Grammar
Modal passive voice: form and meaning
A notice can say, "The form must be signed today." The person who signs it may be clear from the situation, so the sentence keeps attention on the form and the required action.
Form and understand modal passive sentences by using a modal verb, be, and a past participle when the action or affected thing is the main information.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The form must be signed before noon. /ðə fɔːm mʌst biː saɪnd bɪˈfɔː nuːn/
The short answer
Use modal + be + past participle for a modal passive. Say The report should be finished today or The keys may be found at reception. The thing receiving the action comes first.
The package can be collected after two.
Why it works: Can shows possibility or permission. Be collected is passive, so the package receives the action.
5 more examples
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The documents must be stored in a locked cabinet.
Must shows a strong requirement. The documents receive the action of storing.
Not this:Staff
must storethe documents in a locked cabinet. What changes: This active sentence names the people who need to do the storing. -
The meeting might be moved to Friday.
Might shows that the change is possible but uncertain.
Not this:The organizer
might movethe meeting to Friday. What changes: This active sentence puts the organizer in focus. -
The damaged chair can be repaired.
Can shows that repair is possible. The chair receives the repair.
Not this:A carpenter
can repairthe damaged chair. What changes: The active version tells the reader who is able to do the repair. -
The instructions should be read before the test.
Should gives advice. The instructions are the thing that people need to read.
Not this:Students
should readthe instructions before the test. What changes: This active version names the students who should do the reading. -
The results will be announced at noon.
Will shows an expected future event. The results receive the announcement.
Not this:The committee
will announcethe results at noon. What changes: The active version makes the committee the subject.
Read the full guide
Find the modal first. Then check the next two words. A modal passive needs be and a past participle after the modal: must be returned, might be delayed, and can be used. Do not put an -s on the modal or use to before be. Choose this form when the action, result, or affected thing matters more than the person doing it.
Find the modal and the affected thing
A modal passive has two jobs. The modal shows the speaker's meaning, and the passive form puts the affected thing first. In The tickets can be collected here, can shows possibility or permission, while the tickets receive the action of collecting.
The tickets can be collected at the front desk.
The sentence is about the tickets and what can happen to them. It does not need to name the person at the desk.
What receives the action in The report must be checked?
The report receives the action. It is the thing that someone needs to check.
Use modal plus be plus a past participle
The basic pattern is subject + modal + be + past participle. The past participle may end in -ed, as in cleaned, or have an irregular form, as in written or sent. The word be stays in the base form after every modal.
The kitchen should be cleaned after the class.
Should gives advice. Be cleaned is the passive part of the verb phrase.
The invoice must be sent before Friday.
Sent is the past participle of send. The pattern is must + be + sent.
Which sentence is correct: The invoice must be sent or The invoice must be send?
Use must be sent. After be, the modal passive needs the past participle sent.
Choose a modal for the meaning
Choose the modal by deciding what you mean. Can often shows ability, possibility, or permission. Should gives advice. Must gives a strong requirement. May and might show possibility. Will can describe an expected future action.
The receipt can be emailed to you.
Can shows that emailing the receipt is possible.
Safety glasses must be worn in this area.
Must makes wearing the glasses a rule.
Which modal fits advice about a password: can be changed or should be changed?
Use should be changed when you are giving advice. Can be changed only says that changing it is possible.
Make questions and negatives clearly
For a question, put the modal before the subject and keep the rest of the pattern unchanged. For a negative, put not after the modal. The words be and the past participle still follow.
Can the application be completed online?
Can comes before the subject the application, then be completed forms the passive verb.
Personal details must not be shared.
Must not makes sharing the details prohibited.
How do you ask whether a table is available to reserve?
Ask, Can the table be reserved? The modal comes first in the question.
Add the actor only when it helps
A by phrase can name the actor in a modal passive. Add it when the reader needs to know who will do the action. Leave it out when the actor is unknown, already clear, or not useful.
The final payment should be approved by the account manager.
The by phrase matters because the account manager's role is useful information.
The lights must be switched off at closing time.
The rule matters more than the identity of the person who switches off the lights.
Would you add by the technician to The screen can be repaired?
Add it if the technician's identity helps the reader. Otherwise, The screen can be repaired is complete.
Before you go
Remember this
Build a modal passive with modal + be + past participle. Use it when you want to focus on the action or on the thing affected by it. Keep be after the modal, use the past participle after be, and add a by phrase only when the actor helps the reader.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Modal passive voice: form and meaning"
What is a modal passive in English?
A modal passive uses a modal verb with be and a past participle. For example, The package can be collected and The form must be signed are modal passive sentences. The subject receives the action.
The documents must be stored in a locked cabinet.
How do I form a modal passive?
Use subject + modal + be + past participle. Say The room should be cleaned or The message may be sent. Keep be in the base form after the modal, then use a past participle such as cleaned, sent, or written.
Staff must store the documents in a locked cabinet.
Why do modal passive sentences use be?
Be begins the passive part of the verb phrase. A modal is followed by the base form be, and the past participle follows it: can be repaired, should be read, and must be returned. This shows that the subject receives the action.
The meeting might be moved to Friday.
How do I make a modal passive question or negative?
For a question, put the modal first: Can the form be completed online? For a negative, add not after the modal: The form must not be copied. Keep be plus the past participle after the modal in both patterns.
The organizer might move the meeting to Friday.
Do I need to add a by phrase in a modal passive?
No. Add by plus the actor only when that information helps the reader. The award will be presented by the mayor names a useful actor. The doors must be locked is complete when the rule matters more than who locks them.
The damaged chair can be repaired.