Choose the correct passive form of the given sentence:
The municipal corporation is widening the main road near the vegetable market.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The main road near the vegetable market is being widened by the municipal corporation.
Passive of the present continuous:
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | the main road near the vegetable market | The main road near the vegetable market | The road receives the action, so it becomes the subject. |
| Tense kept | is widening | is being widened | “Is widening” is in the present continuous, so the passive stays in the present continuous: is / are being + past participle (V3). “Is” because the road is one. |
| Agent (by ...) | The municipal corporation | by the municipal corporation | The corporation is named, so the doer comes after “by”. |
| Full sentence | The municipal corporation is widening the main road near the vegetable market. | The main road near the vegetable market is being widened by the municipal corporation. |
Other present continuous verbs work the same way: are painting → is / are being painted. Example: The workers are painting the school walls. → The school walls are being painted by the workers.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The main road near the vegetable market is widened by the municipal corporation. — Incorrect. “Is widened” is the simple present. “Being” is missing, so the idea of work going on now is lost.
Option 2: The main road near the vegetable market has been widened by the municipal corporation. — Incorrect. “Has been widened” is the present perfect. It says the work is already over.
Option 4: The main road near the vegetable market was being widened by the municipal corporation. — Incorrect. “Was being widened” is the past continuous. The active “is widening” is in the present.