Question 1

How do you form passive voice with modal verbs?

Accepted Answer

To form passive voice with modals, use: modal + be + past participle. For example, "can do" becomes "can be done", "must complete" becomes "must be completed", and "should finish" becomes "should be finished".

Question 2

Which modal verbs can be used in passive voice?

Accepted Answer

All modal verbs can be used in passive voice: can/could be done, may/might be done, must be done, should be done, will/would be done, and have to be done. The structure is always: modal + be + past participle.

Question 3

What is the difference between "can be done" and "could be done"?

Accepted Answer

"Can be done" expresses present ability or possibility (e.g., "This task can be completed today"). "Could be done" expresses past ability, conditional possibility, or a more polite/tentative suggestion (e.g., "This could be improved" suggests a possibility rather than certainty).

Question 4

When should I use "must be" vs "have to be" in passive voice?

Accepted Answer

"Must be done" often expresses the speaker's authority or strong personal obligation, while "has to be done" suggests external necessity or rules. In passive voice, both follow the same pattern: "The report must be submitted" (I'm telling you) vs "The report has to be submitted" (it's the rule).

Passive Voice with Modals Exercises