Read the following passage. Answer questions:
When I was a small child my grandparents would take me blackberry picking. It was usually late August when the blackberries had fully ripened. Grandad would drive us is in his old van. Despite not being comfortable or particularly safe, Grandad's van had a character you would not find in sleek new car complete with the latest innovations and a silent engine. Being seven or eight at the time, I always enjoyed a trip as we bounced along to our destination.
My grandparents always chose the same spot. Wild blackberry bushes stretched along the roadside as far as the eye could see in the both directions. The road overlooked a small pitch and putt course. On such sunny summer days it was always full. Golfers ambled sedately from hole and the crack of metal striking ball was a constant accompaniment.
Several hours of picking berries ensured. Nana warned me not to eat any until they had all been washed but turned a knowing blind eye while I gorged anyway. I also helped myself to the occasional unripe red berry as I had a particular taste for anything bitter. The fully immature green berries proved a step too far for even my pallet and were merely unpleasant.
When at last we were finished the bright scenery had turned to lengthy shadows and the afternoon had elapsed into evening. Grandad hauled a bin bag half full of berries back to the van. Juice bled slowly onto the ground. Nana would later make apple and blackberry tarts and fill several jars with jam. When I reached the van my stomach hurt from too much fruit. My hands stung from constant thorn pricks and were strained dark purple. I always enjoyed those days.
Change the following sentences into active voice and choose the correct option:
The shipment will be sent by Friday.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → We will send the shipment by Friday.
Passive to active (simple future, no agent):
| Change | Passive | Active | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject becomes object | The shipment | the shipment | The subject of the passive, “the shipment”, becomes the object of the active sentence. |
| Tense kept | will be sent | will send | “Will be + past participle” (simple future passive) becomes “will + base verb”: “will send”. |
| Agent (by ...) becomes subject | – | We | No agent is named (“by Friday” is a time phrase, not a doer), so the active sentence takes a suitable subject such as “we”. |
| Full sentence | The shipment will be sent by Friday. | We will send the shipment by Friday. |
The time phrase by Friday stays at the end.
Example: The letters will be posted tomorrow. → We will post the letters tomorrow.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: By Friday the shipment will be sent by us. — Incorrect. It is still in the passive voice ("will be sent by us").
Option 3: We will have sent the shipment by Friday. — Incorrect. "will have sent" is the future perfect. The given sentence is in the simple future.
Option 4: By Friday the shipment will have been sent. — Incorrect.
- It is still in the passive voice.
- "will have been sent" changes the simple future into the future perfect.