Choose the correct passive construction(s) of the given sentence:
The organisers could have postponed the inter-school kabaddi match because of the heavy rain.
(A) The inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain.
(B) The inter-school kabaddi match could have postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain.
(C) The inter-school kabaddi match could be postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain.
(D) Because of the heavy rain, the inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A) and (D) only
Passive of a modal perfect:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | the inter-school kabaddi match | The inter-school kabaddi match | The match receives the action, so it becomes the subject. |
| Modal perfect kept | could have postponed | could have been postponed | “Could have postponed” talks of something possible in the past. The passive keeps “could have” and adds “been”: could have been + past participle (V3). |
| Agent (by ...) | The organisers | by the organisers | The organisers are named, so the doer comes after “by”. |
| Full sentence | The organisers could have postponed the inter-school kabaddi match because of the heavy rain. | (A) The inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain. (D) Because of the heavy rain, the inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers. |
Other modal perfects work the same way: should have + V3 → should have been + V3, might have + V3 → might have been + V3. Example: The cook might have added too much salt. → Too much salt might have been added by the cook.
(A) The inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain. — Correct.
- “Could have been postponed” keeps the modal perfect and makes it passive.
(B) The inter-school kabaddi match could have postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain. — Incorrect.
- The word “been” is missing.
- Without it, the match itself seems to postpone something.
- Correct form: The inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain.
(C) The inter-school kabaddi match could be postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain. — Incorrect.
- “Could be postponed” drops “have”.
- It talks of now or later, but the active talks of a chance in the past.
- Correct form: The inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers because of the heavy rain.
(D) Because of the heavy rain, the inter-school kabaddi match could have been postponed by the organisers. — Correct.
- Only the phrase “because of the heavy rain” has moved to the front.
- The verb “could have been postponed” is right.