Passive voice with modal verbs — englishillustrated.com

What is Passive Voice with Modal Verbs?

Passive voice with modal verbs combines two grammar structures: modal verbs (can, must, should, will, may, might) and the passive voice. Instead of saying who performs an action, we focus on the action itself or what receives it. The basic structure is: modal verb + be + past participle. This is especially useful when the person doing the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.

How to Form Passive Voice with Modal Verbs

The formula is simple: modal verb + be + past participle (verb in -ed or irregular form). The modal verb stays in its base form—you do not conjugate it.

Correct form: This report must be completed by Friday.

Different modal verbs express different meanings:

Modal Verb	Meaning	Example
Must	Obligation or strong certainty	The contract must be signed today.
Should	Recommendation or mild obligation	The proposal should be reviewed carefully.
Can	Ability or possibility	This task can be done quickly.
May / Might	Permission or possibility	The decision may be postponed until next week.

The past participle always remains the same regardless of the subject, ensuring consistency in your passive constructions.

When to Use Passive Voice with Modal Verbs

Use this structure when you want to emphasize the action rather than who performs it, or when the performer is unknown or unimportant. It is common in formal writing like instructions, rules, and professional communication. For instance, 'The application should be submitted online' is more natural than 'You should submit the application online' in formal contexts. It also sounds more polite and impersonal, which is useful in workplaces and academic settings.

Passive Voice with Modal Verbs: Full Form Table

CAN — Passive Voice
Pronoun	Positive	Negative	Question
I	`I can be helped`	`I cannot be helped`	`Can I be helped?`
you	`you can be helped`	`you cannot be helped`	`Can you be helped?`
he / she / it	`he can be helped`	`he cannot be helped`	`Can he be helped?`
we	`we can be helped`	`we cannot be helped`	`Can we be helped?`
you (plural)	`you can be helped`	`you cannot be helped`	`Can you be helped?`
they	`they can be helped`	`they cannot be helped`	`Can they be helped?`
Note: can expresses ability or possibility. Negative contraction: `can't be + past participle`. Be never changes form after a modal verb.

MUST — Passive Voice
Pronoun	Positive	Negative	Question
I	`I must be told`	`I must not be told`	`Must I be told?`
you	`you must be told`	`you must not be told`	`Must you be told?`
he / she / it	`she must be told`	`she must not be told`	`Must she be told?`
we	`we must be told`	`we must not be told`	`Must we be told?`
you (plural)	`you must be told`	`you must not be told`	`Must you be told?`
they	`they must be told`	`they must not be told`	`Must they be told?`
Note: must not be (mustn't be) expresses prohibition (it is forbidden). Irregular past participle used here: `told` (tell → told → told). Must has no past tense form; use had to be for the past.

SHOULD — Passive Voice
Pronoun	Positive	Negative	Question
I	`I should be seen`	`I should not be seen`	`Should I be seen?`
you	`you should be seen`	`you should not be seen`	`Should you be seen?`
he / she / it	`it should be seen`	`it should not be seen`	`Should it be seen?`
we	`we should be seen`	`we should not be seen`	`Should we be seen?`
you (plural)	`you should be seen`	`you should not be seen`	`Should you be seen?`
they	`they should be seen`	`they should not be seen`	`Should they be seen?`
Note: should expresses advice or recommendation. Irregular past participle: `seen` (see → saw → seen). Contraction: `shouldn't be + past participle`.

WILL — Passive Voice
Pronoun	Positive	Negative	Question
I	`I will be chosen`	`I will not be chosen`	`Will I be chosen?`
you	`you will be chosen`	`you will not be chosen`	`Will you be chosen?`
he / she / it	`he will be chosen`	`he will not be chosen`	`Will he be chosen?`
we	`we will be chosen`	`we will not be chosen`	`Will we be chosen?`
you (plural)	`you will be chosen`	`you will not be chosen`	`Will you be chosen?`
they	`they will be chosen`	`they will not be chosen`	`Will they be chosen?`
Note: will expresses future certainty. Irregular past participle: `chosen` (choose → chose → chosen). Contractions: `I'll be + past participle` / `won't be + past participle`.

MAY — Passive Voice
Pronoun	Positive	Negative	Question
I	`I may be asked`	`I may not be asked`	`May I be asked?`
you	`you may be asked`	`you may not be asked`	`May you be asked?`
he / she / it	`he may be asked`	`he may not be asked`	`May he be asked?`
we	`we may be asked`	`we may not be asked`	`May we be asked?`
you (plural)	`you may be asked`	`you may not be asked`	`May you be asked?`
they	`they may be asked`	`they may not be asked`	`May they be asked?`
Note: may expresses possibility or permission. Irregular past participle: `asked` (ask → asked → asked). May has no past tense form in passive; use `might be + past participle` for past possibility.

Formula

✔ Positive

Subject + modal verb + be + past participle

The windows can be opened from inside.

✖ Negative

Subject + modal verb + not + be + past participle

This mistake should not be repeated again.

? Question

Modal verb + subject + be + past participle

Can the project be finished by next week?

Examples

This letter must be delivered today.

Obligation · Business communication

The homework should be done carefully.

Recommendation · School context

Can these books be borrowed from the library?

Ability/Possibility · Question form

The meeting might be postponed until tomorrow.

Possibility · Informal planning

Visitors may be asked to show their ID at the entrance.

Permission/Possibility · Rules and regulations

This software will be updated next month.

Future certainty · Technical announcement

When to use it

Instructions and Rules

Use passive voice with modals to give instructions in a formal, impersonal way. Common in manuals, safety guidelines, and workplace policies.

"The equipment must be cleaned after each use."

Professional Communication

In emails, reports, and formal documents, this structure sounds polite and professional by focusing on the action rather than the person.

"Your application should be submitted by Friday."

Expressing Possibility

Use modal passives to discuss what might happen or what is possible without naming specific people.

"The match might be cancelled if the weather is bad."

Academic Writing

Common in essays and research to emphasize processes, findings, or requirements in an objective tone.

"The data can be interpreted in different ways."

Signal words

must should can could may might will would ought to

Common Mistakes

Wrong

This work must completed by tomorrow.

✓

Correct

This work must be completed by tomorrow.

Modal passive requires 'be' + past participle. You cannot omit the 'be'.

Wrong

The package should delivered on time.

✓

Correct

The package should be delivered on time.

You need the auxiliary verb 'be' between the modal and the past participle.

Wrong

Can you be helped by someone?

✓

Correct

Can you be helped by anyone?

In negative/question contexts with modals, use 'anyone' instead of 'someone'.

Wrong

The problem might solve itself.

✓

Correct

The problem might be solved itself. (or) The problem might solve itself.

If using passive, use 'be solved'. If active, 'solve' works without 'be'.

Wrong

This document must not to be signed.

✓

Correct

This document must not be signed.

Do not use 'to' after 'must not' in passive voice; the infinitive form is already implied.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What to Remember

Use modal verb + be + past participle to form passive voice with modals.
Modal verbs (can, must, should, will, may, might) stay in their base form before "be."
The past participle is always required; use -ed endings or irregular forms correctly.
Use passive with modals when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.
Never add "be" after the modal verb in negatives; insert "not" after the modal instead.

← Previous

Passive voice in future tenses

Passive voice — 50 examples