Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure:
It has been alleged that confidential information was being leaked by an employee within the firm.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. They have alleged that an employee within the firm was leaking confidential information.
Type of sentence: A complex sentence with two clauses (reporting clause + reported clause).
Tense:
-
Main clause: Present Perfect
-
Dependent clause: Past Continuous
Given voice: Passive voice in both clauses.
Subject: Not mentioned (It = dummy subject), an employee
Object: Not mentioned (they = silent object), Confidential information
Structure for conversion
Clause 1 (Main Clause)
- Passive structure: It + has been + past participle (alleged)
- Active structure: They + have + past participle (alleged) (“They” is used as an impersonal subject to express general allegation.)
Clause 2 (Dependent Clause)
- Passive structure: Object + was being + past participle (leaked) + by + agent = confidential information + was being leaked + by an employee
- Active structure: Subject + was + verb-ing + object = an employee + was leaking + confidential information
Converted sentence: They have alleged that an employee within the firm was leaking confidential information.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.