In the following question, a sentence is given in the active voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the option which best expresses the same idea in the passive voice.\n\nThe homeowners remodelled the house to help it sell.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the transformation from active voice to passive voice while keeping the tense, meaning, and focus of the sentence unchanged. In English grammar, it is very common in exams to ask you to convert an active sentence, where the subject performs the action, into a passive sentence, where the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence. Here the focus is on the sentence “The homeowners remodelled the house to help it sell.” and how to rewrite it correctly in the passive voice.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Active sentence: The homeowners remodelled the house to help it sell.
• Subject in the active sentence: the homeowners.
• Object in the active sentence: the house.
• Tense: simple past (remodelled).
• Purpose clause: to help it sell.

Concept / Approach:
The standard pattern for changing an active sentence in the simple past tense into the passive voice is:
Object + was / were + past participle of main verb + by + subject + rest of the sentenceThe meaning and the purpose clause should remain the same in both versions. The main idea is that the house underwent the action of remodelling, and the homeowners were the doers of that action.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the verb and tense: remodelled (simple past).Step 2: Identify the object which will become the new subject: the house.Step 3: Form the passive auxiliary with the correct tense: was remodelled (simple past passive for a singular subject).Step 4: Place the original subject after “by”: by the homeowners.Step 5: Retain the purpose clause without changing its meaning: to help it sell.Step 6: Combine all parts: The house was remodelled by the homeowners to help it sell.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by converting the passive sentence back into active voice. Take “The house was remodelled by the homeowners to help it sell.” and move “the homeowners” back to the subject position. The verb becomes simple past: remodelled. The object becomes “the house,” and the purpose clause “to help it sell” stays the same. The result is “The homeowners remodelled the house to help it sell,” which matches the original sentence exactly, confirming that the transformation is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B: “The house is remodelled…” changes the tense from past to present, which is incorrect for this question.
Option C: The word order is awkward and ungrammatical; “so that it is helped to sell” is not natural English and distorts the structure.
Option D: Combines wrong tense and wrong word order, making the sentence grammatically incorrect and unclear.

Common Pitfalls:
Common mistakes include changing the tense unintentionally, omitting “by the homeowners,” or rearranging the purpose clause in a way that makes the sentence unnatural. Many learners also forget that the passive of a simple past verb requires “was” or “were” plus the past participle. Keeping the structure and tense consistent is essential for a correct answer.

Final Answer:
The house was remodelled by the homeowners to help it sell.