Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure: It has been alleged that confi…

Question

Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure: It has been alleged that confidential data was being leaked by insiders within the firm.

1. A. Insiders were leaking confidential data within the firm.
2. B. Confidential data had been leaked by insiders, it is alleged.
3. C. Insiders have allegedly been leaking confidential data within the firm. (Correct answer)
4. D. The firm was allegedly leaking insider data.

Correct Answer

Option C — Insiders have allegedly been leaking confidential data within the firm.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Insiders have allegedly been leaking confidential data within the firm.

Key Points

• Two passives must be unwound: the reporting frame "It has been alleged that…" and the inner clause "data was being leaked by insiders".
• The impersonal frame becomes the adverb allegedly, which keeps the hedge without naming who alleges it.
• The agent insiders moves into the subject position, and the verb becomes active while preserving the continuing, ongoing sense — have been leaking.
• Option A drops *allegedly*, asserting the claim as fact; option B stays passive; option D changes the meaning entirely, making the firm the leaker.
• Converting to the active voice must not strengthen a claim — retaining the hedge is what separates the right answer from option A.

Additional Information

• Converting passive to active requires promoting the agent to subject; where the agent is unnamed, a general subject such as *people* or *they* is supplied.
• Impersonal passives — *It is said that…*, *It has been alleged that…*, *It is believed that…* — become adverbs such as allegedly, reportedly or supposedly.
• Preserve the strength of the original claim: dropping a hedge turns an allegation into an assertion, which changes the meaning rather than just the voice.