In this English grammar question, a sentence is given in active voice. Select the option that best expresses the same idea in passive voice. Sentence: "They will start the fireworks at ten o clock at night sharp."

Introduction / Context:

This item focuses on a future plan about starting fireworks. The original sentence is in active voice and says that "they" will start the fireworks at a precise time at night. The task is to find the sentence in passive voice that keeps the same future time and the same event, while placing "the fireworks" in the subject position.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Original sentence: "They will start the fireworks at ten o clock at night sharp."

- Subject in the active sentence: "they".

- Object: "the fireworks".

- The verb phrase is simple future: "will start".

- The phrase "at ten o clock at night sharp" expresses an exact time and must remain in the sentence without change of meaning.

Concept / Approach:

To convert a simple future sentence with "will" into passive voice, we use the pattern "will be" plus the past participle of the main verb. Here, the main verb is "start", so the passive form is "will be started". The object "the fireworks" becomes the new subject. The agent "they" appears in a "by" phrase, and the time expression can appear either before or after the agent phrase, as long as the sentence stays clear and natural.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify subject, verb, and object. Subject: they. Verb: will start. Object: the fireworks. Step 2: Move "the fireworks" to the subject position in the passive sentence. Step 3: Replace "will start" with "will be started". Step 4: Keep the time phrase "at ten o clock at night sharp" in a natural position after the passive verb phrase. Step 5: Add the agent "by them" if needed and check that the final sentence still refers to a future plan.

Verification / Alternative check:

The sentence "The fireworks will be started by them at ten o clock at night sharp." uses the correct passive pattern with "will be started", keeps the exact time expression, and clearly maintains the original meaning. The focus has shifted to "the fireworks", but the agents "they" remain mentioned at the end. This confirms that the sentence is a good passive equivalent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Several options change the tense to present or use modal verbs like "would" that do not appear in the original, which alters the time or certainty of the plan. Some choices avoid a full passive construction and instead use heavy noun phrases like "starting of the fireworks", which are grammatically clumsy and not needed here. Other sentences describe the event as already happening rather than as a future plan. Because of these differences, they do not correctly mirror the original statement.

Common Pitfalls:

One frequent mistake is to forget to include "be" when forming passive voice with "will", leading to incorrect forms like "will started". Another is overusing complex noun phrases instead of simple passive clauses. Students also sometimes move the time phrase in a way that makes the sentence ambiguous or unnatural. The safest method is to keep the same time phrase and only adjust the subject and verb structure as required by passive voice.

Final Answer:

The correct passive voice sentence is "The fireworks will be started by them at ten o clock at night sharp."