trust last year.
(D) A scholarship was awarded by Meera to the trust last year.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A) and (B) only
Passive voice of a verb with two objects (simple past):
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | Meera / a scholarship | Meera (A) or A scholarship (B) | "Awarded" has two objects, a person and a thing. Either one can come to the front. |
| Tense kept | awarded | was awarded | “Awarded” is in the simple past, so the passive stays in the simple past: was / were + past participle (V3). "Was" because the subject is singular. |
| The other object | a scholarship / Meera | a scholarship (A) / to Meera (B) | When the thing comes first, we put "to" before the person. |
| Agent (by ...) | The trust | by the trust | The doer goes after "by". |
| Full sentence | The trust awarded Meera a scholarship last year. | (A) Meera was awarded a scholarship by the trust last year. (B) A scholarship was awarded to Meera by the trust last year. |
Other verbs with two objects work the same way, like give, offer, send and teach. Example: The coach gave Ravi a medal. → Ravi was given a medal by the coach.
(A) Meera was awarded a scholarship by the trust last year. — Correct.
- The person "Meera" is the subject.
- "Was awarded" keeps the simple past.
(B) A scholarship was awarded to Meera by the trust last year. — Correct.
- The thing "a scholarship" is the subject.
- "To Meera" shows who got it.
(C) Meera has been awarded a scholarship by the trust last year. — Incorrect.
- "Has been awarded" is the present perfect.
- But the active "awarded" is simple past.
- Correct form: Meera was awarded a scholarship by the trust last year.
(D) A scholarship was awarded by Meera to the trust last year. — Incorrect.
- This turns the meaning around.
- Now Meera gives the scholarship to the trust.
- Correct form: A scholarship was awarded to Meera by the trust last year.