2. Modal Verbs in the Passive Voice
(modal verb) + be + past participle
1. Pancakes can be made on a stove.
(possibility)
2. Bikes may be ridden on this bike path.
(permission is given)
3. People must be warned that there are
crocodiles in the area.
4. Her work has to be done by tomorrow or
she'll get in trouble with her boss.
3. 5. Something should be done about global
warming or else some types of penguins will
perish from the earth.
6. A lot of cows can be raised on a productive
farm.
4. Passive voice for Present/Future Modals
“CAN, MAY, MIGHT, SHOULD, MUST, OUGHT
TO”
• The places of subject and object in sentence
are inter-changed in passive voice.
• 3rd form of verb (past participle) will be used
only (as main verb) in passive voice.
• To change sentences having present/future
modal into passive voice, auxiliary verb “be” is
added after modal in sentence.
5. Passive voice for Present/Future Modals
“CAN, MAY, MIGHT, SHOULD, MUST, OUGHT
TO”
Auxiliary verb in passive voice: be
6. Active voice: CAN
She can play a violin.
She cannot play a violin.
Can she play a violin?
Passive voice: CAN BE
A violin can be played by her.
A violin cannot be played by her.
Can a violin be played by her
Active voice: MAY
I may buy the computer.
I may not buy the computer.
May I buy the computer?
Passive voice: MAY BE
The computer may be bought by me.
The computer may not be bought by
me.
May the computer be bought by me?
Active voice: MIGHT
Guests might play chess.
Guests might not play chess.
Passive voice: MIGHT BE
Chess might be played by guests.
Chess might not be played guests.
7. Active voice: SHOULD
Students should study all
lessons.
Students should not study all
lessons.
Should students study all
lessons?
Passive voice: SHOULD BE
All lessons should be studied by
students.
All lessons should not be studied
by students.
Should all lessons be studied by
students?
Active voice: MUST
You must learn the test-taking
strategies.
You must not learn the test-
taking strategies.
Passive voice: MUST BE
Test-taking strategies must be learnt
by you.
Test-taking strategies must not be
learned by you.
Active voice: OUGHT TO
They ought to take the
examination.
Passive voice: OUGHT TO BE
The examination ought to be taken
by them.
8. EXERCISE #1
Directions: Fill in the blank with the passive voice
of the verb in ( ).
1. Traffic regulations _______________________
by drivers as well as pedestrians. (must/obey)
2. A driver _____________________ by the police.
(might/stop)
3. A driver ________________ to get out of the car.
(could/ask)
4. A driver ________________to the police station.
(might/take)
9. 5. Drunk drivers _____________a sobriety test.
(may/give)
6. Drivers___________________ of their rights.
(must/inform)
7. A traffic accident____________ to the police.
(must report)
10. EXERCISE #2
Directions: Change the following sentences to the passive
voice.
1. You must put out all smoking materials.
_____________________________________________
2. You must fasten the seat belt.
_____________________________________________
3. They will demonstrate safety precautions.
_____________________________________________
4. You should read the safety instructions.
_____________________________________________
5. You can store small packages in the overhead
compartment.
____________________________________________
11. 6. When the seatbelt light goes off, you may remove the
seatbelt.
____________________________________________
7. They may serve a meal.
____________________________________________
8. They might show a movie.
____________________________________________
9. They will serve coffee.
____________________________________________
12. EXERCISE #3
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the active or the
passive voice of The verb in ( ). Use modals.
1. Safety precaution ___________________ .
(will/demonstrate)
2. Flight attendants ___________________ meals.
(will/serve)
3. Passengers _____________________their seatbelts.
(must/fasten)
4. Passengers _______________coffee. (will/serve)
5. Passengers __________________________ the
safety precautions. (should/read)
13. 6. Passengers __________________________ to
put out smoking materials. (will/tell)
7. Passengers _______________________ the
safety rules. (should/obey)
8. A movie _____________________________ on
some flights. (might/show)
9. Some movies ____________________________
sex and violence. (may contain)
10. Some viewers _______________________ by
sex and bad language. (might/offend)
14. Get passive vs. be passive
The passive with GET
get + past participle
Get is often used instead of be in the passive voice in informal spoke
English to refer to an action that happens by accident or unexpectedly:
• Their car got stolen in front of their house last night.
Jerry got fired because he was always late for work.
Get expresses action and change and is only used with action verbs,
not state verbs:
• Jerry was fired because he was always late for work.
Jerry got fired because he was always late for work. (fire is an
action verb)
• Nothing is known about the thief.
Nothing gets known about the thief. (know is a state verb)
15. As get in the passive voice expresses action, it makes it
possible to differentiate between an action and a state
if it is not otherwise clear:
• The living room window was broken. (state or action)
The living room window got broken. (action)
The passive with be and the agent mentioned also makes
the distinction clear:
• The living room window was broken by the burglar.
(action)
A reflexive pronoun after get indicates that the recipient
of the action is in some way involved in or responsible
for what happened:
• He got injured while playing football. (it was an
accident)
He got himself injured while trying bike stunts. (it was
partly his fault)
16. The get passive is also used in certain idiomatic
expressions:
Idiomatic expressions with the get passive
• get dressed
get washed
get engaged
get married
• get divorced
get lost
get mixed up
get started
• I took a shower and got dressed.
When did they get married?
Have you ever got lost while travelling?
