Which of the following is the correct passive of the following sentence?
He is finalising the syllabus for the next term.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The syllabus for the next term is being finalised by him.
Active to passive voice (present continuous):
| Change | Active | Passive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object becomes subject | the syllabus for the next term | The syllabus for the next term | The object “the syllabus for the next term” becomes the subject. |
| Tense kept | is finalising | is being finalised | The present continuous stays. Its passive is is/am/are + being + past participle, so “is finalising” becomes “is being finalised”. |
| Agent (by ...) | He | by him | The doer “he” goes after the verb as “by him”. |
| Full sentence | He is finalising the syllabus for the next term. | The syllabus for the next term is being finalised by him. |
Example: They are painting the house. → The house is being painted by them.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The syllabus for the next term is finalised by him. — Incorrect. "is finalised" is the simple present passive. The continuous sense ("being") is lost.
Option 2: The syllabus for the next term was finalised by him. — Incorrect. "was finalised" is the simple past passive. The active sentence is in the present continuous.
Option 4: The syllabus for the next term will be finalised by him. — Incorrect. "will be finalised" is the simple future passive. It changes the time of the action.
Contrast: a continuous passive keeps being (is being finalised). Is finalised, was finalised and will be finalised are simple-tense passives.