Select the appropriate passive form of the given sentence :
My sister sent us a currant loaf with 'Happy Sisters' Day' written on it.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A currant loaf was sent to us by my sister with 'Happy Sisters' Day' written on it.
Simple past in the passive (was/were + past participle):
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | a currant loaf | A currant loaf | The direct object “a currant loaf” begins the sentence. |
| Tense kept | sent | was sent | “Sent” is simple past, so it becomes “was sent” (singular subject). |
| Indirect object | us | to us | “Us” becomes “to us”. |
| Agent (by ...) | My sister | by my sister | “My sister” moves after “by”. |
| Full sentence | My sister sent us a currant loaf with ‘Happy Sisters’ Day’ written on it. | A currant loaf was sent to us by my sister with ‘Happy Sisters’ Day’ written on it. |
The rest of the sentence stays the same.
Example: Ravi gave me a book. → A book was given to me by Ravi.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: My sister has sent us a currant loaf with 'Happy Sisters' Day' written on it. — Incorrect. It is still active, and the tense has changed to present perfect.
Option 2: We sent a currant loaf with 'Happy Sisters' Day' written on it. — Incorrect. It is active, and it changes the meaning: now we are the senders.
Option 4: A currant loaf has been sent to us by my sister with 'Happy Sisters' Day' written on it. — Incorrect. "Has been sent" is present perfect. The simple past "sent" needs "was sent".
Contrast: the simple past sent becomes was sent. Has been sent is the passive of the present perfect "has sent".