Change the following sentence from Active to Passive voice. The movie critic wrote a sarcastic review.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: A sarcastic review was written by the movie critic.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests conversion between active and passive voice, a core grammar skill frequently examined in competitive tests. The original sentence is in simple past active voice and reports what the movie critic did. In passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the receiver of the action, in this case the sarcastic review.


Given Data / Assumptions:
The active sentence and its key parts are as follows.


    Subject: The movie critic
    Verb: wrote
    Object: a sarcastic review
    The tense is simple past and must remain the same after conversion.


Concept / Approach:
To change a sentence from active to passive voice, we move the object to the subject position, keep the tense using an appropriate form of be, and use the past participle of the main verb. We also introduce the original subject with the preposition by if we want to mention the doer. For simple past tense, the passive structure is was or were plus past participle. Here, the object a sarcastic review becomes the new subject, and wrote changes to was written.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the object a sarcastic review and move it to the beginning of the passive sentence. Step 2: Maintain the simple past tense by using was, because review is singular, followed by the past participle written. Step 3: Introduce the doer, the movie critic, with the preposition by to show who performed the action. Step 4: Combine the parts to get A sarcastic review was written by the movie critic and check that the meaning and tense match the original.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify correctness by converting the passive sentence back into active voice. Starting from A sarcastic review was written by the movie critic, we move the phrase by the movie critic to the subject position, keep the verb in simple past wrote, and place the object a sarcastic review after it. This brings us back to the original sentence The movie critic wrote a sarcastic review, which confirms that the transformation preserves tense and meaning.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A uses is written, which is present simple passive and does not match the original past tense. Option B is grammatically possible but introduces the phrase which is sarcastic, which changes the style and structure and is not the direct or simplest passive transformation. Option C again uses present tense is written, which conflicts with the original past tense wrote. Option E has has been written, which is present perfect passive and therefore changes the time reference and aspect. Only Option D keeps the simple past tense and gives a direct passive equivalent.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners often forget to maintain the original tense when switching between active and passive voice. Another common error is to change the meaning by adding unnecessary relative clauses or by omitting the agent completely when the agent is required. It is helpful to remember a clear three step method: move the object to subject position, choose the correct form of be for the tense, and use the past participle of the main verb. Practising this method with simple past sentences like the example here builds confidence for more complex structures.


Final Answer:
The correct passive form is A sarcastic review was written by the movie critic.

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