Question

Pick out the passive form of the given sentence. Nobody can predict the future

• A. The future cannot be predicted
• B. Everyone can predict the future
• C. The future could be predicted by none
• D. Not everyone can predict the future

Answer 1

Answer:

A. The future cannot be predicted

• The passive voice shifts the focus of the sentence from the doer of the action (the subject) to the recipient of the action.

• In the active voice, the subject performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

1. Identify the object: In the sentence 'Nobody can predict the future,' the object is 'the future.' This becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

2. Identify the verb and its tense: The verb is 'can predict.' This is a modal verb ('can') followed by the base form of the verb ('predict'). The tense is present modal.

3. Form the passive verb: To form the passive voice with modal verbs, we use: modal verb + be + past participle. So, 'can predict' becomes 'can be predicted'.

4. Handle the subject and agent: The original subject is 'Nobody.' In passive voice, when the subject is indefinite, negative (like 'nobody,' 'no one,' 'nobody else'), or implied, it is often omitted. If the subject were specific (e.g., 'John'), it would be introduced with 'by John' in the passive voice. Since 'nobody' implies that no one can predict, simply stating the action's effect is sufficient.

5. Combine the elements: Put the new subject, the passive verb, and any necessary prepositions together. 'The future' + 'cannot be predicted'. The word 'cannot' is used instead of 'can' because the original sentence had a negative implication with 'nobody'.