Select the option that best explain the information conveyed in the sentence The letter was being written by the principal

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the option that best matches the meaning of a passive sentence: "The letter was being written by the principal."

Concept: the past continuous passive

• Passive structure: subject + was/were + being + past participle (+ by agent)
• It shows an action that was in progress at a past time.
• To convert it to active voice, put the agent (the doer) first and change the verb to the past continuous: was/were + verb-ing.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Identify the agent (doer): the principal
2. Identify the action: write (in progress, from "was being written")
3. Identify the receiver: the letter
4. Active form: The principal was writing the letter.

Checking the options:

• A. "had been written" is the past perfect passive. It means the action was already finished. ❌
• B. "The principal was writing the letter" is the past continuous active. The action was in progress. ✅
• C. "wanted to write" expresses desire, not an action in progress. ❌
• D. "wrote" is the simple past. It suggests the action was completed. ❌

Exam tip: When you see "was/were being + past participle," think "was/were + verb-ing" in the active voice. The word being signals an action in progress, not a completed one. Also watch out for "had been," which signals a completed action.