Active-to-passive voice (modal perfect): Convert the sentence to the correct passive that preserves the perfect modal sequence. Source sentence: A child could not have done this mischief. Instruction: Choose the grammatically correct passive-voice option.
Verbal Ability
Change of Voice
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AThis mischief could not be done by a child.
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BThis mischief could not been done by a child.
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CThis mischief could not have been done by a child.
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DThis mischief a child could not have been done.
Answer
Correct Answer: This mischief could not have been done by a child.
Explanation
Given data
- Active sentence: A child could not have done this mischief.
- Target: Passive with modal perfect.
Concept / ApproachPassive with modal perfect: modal + have + been + past participle.
Step-by-step transformationObject becomes subject: this mischief → This mischiefApply modal perfect passive chain: could not have been doneAgent in by-phrase: by a childFinal passive: This mischief could not have been done by a child.
Eliminate wrong optionsA: Uses could not be done (simple modal), loses perfect aspect. ❌B: Omits have before been; ungrammatical. ❌C: Matches modal perfect passive exactly. ✅D: Word order is incorrect and ungrammatical. ❌
Common pitfalls
- Forgetting have in the perfect passive chain.
- Changing aspect or tense unintentionally.
Final AnswerThis mischief could not have been done by a child.