Choose the most appropriate option which best expresses the same sentence in Passive/Active Voice?
The news surprised us.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → We were surprised by the news
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, more than one answer is possible here: Option (2) "We were surprised by the news" and Option (4) "We were surprised at the news" both make a correct passive sentence, as explained below.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| The news surprised us. | We were surprised by (or at) the news. |
Active to passive (simple past):
- Object becomes subject: the object us becomes the subject we.
- Tense kept: the simple past surprised becomes was/were + past participle: were surprised.
- Agent (by ...): the subject the news becomes the agent, usually after by; with surprised, the preposition at is also standard.
Option 1: We are surprised at the news. — Incorrect. "are surprised" is in the present; the active verb "surprised" is in the past.
Option 2: We were surprised by the news — Correct (Answer as per NTA). The tense is kept in the past and the agent is brought in with by, the regular passive pattern.
Example: The players were surprised by the sudden change of venue.
Option 3: We are surprised by the news — Incorrect. The preposition is fine, but "are" again changes the past into the present.
Option 4: We were surprised at the news — Can also be considered as correct. Verbs of feeling such as surprise, please and shock often take a preposition other than "by" in the passive: surprised at, pleased with, shocked at. Standard grammar books give "We were surprised at the news" as an accepted passive form of such a sentence.
Example: She was surprised at his rude reply.