Choose the correct option to change the following sentence into passive voice.
Your behaviour astonished me.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → I was astonished by your behaviour
Simple past active into passive:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | me | I | The object “me” becomes the subject “I”. |
| Tense kept | astonished | was astonished | The simple past “astonished” becomes was + past participle: “was astonished”. |
| Agent (by ...) | Your behaviour | by your behaviour | The subject “your behaviour” goes after the verb with “by”: “by your behaviour”. |
| Full sentence | Your behaviour astonished me. | I was astonished by your behaviour. |
Example: The news shocked us. → We were shocked by the news.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: I was astonished by you with your behaviour. — Incorrect. The doer is "your behaviour", not "you". "By you with" adds words that are not in the active sentence.
Option 2: You are astonished by me with behaviour. — Incorrect.
- It reverses the meaning: "you" is now the one astonished.
- The tense changes to the present "are".
Option 4: With your behaviour you were astonished — Incorrect. It makes "you" the person astonished, while in the active sentence it is "me".