There are about nine modals that are really common in Canadian English:
- can
- could
- will
- would
- shall (used in question forms usually)
- should
- might
- may
- must
There are two basic patterns we use for passive modals.
1. The first one is easy: modal + be + past participle.
| Active Verb | Passive Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can see | can be seen | That painting can be seen in the Louvre. |
| should do | should be done | The work should be done on time. |
| would sell | would be sold | The tickets would be sold there if possible. |
| might finish | might be finished | It might be finished by next week. |
| must pay | must be paid | Employees must be paid on the last day of the month. |
Complete Exercise 1: Passive Modals now and then close the window to continue with the lesson.
2. The other pattern is a little longer: modal + have been + past participle
| Active Modal | Passive Modal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| could have done | could have been done | It could have been done by John. |
| should have finished | should have been finished | It should have been finished yesterday. |
| might have lost | might have been lost | It might have been lost when we were travelling. |
Complete Exercise 2: Passive Modals now and then close the window.