Choose the correct Passive Voice sentence for the Active Voice sentence given below:
They are paying their staff at the new rates
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Their staff is being paid at the new rates
Passive of the present continuous:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | their staff | Their staff | The object of the active sentence, “their staff”, becomes the subject. |
| Tense kept | are paying | is being paid | Present continuous is/are + being + past participle. “Staff” is taken as one body here, so the singular “is” is used. “Are being paid” would also be correct. |
| Agent (by ...) | They | – (dropped) | The agent “by them” is dropped, as it adds nothing. |
| Full sentence | They are paying their staff at the new rates. | Their staff is being paid at the new rates. |
The rest, "at the new rates", stays.
Example: They are repairing the bridge. → The bridge is being repaired.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The staff was paid at the new rates — Incorrect. "Was paid" is the simple past. The action is going on now.
Option 2: The staff is paid by them at the new rates — Incorrect. "Is paid" is the simple present, which shows a habit. The continuous sense of "are paying" is lost.
Option 3: Their staff has paid at the new rates — Incorrect. "Has paid" is active: it makes the staff the payers.