Final answer:
The verb in the sentence 'The apples were peeled and quartered' is in the passive voice. This implies that the action of the verb is done to the subject 'apples', with no mention of who performed the action. This differs from the active voice, where the subject actively performs the verb's action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The verb in the sentence 'The apples were peeled and quartered' is in the passive voice. In English grammar, a sentence is in passive voice when the subject undergoes the action of the verb instead of acting on it. The focus is on the object or end result of an action, not on the entity performing it. In the given sentence, 'the apples' are the objects receiving the action of being peeled and quartered, and the doer of the action is not mentioned.
Passive voice is often used when the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or less important. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject of the sentence performs the action. For instance, 'I devoured the silky pudding' is in active voice.
Learn more about Active and Passive Voice