Fill in the blank in the given sentence to form the passive voice.
A story could not be read by Deepa.

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The passive voice is used when the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action.
The formula for the future passive tense is: will be + Past Participle (V3) of the main verb.
In this case, 'A story' is the subject receiving the action. The future tense requires 'will be'.
'Read' is the past participle of the verb 'to read', completing the structure: A story will be read.

Option A: This option forms a passive sentence in the present simple tense (negative), not the future tense. It changes the time of the action.
Option C: This option forms a passive sentence in the present simple tense, not the future tense. It changes the time of the action.
Option D: The verb 'to go' is not an auxiliary verb and is never used to form the passive voice in English.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Formation of the passive voice in English grammar, specifically in the future tense as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, clear and precise communication is a critical skill in nursing. Understanding grammar ensures that patient notes, reports, and instructions are unambiguous.
The passive voice is often used in clinical documentation when the action or event is more important than the person who performed it (e.g., 'The medication was administered at 0800,' or 'The patient was transferred to the ICU').
Active voice is preferred for giving direct commands or instructions to ensure clarity and accountability (e.g., 'Nurse, please administer 5mg of morphine.').

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the goal of the question, which is to form a sentence in the passive voice.
Recall the fundamental rule for the passive voice: Subject (recipient) + a form of the verb 'to be' + Past Participle (V3).
Examine the options provided. They are all variations of auxiliary (helping) verbs or main verbs.
Test each option in the blank: 'A story [option] read by Deepa.'
Evaluate which option creates a grammatically correct sentence. 'is read', 'is not read', and 'will be read' are all grammatically valid passive constructions.
If multiple options are grammatically correct, consider the tense. 'will be' creates a future passive sentence, while 'is' and 'is not' create present passive sentences. Without further context, any could be right, but questions often test a specific tense formation. 'will be' correctly forms the future passive.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Formation of the passive voice in English grammar, specifically in the future tense.
Stem keywords: passive voice, fill in the blank, grammar
Lead-in keywords: Fill in the blank

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Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.