Change the following from active to passive:
Legal analysts had consistently scrutinized the wording of the statute since its inception.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
The wording of the statute had been consistently scrutinized by legal analysts since its inception.
Explanation
To convert the sentence from active to passive voice properly, identify the grammatical components and preserve the exact tense aspect:
Identify Components:
Active Subject (Agent): Legal analysts
Active Verb: had consistently scrutinized (Past Perfect Tense)
Active Object (Receiver): the wording of the statute
Shift to Passive Voice: Move the object ("The wording of the statute") to the front as the new subject.
Apply the Past Perfect Passive Formula:
Object + had + been + V3 (past participle)
Inserting the adverb "consistently" yields: "...had been consistently scrutinized..."
Add the Agent: Complete the sentence by appending the original subject using the preposition "by" ("by legal analysts"), followed by the remaining time phrase ("since its inception").
Key Points
Formula Conversion: Subject + had + V3 → Object + had + been + V3.
Exam Shortcut: Filter out options that alter the core noun phrases or the tense structure. Option 2 introduces a continuous aspect ("was being"), Option 3 alters the subject to "Legal wording", and Option 4 switches the active verb to a noun phrase ("under scrutiny"). Only the first option maintains grammatical integrity.