In the following question, a sentence has been given in the active voice (negative imperative). Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in the passive voice. Do not disturb me.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Let me not be disturbed.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on changing a negative imperative sentence from active voice to passive voice. The original sentence is "Do not disturb me." Imperative sentences give orders or requests, and they have an implied subject "you." The passive version must retain the command sense while shifting the emphasis to the receiver of the action, which is "me" in this case.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Active sentence: Do not disturb me.
  • Implied subject: you.
  • Object: me.
  • Verb: disturb.
  • The sentence is negative because of "not."
  • The exam expects a standard passive imperative construction.


Concept / Approach:
For imperatives, the typical passive construction uses "Let" followed by the object and the passive verb phrase "be" plus past participle. For negative commands, "not" is inserted before "be." Therefore, "Do not disturb me" becomes "Let me not be disturbed." This construction retains the sense that others are instructed not to disturb the speaker and shifts the focus onto the person who should remain undisturbed.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the object in the active sentence: me.Step 2: Use the imperative passive pattern: Let + object + not + be + past participle.Step 3: Insert "me" after "Let" to keep the correct object reference.Step 4: Place "not" before "be" to preserve the negative sense of the command.Step 5: Use the past participle "disturbed" after "be" to complete the passive structure.Step 6: The resulting sentence is "Let me not be disturbed."


Verification / Alternative check:
The meaning of "Do not disturb me" is that no one should interrupt or bother the speaker. "Let me not be disturbed" expresses the same idea in passive form, focusing on the condition of the speaker instead of what others must do. Both sentences forbid the same action. If we attempt to turn the passive back into active, we get a sense like "Do not disturb me," confirming that the transformation is correct and faithful to the original intent.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Let me be disturbed not" uses an unnatural word order that is uncommon in modern English. "Let me not disturbed" is grammatically incorrect because it misses the auxiliary "be" before the past participle. "Let I not be disturbed" is wrong because "I" should be in the objective form "me" after "Let." "I should not be disturbed" changes the structure to a statement of recommendation using "should" rather than a direct imperative pattern, so it does not match the standard exam conversion for this type of question.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners often omit the auxiliary "be" when forming the passive, leading to incorrect forms like "Let me not disturbed." Another pitfall is misplacing "not" or using archaic word order. The safest approach is to remember the fixed pattern "Let + object + not + be + past participle" for negative imperative sentences converted into passive voice.


Final Answer:
Let me not be disturbed.

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