Change the following from active to passive:
The university may confer honorary degrees upon exceptional scholars.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Honorary degrees may be conferred upon exceptional scholars by the university.
Sentence Analysis:
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Original Sentence (Active): The university (Subject) + may confer (Modal Verb) + honorary degrees (Object) + upon exceptional scholars.
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Tense/Mood: Modal verb (may) in the active voice.
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Focus: The focus is on the institution performing the action.
Conversion Rules (Active to Passive):
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Object becomes Subject: The object 'honorary degrees' moves to the beginning of the sentence.
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Modal Verb Adjustment: In passive voice, a modal verb is followed by 'be' and the past participle of the main verb.
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Structure: Modal + be + $V_3$
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Active: may confer $\rightarrow$ Passive: may be conferred
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Subject becomes Agent: The original subject 'the university' is moved to the end, preceded by the preposition 'by.'
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Prepositional Phrase: The phrase 'upon exceptional scholars' remains attached to the verb it modifies.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.