From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the sentence in Passive voice.
The teacher was reading out the instructions.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The instructions were being read out by the teacher.
Passive of the past continuous:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | the instructions | The instructions | The instructions receive the action, so they become the subject. |
| Tense kept | was reading out | were being read out | It stays past continuous: was/were + being + past participle (V3). "Were" because "instructions" is plural. "Out" stays with "read". |
| Agent (by ...) | The teacher | by the teacher | The doer goes to the end after "by". |
| Full sentence | The teacher was reading out the instructions. | The instructions were being read out by the teacher. |
Other continuous passives: is/am/are + being + V3. Example: The workers are painting the wall. → The wall is being painted by the workers.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The instructions were read by the teacher. — Incorrect. It leaves out "being". "Were read" is the simple past, so the continuous sense is lost.
Option 3: The instructions had been read out by the teacher. — Incorrect. "Had been read out" is the past perfect passive. The active sentence is in the past continuous.
Option 4: The instructions had been read by the teacher. — Incorrect. "Had been read" is also the past perfect passive. The tense of the active sentence is not kept.