Choose the best passive/active transformation of the sentence: "I saw the master conducting the orchestra."

Introduction / Context:
Some sentences contain verbs like see, hear or watch followed by an object and a participle, as in “I saw the master conducting the orchestra.” When transforming such sentences, exam questions often ask for an alternative structure that preserves the meaning but rearranges emphasis, sometimes leaning toward a more passive construction. The key is to keep the idea that the speaker was the observer and that the orchestra was being conducted by the master at that time.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original sentence: “I saw the master conducting the orchestra.”
• The subject is I, the verb is saw, and the object-participle phrase is the master conducting the orchestra.
• We must choose a rephrased sentence that best expresses the same meaning in acceptable English.
• Options vary in structure, formality and emphasis.
• The correct answer should be natural, concise and faithful to the original sense.

Concept / Approach:
In the original sentence, the emphasis is on the master's action of conducting, observed by the speaker. One common way to rephrase such structures is to shift the focus to the orchestra as the entity being conducted, giving “I saw the orchestra being conducted by the master.” This keeps I as the subject of saw and presents the conducting as a continuous action. Other options either become awkward, overly wordy, or change the time or focus in subtle ways. Our goal is to preserve both the observer and the continuous nature of the action while producing a smooth sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the core meaning: At some time in the past, I observed that the master was conducting the orchestra.Step 2: Rephrase this meaning: “I saw the orchestra being conducted by the master,” which keeps I as the observer and presents conducting as an ongoing action.Step 3: Compare this with option B, which exactly matches the rephrasing: “I saw the orchestra being conducted by the master.”Step 4: Examine option A: “I saw that the orchestra was being conducted by the master.” Although grammatically acceptable, it adds that unnecessarily and is slightly less direct.Step 5: Examine option C: “The master was seen conducting the orchestra by me.” This is grammatically clumsy and overuses the passive, making the sentence unnatural.Step 6: Examine option D and option E: both change the flow of information and sound more like two clauses joined together rather than a smooth transformation. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, test whether option B could naturally replace the original sentence in a paragraph. If someone reads “I saw the orchestra being conducted by the master,” they clearly understand that you observed the master's conducting. The tense (saw) remains simple past, and being conducted indicates an action in progress. In contrast, “The master was seen conducting the orchestra by me” draws unnatural attention to the observer rather than the act, and “The master was conducting the orchestra and I saw that” is more wordy. Examination materials usually prefer the smoothest, most idiomatic alternative, reinforcing option B as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A is grammatically correct but wordier than necessary; exam patterns typically favour the more concise structure in option B.
• Option C is awkward, with “by me” placed at the end, and feels forced in passive voice.
• Option D breaks the idea into two clauses, altering the compact structure of the original sentence.
• Option E suggests a slightly different time relationship (“when I saw him”) and may imply a specific moment rather than a general observation.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often think that any use of was being automatically makes a sentence better for voice transformation, even if the overall sentence becomes unnatural. Another pitfall is turning both clauses passive, which can obscure meaning. To avoid these mistakes, aim for clarity and natural wording: retain the original subject if possible, keep the tense and aspect consistent, and avoid unnecessary function words that do not add meaning. Practising such transformations will make you more confident in both exams and real writing.

Final Answer:
The best transformation is I saw the orchestra being conducted by the master, which preserves the meaning and uses a clear, natural structure.