In this English grammar question on voice, a sentence in the active voice is given in the simple future tense. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same idea in the passive voice: The fire will burn this house.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: This house will be burnt by the fire.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question deals with transformation from active to passive voice in the simple future tense. The original sentence "The fire will burn this house" predicts a future event in which fire will destroy a specific house. In the passive version, the focus shifts to "this house" as the subject, and the fire remains the agent. The correct answer must keep the future meaning and use the standard passive pattern for the simple future tense.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The tense is simple future, expressed as "will burn".
  • The subject is "The fire".
  • The object is "this house".
  • The sentence predicts a future action without any additional time expression.
  • The passive version must keep the same prediction and identify the house as the thing affected.


Concept / Approach:
For simple future tense, the passive voice uses the structure "will be + past participle". The object "this house" becomes the subject in the passive sentence. The auxiliary "will" stays, followed by "be" and the past participle "burnt". The original subject "the fire" appears after the verb phrase as the agent introduced by "by". The result is a sentence that still describes a future destruction but with the grammatical emphasis placed on the house rather than on the fire.


Step-by-Step Solution:
First, identify "this house" as the object that will become the subject in the passive sentence. Second, note that the tense is simple future, so the passive auxiliary must be "will be". Third, form the passive verb phrase "will be burnt" using the past participle of "burn". Fourth, add the agent phrase "by the fire" after the verb phrase to indicate what will cause the burning. Fifth, construct the full sentence "This house will be burnt by the fire" and check that it preserves the original meaning.


Verification / Alternative check:
The passive sentence "This house will be burnt by the fire" clearly tells us that in the future the house will experience burning caused by fire. The phrase "will be burnt" matches the future sense of "will burn". The house becomes the subject, which is the typical focus in passive voice. Comparing it with the active sentence shows that no information is lost; only the grammatical roles are swapped. This confirms that the transformation has been carried out correctly.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A uses a nominal construction "Burning of this house will be done", which is not the straightforward future passive form and sounds unnatural. Option B contains an incorrect and confusing phrase "The firing would be burning this house", which changes both subject and tense. Option D changes the structure entirely and focuses on identifying the house rather than on the future burning event. Only option C correctly applies the simple future passive structure "will be burnt" and maintains the original meaning.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes forget to include the auxiliary "be" when forming future passive, writing "will burnt" instead of "will be burnt". Another mistake is to replace "will" with "would", which shifts the sentence into a different time or mood. Some students also try to turn the sentence into a relative clause or use unnecessary nominal phrases, which adds complexity without improving clarity. The simplest approach is usually the best: keep the tense, change the object into the subject, and use "will be + past participle" with the original agent introduced by "by".


Final Answer:
The option that correctly expresses the sentence in the passive voice is: This house will be burnt by the fire.

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