In the following question, a sentence has been given in Active Voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same idea in Passive Voice: "The Principal promised the boys a holiday."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your ability to convert a simple past tense sentence with two objects into passive voice. The active sentence is "The Principal promised the boys a holiday." Here, "the boys" are the indirect object and "a holiday" is the direct object. Examinations usually expect you to make the indirect object the subject in passive, because it is the main focus of the action.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Active sentence: "The Principal promised the boys a holiday."
• Subject: "The Principal".
• Indirect object: "the boys".
• Direct object: "a holiday".
• Tense: simple past ("promised").

Concept / Approach:
When a verb takes two objects, English allows two possible passive patterns. For this type of exam question, the preferred pattern is usually to promote the indirect object to subject position: "The boys were promised a holiday by the Principal." Simple past active "promised" becomes simple past passive "were promised". This structure keeps the meaning clear and focuses on the receivers of the promise, which is natural in such sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Decide which object to make the subject. We choose "the boys" because they are the ones who receive the promise.Step 2: Determine the correct passive auxiliary for plural subject in simple past: "were".Step 3: Keep the main verb in past participle form: "promised".Step 4: Add the remaining object "a holiday" after the verb: "were promised a holiday".Step 5: Attach the agent phrase "by the Principal" at the end: "The boys were promised a holiday by the Principal."

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare the original with the passive version. Original: "The Principal promised the boys a holiday." Passive: "The boys were promised a holiday by the Principal." Both express that the Principal gave a promise to the boys about a holiday. The tense remains simple past. The shift in focus is from the Principal to the boys, which is appropriate for passive voice involving recipients.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A: "Have been promised" changes the tense to present perfect, which suggests the promise is very recent and still relevant, not simply an event in the past.
• Option B: "Had been promised" uses past perfect, which implies a time before another past event, adding unnecessary complexity not indicated by the original sentence.
• Option D: "Are promised" is present tense, again wrong time reference.
• Option E: "A holiday is promised by the Principal to the boys" is present tense and also less usual for this context; it changes both tense and emphasis.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often mishandle tense when moving from active to passive, especially in sentences with indirect and direct objects. Always identify the original tense first and keep it unchanged in your passive form. Also remember that with verbs like "give", "tell", and "promise", it is usually more natural in passive to make the receiver the subject, particularly when that receiver is a person or group.

Final Answer:
The correct passive voice version is "The boys were promised a holiday by the Principal."