Passive Voice with Modal Verbs Exercises

The passive voice with modal verbs is formed with modal + be + past participle. All modal verbs — can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would, and have to — follow the same pattern. This structure is common in rules, instructions, suggestions, and formal communication.

For example, "This form must be completed in ink" gives an instruction without naming who must do it. "The results can be checked online" describes a possibility. "The report should be submitted by Friday" makes a recommendation. For past modal passives, use "modal + have been + past participle": "The email should have been sent yesterday" (but it wasn't). For negatives, add "not" after the modal: "Phones must not be used during the exam." For questions, move the modal before the subject: "Can this problem be solved?" Modal passives appear frequently in Cambridge B1 Preliminary, B2 First, and C1 Advanced exams. They are especially common in workplace English, official notices, and academic writing where an impersonal tone is preferred.