Answer:
The sentence "Did they use to start the engine by hand?", when transformed into the passive voice, becomes:
- Did the engine use to be started by hand?
Step-by-step explanation:
If we follow some simple rules, we can easily transform a sentence from the active to the passive voice:
1. First, we need to locate the object of the active voice. In the sentence we are analyzing here, the object of the verb is "the engine".
2. Let's take a look at the verb tense. The passive voice does not change it, but it is necessary to add "to be" according to the original tense. The main verb will be used in its past participle form in the passive voice. In the sentence, the verbs are "did... use to start". Maintaining the tense and structure, we will now have "did... use to be started".
3. The subject of the active voice will only be included in the passive voice as an agent if it is important. Subjects such as "they" or "people" are usually not mentioned in the passive voice at all.
With that in mind, let's transform the sentence:
"Did they use to start the engine by hand?" - Did the engine use to be started by hand?