Question

Spot the error in the following sentence and rewrite it-
The novel was publishing in 1952.

Answer 1

Hint: We use the simple past tense form of the verb to indicate an action that began and ended in the past itself.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
As given in the hint, simple past tense focuses on the fact that the action was completed in the past.
Let’s look at the given question-
i) We know that the action of publishing the novel began and ended in the year 1952 itself. Hence, the sentence should indicate the past tense form of the verb.
ii) We use the participle or the continuous form of the verb in active voice. But the given sentence has been written in passive voice. The error in the given sentence is ‘publishing’. Hence, the tense of the verb should be in ‘simple past tense’.
iii) An active voice includes a sentence in which the subject performs the action, whereas in passive voice the subject receives the action of the verb.
iv) The correct form of the verb should be; ‘was/were + past participle form of the verb or the 3rd form of the verb.’ Example- The table was cleaned by her.
v) The simple past tense passive voice is used to indicate something that was done by someone in the past.
Hence, the correct answer is; ‘The novel was published in 1952.’

Note: It is important to understand the function of active and passive voice while comprehending the usage of different tense forms.