masterMind Level 2

Unit 5 Grammar 2

PASSIVE MODALS
 PASSIVE MODALS

1. Which speaker is using a passive modal?

2. Why does the speaker use a passive modal?
3. Can you notice an error? present necessity

A: I think habitats B: Yes, we should have

must been
be protected been more careful of our
by law nowadays. local wildlife in the past.
 PASSIVE MODALS

1. Identify the passive modal in each sentence.

2. Which relates to the present and which to the past?
past
Habitats ___________________________________
may have been destroyed because people
didn’t realize the consequences, but we do today
and should be more careful.
present
In an ideal world, big companies would be forced to
_____________________
face the effects of their developments on wildlife.
TIP Use passive modals to talk about ability, possibility,
necessity, deduction, speculation, or to criticize something.
 PASSIVE MODALS

Examples of passive modals:

• Cages in zoos should be banned. No animal should

have to live in a cage.
• More could be done to educate people about the
work the zoo does for endangered animals.
• That dog must have been specially bred. Look at
the color of its coat; I’ve never seen that color.
• He shouldn’t have been allowed to buy a
monkey; I think it’s cruel to keep them in captivity.
 PASSIVE MODALS

Forms Examples

Breeding programs will be extended

modal + to include snow leopards and
be + Siberian tigers.
past participle
Pet stores ought to be regulated by
stricter laws.
This animal can’t have been bought
modal + legally; it’s an endangered species.
has/have been +
past participle Its breeding history should have
been checked before it was sold.
 PASSIVE MODALS

We use passive modals to talk about present and past

ability, future possibility, necessity, advisability,
present/past deduction and speculation, or to criticize a
past occurrence.

• Some species may be saved from extinction by zoo

breeding programs.
present or future possibility
• The research into habitat destruction might have
been completed last year.
past possibility
 PASSIVE MODALS

What are the functions of the passive modals?

1. I should have read the article about orangutan
rescue centres.
criticizing something that didn’t happen
2. The lions might have been moved to another
enclosure. I can’t see them now.
speculating about the past
3. New pesticides must be checked carefully
before they can be used.
talking about necessity
 PASSIVE MODALS

Complete the conversation using passive modals and

the verbs in parentheses.
A: What did you think of the documentary?
B: I wasn’t very impressed. A lot more information
____________________
could have been given (give) on what’s really
happening to gorillas in Central Africa.
A: Oh, didn’t you think it was informative enough?
B: People everywhere________________
should be made (make)
more aware of the destruction of their habitat.
A: Perhaps the filmmakers were worried that people
___________________________
could/might have been put off (put off) watching
it if it had been too hard-hitting.
 PASSIVE MODALS

Discuss with a partner:

• what you think the benefits and drawbacks of

keeping animals in captivity are
• how we could change our lifestyle and/or
attitudes to help find a solution to the problems
wildlife has living with modern society

Use passive modals to discuss your ideas.

 PASSIVE MODALS

Grammar wrap-up
Match the functions to the examples.
1. The dog must have 2. You shouldn’t have
seen me as a foe. cut down that tree.

3. My book on extinction
may be published soon. speculate about the past
talk about ability, possibility, or
necessity
criticize something that
happened in the past