Online English private lessons and group courses with native speakers.

Click now to take advantage of discounts up to 50%.

Modal passive Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

Read time : 2 minutes

Form : ( Modal + be + past participle (verb 3) )

In English we use the passive voice when :

  • we are more interested in the activity being done than the person or thing that performs the action.
  • we don't know who or what does the action.
  • it is obvious who does the action
  • we write news reports and articles.

In passive sentences we can use 'by' to say who or what did the action. This is called the agent. 

The passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by an action. Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive voice.

The main verb is always in its past participle form.

Example sentences :

  • All tickets must be collected 30 minutes before the show.
  • Children should be seen but not heard.
  • Cars must not be parked across driveways.
  • Should the new metro be completed by May?
  • Can your car be fixed?

Other passive structures :

After verbs followed by a gerund we use being + past participle.

eg. Some people enjoy being told what to do.

After verbs followed by the infinitive with to we use to be + past participle.

eg. Children need to be brought up in a loving environment.

After prepositions we use being + past participle.

eg. She dreams of being chosen to represent England in the Olympics.

After the first/ second/ last (+noun) we use to be + past participle.

eg. The first events to be announced were the acrobats and the clown show.

After have to and used to we use be + past participle.

eg. The graduation party had to be called off due to bad weather.


Note for use of passives :

In English we don't use the present perfect continuous and past perfect continuous in the passive!

Modal passive example sentences
I know a lady's age shouldn't be asked.我知道询问女孩子的年龄很不礼貌。
No other rice can be cooked for such a long time.其他的米都经不住煮那么长时间。

\
500\
\
\

user profile picture preview
can819809   1+ w
Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional