Choose the correct Passive Voice sentence for the Active Voice sentence given below:
They have been 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
The given active voice sentence: "They have been paying their staff at the new rates."
Step 1: Identify the components
- Subject: They
- Verb: have been paying (present perfect continuous tense)
- Object: their staff
- Additional Information: at the new rates
Step 2: Convert into Passive Voice
- The object ("their staff") becomes the subject in the passive form.
- The verb must maintain the same tense (present perfect continuous) while using the passive structure.
- The passive structure for present perfect continuous:
[Object] + is/are + being + past participle + (by subject, if necessary).
Thus, the correct transformation is: "Their staff is being paid at the new rates."
OTHER OPTIONS
"The staff was paid at the new rates."
- Incorrect because "was paid" is past simple tense, not present perfect continuous.
"The staff is paid by them at the new rates."
- Incorrect because "is paid" is present simple tense, not present perfect continuous.
"Their staff has paid at the new rates."
- Incorrect because "has paid" changes the subject and removes the passive structure.