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Should I choose Passive or Active form of the verb here?
In fact, a pool of melted water ____________ (FORM) at the North Pole every year now since 2002.
I guess, a pool can't form itself, so Passive should be used. However, according to the keys, the answer is 'has formed'.
I would be very happy if someone shed some light on this.
to form is used here as an intransitive verb, which has no passive form:
From Merriam-Webster:
2: to take form : come into existence : arise
// Storm clouds were forming over the hills.
The present perfect is used here to indicate something that has been going on from the past until now.
I guess it's possible to use the passive here, if you indicate the actor:
In fact, a pool of melted water has been formed by increasing global temperatures at the North Pole every year now since 2002.
but I'm not sure if it's idiomatic.
