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Modulo 5 – Passive with modal

5.2 Forming Passives with Modals;

T​here are about nine modals that are really common in Canadian English:

● can
● could
● will
● would
● shall (used in question forms usually)
● should
● might
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● may
● must

There are two basic patterns we use for passive modals.

1. The first one is easy: modal + be + past participle.

Active
Passive Verb Example
Verb

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 be
might finish It might be finished by next week.
finished

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must pay must be paid Employees must be paid on the last day of the month.

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.

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It might have been lost when we were

might have lost might have been lost
travelling.