Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #103 of 305

Passive with Modals

modal + be + pp.

Examples

  • It must be done today.

Key rules

  • Form: modal + be + past participle
  • Perfect form: modal + have been + past participle
  • Use it for rules, possibilities and criticism
  • Negatives put not after the modal

Common mistakes

  • The form must fill in → The form must be filled in
  • The mistake should corrected → The mistake should have been corrected
💡 Tip: Take the active sentence, then replace the verb with modal + be + participle.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
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Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.