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Passive voice and active voice

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Passive voice and active voice

by j_shreyans » Tue Sep 16, 2014 10:56 pm
In astronomy the term "red shift" denotes the extent to which light from a distant galaxy has been shifted
toward the red, or long-wave, end of the light spectrum by the rapid motion of the galaxy away from the
Earth.

(A) to which light from a distant galaxy has been shifted
(B) to which light from a distant galaxy has shifted
(C) that light from a distant galaxy has been shifted
(D) of light from a distant galaxy shifting
(E) of the shift of light from a distant galaxy



Can you pls explain why A why not B[/spoiler][/b]
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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:10 am
Here, the difference between A and B is one of meaning.

If we were asked to choose - without having read the rest of the sentence - whether "the extent to which light has been shifted" versus "the extent to which light shifted," we wouldn't be able to make a choice. The first is passive and the second is active, but that doesn't make the first one wrong! Active v. passive is a stylistic preference, not a grammar rule.

We have to look at the context of the rest of the sentence:

In astronomy the term "red shift" denotes the extent to which light from a distant galaxy has been shifted toward the red, or long-wave, end of the light spectrum by the rapid motion of the galaxy away from the Earth.

It's clear that the light isn't doing the shifting itself. The rapid motion of the galaxy is shifting the light. Since the light is therefore the recipient of the action, we have to use passive voice:

... the extent to which light has been shifted by the rapid motion... is correct

... the extent to which light has shifted by the rapid motion... doesn't make logical sense.

Don't use passive/active issues to narrow down answer choices until you've addressed all other grammar and meaning issues in the sentence. Sometimes it doesn't matter, and sometimes (as here) the passive voice is necessary for the meaning.
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Passive voice and active voice

by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:13 am
For more on the passive voice, see:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/william-sha ... tml#581346
https://www.beatthegmat.com/passive-vs- ... tml#584446
https://www.beatthegmat.com/active-vs-p ... tml#699674
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EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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by David@GMATPrepNow » Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:36 am
Hi j_shreyans,

Good job picking up on the passive voice. The verb structure of the "has been" (correct) answer is the present perfect tense in the passive voice.

Why this verb format? Take a look at the second part of the sentence, "by the rapid motion of the galaxy away from the Earth." "By" suggests that an action has been done BY the motion. This structure means that we should use the passive form for the previous verb.

I hope this helps.
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by David@GMATPrepNow » Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:37 am
Nice reply ceilidh.erickson! I had my browser window open so long that I didn't see your excellent explanation above, before I clicked submit to send in my own.

D
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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:39 am
No worries! But I very much appreciate your hat tip. Cheers!
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
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