Present / future passive with modals
Formula: modal + be + past participle
| Modal | Passive form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | must be + pp | The rules must be followed. |
| should | should be + pp | The report should be submitted by Friday. |
| can / can't | can/can't be + pp | This form can be downloaded online. |
| might / may | might/may be + pp | The decision might be delayed. |
| will / won't | will/won't be + pp | The package will be delivered tomorrow. |
| could | could be + pp | Mistakes could be made if we rush. |
Past passive with modals
Formula: modal + have been + past participle
| Modal | Past passive form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| should | should have been + pp | The contract should have been signed last week. |
| must | must have been + pp | The door must have been left open. |
| could | could have been + pp | The accident could have been avoided. |
| might / may | might have been + pp | The letter might have been lost in the post. |
Active → Passive: quick reference
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| They must finish the work today. | The work must be finished today. |
| You should check the data. | The data should be checked. |
| Someone could have prevented this. | This could have been prevented. |
| They should have told us. | We should have been told. |
By phrase:
As in all passives, you can add a by phrase to show the agent when it matters: "The report must be submitted by all students before Monday."
Exercises
Choose the correct passive modal form.
1. All phones ___ during the exam. (It is obligatory.)
2. The contract ___ before the deadline — we almost missed it.
3. The results ___ published online tomorrow.
4. The accident ___ if the driver had been paying attention.
5. This medicine ___ only by a doctor. (It is not allowed otherwise.)